On March 26, speaking with Lao Dong, a representative of Phu Quoc Express Joint Stock Company said that they are developing a plan to re-operate the Thang Long expressway, which can carry 1,017 passengers on the Ho Chi Minh City - Con Dao route, and vice versa.
The unit has extended the operation of this passenger transport route, and the Ministry of Construction has issued a document approving the extension policy.
Currently, the enterprise is completing procedures to apply for a license to run again. If all goes well, the unit plans to put the Thang Long ship back into operation on the Ho Chi Minh City - Con Dao route from mid-April 2025.
Currently, the Thang Long high-speed train is operating on the Vung Tau - Con Dao route with a frequency of 1 trip per day from Vung Tau to Con Dao, and vice versa. If the license is granted again, the unit plans to operate alternately between Ho Chi Minh City - Con Dao - Vung Tau.
In particular, every Tuesday - Saturday, the Thang Long high-speed train will depart from Vung Tau to Con Dao (trip time takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes); then, in the afternoon of the same day, it will turn around to travel from Con Dao to Ho Chi Minh City.
On 4 - 6 - Sunday, the Thang Long high-speed ship will depart from Saigon - Hiep Phuoc port at around 7am to Con Dao. At about 1:00 p.m. the same day, it will turn around and move from Con Dao to Vung Tau.
Travel time from Saigon - Hiep Phuoc port to Con Dao, and vice versa, is expected to be nearly 5 hours.
According to Phu Quoc Expressway Joint Stock Company, in the coming time, the weather is expected to be favorable and the sea will be calm, so the Thang Long Expressway will operate stably, possibly faster than expected.
The operation of the two routes in parallel aims to increase exploitation capacity, increase options and better serve tourists when coming to Con Dao by cruise ship.
Previously, the 1,017-seat Thang Long high-speed ship operated the Ho Chi Minh City - Con Dao route and vice versa at Saigon - Hiep Phuoc port. However, it has been temporarily suspended since the end of July 2024. After that, the Thang Long ship was put into operation to serve the Vung Tau - Con Dao route.
Thus, when the Thang Long ship is licensed to operate again on the Ho Chi Minh City - Con Dao route, tourists from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao by high-speed ship will have 2 options: go from Saigon - Hiep Phuoc port (Nha Be district) by Thang Long high-speed ship; or go from Saigon port (District 4) by Phu Quy Express high-speed ship.
