Ho Chi Minh City delays electric bus service, tweaks plan

Ho Chi Minh City’s first pedestrians-only street Nguyen Hue, opened to the public last week, will be one of 29 stops on the city’s first electric bus route. Photo: Pham Huu

Ho Chi Minh City’s first-ever electric bus service will begin next month, the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s news website quoted local transport authorities as saying Tuesday.

The department had planned to launch the service, which will go through downtown tourist destinations like Ben Thanh Market and the War Remnants Museum, at the end of April.

Several other adjustments have also been made to the plan which is now awaiting approval from the city.

Every day, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., 10 buses will operate on a route starting at the September 23rd Park and ending at the Saigon Zoo, Tuoi Tre newspaper reported.

It will have 29 stops en route on downtown streets like Ton Duc Thang and Le Duan. It will also ply on the pedestrians-only Nguyen Hue Street.

A bus would arrive every 15 minutes, each capable of carrying 12 passengers and with a maximum speed of 30 kilometers per hour, the newspaper reported.

The transport department also plans a variety of fare options for the VND4-billion (US$184,700) service.

The fare for less than half the route, or 15 stops, will cost VND6,000 (27 cents), while passengers traveling more than that will pay VND10,000.

Under another option, passengers can pay VND40,000 ($1.8) for a ticket valid for four hours for unlimited use.

A one-day pass will cost VND120,000 ($5.5).

The buses will also be available for rent at VND100,000 ($4.6) per hour.

Ho Chi Minh City delays electric bus service, tweaks plan

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