On March 21, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport coordinated with Thanh Thanh Phat Passenger Transport Company Limited (operating unit) to organize a ceremony to announce the operation of the high-speed train route from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao.
The high-speed train line has a route from Saigon port (District 4, Ho Chi Minh City) to Con Dao (Ba Ria - Vung Tau) and vice versa.
The train has a capacity of 374 passengers, including 280 sleepers and 94 seats.
The first train will depart at 7am on March 29, with an expected travel time of about 5:30am. According to the plan, there will be one trip each day departing from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao, and the next day there will be the return trip.
The ticket prices announced vary depending on the type of seating and the day of the week.
On weekdays (Monday - Thursday), seat tickets cost from 720,000 - 990,000 VND, while sleeper tickets range from 800,000 - 1,250,000 VND.
On weekends (Friday - Sunday), the price of seating tickets increased slightly to 790,000 - 1,090,000 VND, while sleeper tickets increased slightly to 880,000 - 1,370,000 VND.
Mr. Bui Hoa An - Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, said that the great advantage of this route is the departure point at Saigon port, right in the city center. This makes it easier for passengers to move without having to spend more time transferring as far as before.
Previously, a high-speed train route from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao was once operated but departed from Hiep Phuoc port (Nha Be district). Due to its location far from the center and difficulties in transit, this route has been temporarily suspended.
However, Mr. Bui Hoa An also noted that weather conditions will greatly affect the frequency of the route's operations. Therefore, the mining enterprise plans to operate for about 8 - 9 months of the year to ensure the safety of passengers.
According to Mr. Tran Song Hai - Director of Green DP Technology Company Limited (GreenlinesDP), this year the number of tourists to Vietnam, especially Ho Chi Minh City, is expected to reach a record.
This high-speed train route is expected to attract not only domestic but also international tourists, while helping many people in Ho Chi Minh City have the opportunity to realize their dream of setting foot in Con Dao.
In response to the great interest of passengers, the exploitation unit has planned to build 3 more ships on a larger scale, focusing on effective sedge ships that are resistant to waves.
According to Mr. Tran Song Hai, sleeper trains help reduce waves 8 times more than seating, bringing a more comfortable experience to passengers throughout the journey.
