In recent days, because the Tho Chau 09 Phu Quoc ship has temporarily stopped for maintenance and repair, the Phu Quoc Express high-speed ship has been contracted to run as a replacement for 2 months. The ship still runs every 5 days (since the end of October until now) to ensure the travel needs of the people of Tho Chau island commune. On the days when the Phu Quoc Express high-speed ship runs as a replacement, the number of passengers is quite large.
Mr. Nguyen Van Canh - a resident of Tho Chau commune, Phu Quoc city (Kien Giang) - shared: "People are very happy to have a boat to travel. However, to be honest, the travel time on Tho Chau 09 boat is quite long, it is difficult for people, and not very convenient. People hope that there will be a high-speed boat running regularly so that the need for travel, business and economic development is more convenient."
Tho Chau is an outpost island commune of Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang Province. In recent years, the lives of people on the island have changed a lot, schools, clinics, and roads have been invested in and built. The means of passenger transport is the Tho Chau 09 Phu Quoc ship, this is the only ship that connects Phu Quoc with Tho Chau and vice versa.
However, islanders hope that Tho Chau commune will have more high-speed trains or shorten the train travel time from 5 days to 3 days/trip, creating conditions for people to travel faster, easier and develop the socio-economy.
Mr. Tran Thanh Tuan - a resident of Tho Chau commune - also said: "Firstly, the travel time is long, secondly, there is only one train every 5 days, so if there is urgent work, it will be difficult. The long distance, adults have a hard time traveling because of the wind and waves, let alone children, women, and the elderly. I also hope to have a large train to serve people to travel more safely and securely."
Tho Chau 09 Phu Quoc departs from Bai Vong port (Phu Quoc city) to Tho Chau island (and vice versa), the journey takes about 4.5 hours. If the weather is bad, the waves are big, the sea is rough, the time is even longer. If you go by Phu Quoc Express speedboat, it takes about 2.5 hours.
Mr. Do Van Dung - Chairman of Tho Chau Commune People's Committee - said: Tho Chau is the most remote island commune of Kien Giang province, with more than 500 households and more than 1,800 people.
“The island has now developed in many aspects. The local government really hopes that Tho Chau will have a high-speed boat or a replacement boat to shorten the travel time compared to the current one. This will not only help make travel more convenient and handle work better, but also promote trade and develop the socio-economy of the island commune,” Mr. Dung shared.
