First river bus route launched in Ho Chi Minh city

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The Ho Chi Minh Municipal Department of Transport on November 25 coordinated with investor Thuong Nhat Company to organize a ceremony to officially put the first public waterway transport route or river bus route Bach Dang-Linh Dong into operation.

The Ho Chi Minh Municipal Department of Transport on November 25 coordinated with investor Thuong Nhat Company to organize a ceremony to officially put the first public waterway transport route or river bus route Bach Dang-Linh Dong into operation.

Twelve stops, which all have parking lots, have been set up along the route in Districts 1, 2, Binh Thanh and Thu Duc. The travel time is estimated at 30 minutes for each trip, a third faster than using a bus.

Passengers will be required to wear life-jackets and they are also provided with a round float. The route has five ships which can serve 80 passengers each.

HCM City has also planned to open the second river bus route in 2018 which will run from Bach Dang Wharf to the Lo Gom area in District 8, along Saigon River, Ben Nghe and Tau Hu canals. It is nearly 10.3 kilometers long and has seven stops.

The city has already approved river bus routes 3 and 4.

The city, with a relatively dense network of waterways, sees water transport as an appealing alternative for both locals and tourists. Last year, city officials said that a floating market, among other waterway tourism services, will function as a major attraction.

Several photos during the first day of operation of the HCMC first river bus route: