On June 22, the Ho Chi Minh City Public Transport Management Center said that the unit has researched and developed a plan to organize 5 new bus routes to strengthen public transport connectivity between residential areas, industrial parks and important traffic hubs.
According to the plan, the new bus routes will serve the travel needs of people in 25 wards and communes, including: Vinh Tan, Thuan An, Thoi Hoa, Thuan Giao, Thu Dau Mot, Tan Uyen, Tan Khanh, Tan Hiep, Binh Co, An Phu, Long Binh, Linh Xuan, Lai Thieu, Dong Hoa, Di An, Binh Hoa, Chanh Phu Hoa, Ben Cat, Long Nguyen, Thanh An, Long Hoa, Dau Tieng, Phuoc Hoa, Phu Giao and Bau Bang.
To complete the bus network organization plan suitable to actual needs, the Public Transport Management Center is seeking people's opinions on contents related to operating hours, operating frequency, route routes and other related issues.
The unit said it will record, study and absorb appropriate and constructive comments to complete the plan before official implementation.
After merging Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau into Ho Chi Minh City, the bus network in the city currently has 180 inter-provincial and inter-provincial routes with more than 2,400 vehicles operating.
The rate of people using public transport by bus in Ho Chi Minh City is still very low compared to the set target (in 2025 it will reach about 1.6% compared to the requirement of 7.23%).
To enhance the efficiency of public passenger transport, Ho Chi Minh City will synchronously implement many solutions.
First of all, it is to review, adjust and restructure the entire bus route network in Ho Chi Minh City. This includes re-evaluating existing routes, and opening new green bus routes and small bus routes to increase access to residential areas and crowded areas.
The bus network will also be integrated with other modes of transport such as river buses, public bicycles and the metro, aiming to ensure a walking distance to access public transport in the range of 300 - 500m.
In addition, Ho Chi Minh City will open more bus routes in the old Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Binh Duong areas, routes connecting to Long Thanh airport. Some nighttime bus routes will also be studied and deployed to serve travel needs outside peak hours.
In addition, the demand-driven transport (DRT) model using small, flexible vehicles will be applied to collect and transship passengers in residential areas,...
Recently, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council approved the policy of free tickets for 134 inter-provincial bus routes, including 109 subsidized routes and 25 non-subsidized routes, in the period from July 1 to the end of 2026.
