Reducing subsidies, improving public investment efficiency
From July 5, 2025, the Hanoi Traffic Management and Operation Center has adjusted the route of bus route 56A (My Dinh - Nui Doi), one of the main routes connecting the city center with the Northern region, especially Soc Son.
Sharing about this change, Ms. Tran Thi Nga (Nam Tu Liem ward, Hanoi) said: "Bust route 56A passes through many key intersections such as Pham Van Dong street, Thang Long bridge, National Highway 2, Noi Bai Industrial Park... Adjusting the route is not only convenient for people but also helps save costs, especially for students, workers and people living along the route".
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nam - General Director of Hanoi Transport Corporation (Transerco) - said that in the first 6 months of 2025, the unit has proactively reviewed and proposed adjusting the operating charts of 16 bus routes, while streamlining the route of 11 routes and reorganizing 2 branch routes. These adjustments help optimize the network, enhance connectivity and improve exploitation efficiency.
As a result, the total passenger volume reached more than 125 million, up 6.5% over the same period last year, accounting for more than 56% of the total volume of the city's bus network.
According to Mr. Thai Ho Phuong - Director of the Hanoi Traffic Management and Operation Center, the work of reviewing and adjusting the route is being implemented to improve operational efficiency, gradually reducing the subsidy rate from the budget.
In phase 1 (starting from January 1, 2024), the Hanoi Department of Construction has adjusted the route of 10 bus routes, stopped 5 routes, adjusted the route and frequency of 12 routes, along with adjusting the frequency of the remaining 43 routes. The results show that after adjustment, the subsidy/costs ratio decreased from 85% to about 77%, helping the budget save nearly 200 billion VND per year.
Although some passengers initially encountered difficulties due to changing their routes, according to the survey, the majority of people still highly appreciated the efforts to improve the service quality of the capital's bus system.
Flexible adjustments to suit reality
A representative of the Hanoi Department of Construction said that in the coming time, the city will continue to make adjustments to streamline the bus route network.
The adjustment is based on a specific assessment of each route on the high subsidy rate, low vehicle usage coefficient or the route overlaps many other routes. The handling options include: Adjusting routes, frequency of operations, changing vehicle capacity or stopping routes when there are new factors affecting the network such as new traffic works, urban railways coming into operation...
In phase 2, the city continues to adjust routes and services for 22 bus routes, including 9 routes adjusted to route, 8 routes adjusted to both route and frequency, and 5 routes adjusted to frequency.
Some prominent routes that have been adjusted include route 03B (Giab Bas Station - Giang Bien) designed to better connect with residential areas and schools; route 104 (My Dinh - Nuoc Ngam Bus Station) shortened the distance through Giai Phong - Nguyen Huu Tho axis to reduce travel time; route 22C (Giap Bat Bus Station - Duong Noi Urban Area) moved the starting point to Do Nghia Urban Area to serve the travel needs of people to Hanoi Children's Hospital.
As of July 30, 2025, 18/22 routes have been adjusted, the remaining 4 routes (122, 142, 144, 161) will continue to be implemented in the coming time.
Mr. Thai Ho Phuong commented: There are many reasons for the increase in bus passenger volume, but it cannot be denied that the positive role of adjusting routes, frequency and operating time is suitable for practical conditions and people's needs. This is the right direction to build a modern, effective and sustainable public transport system".
In the first 6 months of 2025, the Hanoi bus system transported more than 208.2 million passengers (up 5% over the same period in 2024), with revenue reaching 360.5 billion VND (up 29.2% over the same period in 2024). Along with promoting green transformation with 98 electric buses put into operation to replace diezel buses, the city also actively organizes, adjusts the network and completes bidding for 65 bus routes to ensure stable and efficient operation.
