Ticket prices skyrocket, some routes are 70% higher
According to Mr. Nguyen Lam Hai - Deputy Director of the new Eastern Bus Station, during the September 2 Ceremony (from August 30 to September 4), the station is expected to serve about 54,000 visitors with nearly 2,700 trips, an increase of 27% over the same period last year. The peak period will be concentrated on August 30 and 31 with 13,500-15,100 visitors per day, mainly on routes from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang.
Bus stations require businesses to publicly declare and post prices, with a maximum increase of 40% applied to routes from Da Nang to Dong Nai and the West.
Similarly, Mien Dong Bus Station (old Binh Thanh District) is expected to serve nearly 56,000 passengers with about 2,700 trips, ticket prices are only allowed to increase by a maximum of 40%.
Mien Tay Bus Station forecasts more than 227,000 passengers with 9,600 trips, peaking on August 30 alone at about 65,500 passengers, an increase of 5% compared to last year. Ticket prices here are also not increased by more than 40%.
However, some bus companies running the Ho Chi Minh City - Central region route have increased their prices beyond the limit. Typically, the M.T bus company on the Ho Chi Minh City - Phu Yen route adjusted the price of sleeper tickets on August 29 and 30 to increase sharply: type of 40 sleeper tickets from 280,000 VND to 450,000 VND/ticket (increased by 60.7%), type of 34 sleeper tickets from 320,000 VND to 560,000 VND/ticket (increased by 75%) and type of 24 sleeper tickets from 450,000 VND to 780,000 VND/ticket (increased by more than 73%).
This bus station also registered to operate "in the inner legs" - both at the new Mien Dong wharf, Mien Tay at An Suong overpass, Binh Thanh office, Thanh Cong spontaneous bus station (Binh Phuoc overpass), Linh Xuan overpass...
"Even" vehicles, "broken" stations surround the bus station
In late August, around the old Mien Dong bus station and on the roads leading to the new Mien Dong bus station (Kha Van Can, National Highway 13, Binh Phuoc intersection, National Highway 1...) a series of spontaneous passenger buses appeared. Thanh Cong parking lot (near the foot of Binh Phuoc overpass) operates as a "minor bus station", with hundreds of vehicles coming and going to pick up and drop off passengers and deliver goods every day.
Meanwhile, phase 1 of the new Eastern Bus Station has been completed with an investment capital of more than 773 billion VND (the total investment for the entire project is 4,000 billion VND), expected to become the largest inter-provincial bus station in the country with a capacity to serve more than 7 million passengers/year, falling into a state of being deserted. After 5 years of operation, the actual capacity has not reached 10%, on average there are only about 6,400 passengers per day with 375 trips, although most of the long route has been transferred here.
The Port Management Board said that the situation of vehicles, especially disguised contract vehicles, taking advantage of their trips across the wharf to pick up, drop off passengers, and deliver goods in violation of regulations is happening frequently, increasing sharply during holidays and Tet. Some vehicles even pick up passengers at parking lots, gas stations, or stops along National Highway 1, National Highway 13, Hanoi Highway... causing disorder and posing a potential risk of traffic accidents.
Many transportation businesses are still trying to return to operation at old bus stations or open their own offices and pick-up and drop-offs in central areas, on Hoang Huu Nam, D400, Den Hung, Lien Phuong streets...
To ensure safety and convenience for people during the holidays, Mr. Nguyen Lam Hai recommended that the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction and relevant agencies strengthen inspection and strictly handle the situation of "even" vehicles, "broked" wharves, and disguised contract vehicles.
The new Mien Dong Bus Station also proposed installing additional prohibition signs and cameras for fines at hot spots such as Binh Phuoc intersection, National Highway 1, National Highway 13, Hanoi Highway... while reviewing and adjusting unsuitable pick-up and drop-off stops, typically on Mai Chi Tho Street, in front of Linh Trung export processing area, Thu Duc intersection.
