Ho Chi Minh City to launch first river bus route

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Mr. Pham Cong Bang, head of the department’s Inland Waterways Board, said that the route connects Bach Dang Wharf on the Saigon River with Linh Dong ward in Thu Duc District. Nearly 11 kilometers long, it runs along Saigon River and Thanh Da Canal with seven stops.

The first river bus route of Ho Chi Minh City will be put into operation on August 21 with one-way tickets priced at VND15,000, said a representative from the HCM City Department of Transport.

Earlier, the Bach Dang-Linh Dong river bus route was piloted between June 30 and July 30. 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.