As much as VND300 billion (US$14 million) has been collected in road maintenance fees since the regulation on the fee took effect at the beginning of this year.

People were informed well in advance of the new regulation and most vehicle owners were prepared, said Le Hoang Minh, chief of Secretariat of the Central Council for Road Maintenance Fund.

Pham Van Doanh, owner of a private company in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai's Tran Yen District, said he agreed with the State's decision to collect road maintenance fees.

It was the right decision, he said, adding, "I find the fee of VND130,000 per month that I have to pay acceptable."

According to statistics from vehicle registration centres in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, after one month, nearly 2,000 vehicle owners had paid a total of VND3.8 billion ($180,900).

Do Dinh Bang, deputy director of the province's Vehicle Registration Centre, said all vehicle owners hoped the funds would be re-invested in repairing and maintaining roads, so that traffic safety was ensured for all people.

In the southern province of Binh Dinh, there were 18,000 automobiles licensed and authorities can collect VND50 billion ($2.38 million) if all owners complied with the regulation, said Vo Ba Trong director of the provincial vehicle registration centre.

Referring to fees imposed on motorbikes, Minh said some people had misunderstood that the fees would be transferred to the Ministry of Transport. In fact, localities were responsible for collecting the fees and using the funds to repair and upgrade roads.

The Ministry of Finance has issued guidelines on the collection and use of road maintenance fees, which would not be taken from the localities by the Ministry of Transport or the Central Road Maintenance Fund, Minh said.

Concerns have been expressed that if means of public transport are also subject to the regulation, transportation costs would increase by an estimated 5-7 per cent and people would end up bearing the burden.

VNS