More buses, no fare rises for holiday

Ho Chi Minh City’s two busiest bus stations are bracing for passenger numbers to increase 20-47 percent on Vietnam’s National Day on September 2.
Thuong Thanh Hai, deputy director of Mien Dong Bus Station, that handles buses heading north, said the number of people traveling to tourist spots such as Nha Trang, Phan Thiet and Vung Tau would be 20-25 percent higher than normal days. The average daily number of passengers is about 22,000.
“We will switch some buses on routes that are not expected to have many passengers on the holiday to busy routes. No transport operators have announced fare hikes for this holiday,” said Hai.
Mien Tay Bus Station estimated 25,000 travelers will buy tickets to Mekong Delta provinces on September 2, an increase of around 8,000, or 47 percent, compared to normal days.
Travel companies which offer hydrofoil services on the Ho Chi Minh City-Vung Tau route said the number of passengers on the holiday may double.
One of them, Greenlines, said it had nearly sold out tickets for September 2-5 as travelers feared they wouldn’t find a seat if they didn’t book early.
The hydrofoil operator and its rivals like Petro, Vina Express were concerned about scalpers buying up tickets to sell for profit. Scalping tickets is illegal in Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh City Ferry Management Company has announced they would increase ferry services from 120 to 200 trips at Cat Lai Ferry Station on the National Day.
The Public Transport Management Center planned to raise the number of bus trips by 758, mostly to entertainment parks like Suoi Tien, Dam Sen in the city and Dai Nam in the neighboring province of Binh Duong.