VietNamNet Bridge – Many transport agencies in HCM City plan to increase fares on Friday and Saturday (August 31 and September 1) of the upcoming three-day National Day holiday, though experts have disputed the rationale for the increase.

HCM City will increase transport fare of up to 30-40 per cent during the National Day holiday. — Photo dantri.com.vn

Kieu Nam Thanh, general director of Mien Dong (Eastern) Bus Station, said the number of passengers is expected to increase by two per cent compared to the same period last year.

He predicted that the price would likely be raised by 30-40 per cent to cover the loss of inbound routes from other cities and provinces to HCM City.

The coaches used on the holiday will not have passengers coming back from the provinces to the city, so the fare increase to cover the loss is reasonable, according to Thanh.

However, according to economic experts, the fare increase makes no sense. Bui Trinh, for example, told Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper that on normal days there is always an imbalance on two-way routes.

On holidays, the number of passengers on inbound routes falls two to three times, but it increases by three to four times on outbound routes. So the increase to cover the loss is illogical, Trinh said.

Lawyer Nguyen Van Hau, chairman of the HCM City Commercial Arbitration Centre, said the transport companies are taking advantage of high passenger demand.

In particular, the fee will increase up to 30 per cent for routes from HCM City to Ba Ria Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Central Highland provinces, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Binh Dinh, and Quang Ngai.

For routes from the city to provinces in Mekong Delta, the fee will increase up to 40 per cent.

In addition, the number of passengers at the Mien Tay (Western) Bus Station is expected to increase 4-6 per cent compared to the same period last year, with the fare increasing by 40 per cent.

The station is working with other transport agencies to add 30 coaches to reach passenger demand during the holiday.

Coach fares same in Hanoi

In the meanwhile, coach operators in major stations in Hanoi have not announced any increases to coach fares during the National Day holiday.

This year, Vietnam’s National Day – September 2 - falls on Sunday so formal workers have a day off on Monday, September 3.

Travel demand is expected to increase during the three-day holiday but it’s likely coach fares will not be hiked, at least at stations in Hanoi.

Nguyen Anh Toan, director of Ha Noi Coach Stations Joint Stocks Company, said that up till now, the company had not received any proposals for fare increases from coach operators in stations like Giap Bat, My Dinh or Gia Lam. 

Source: VNS