Buses

The total ban would help with managing and monitoring the operations of sleeper buses, according to the HCMC Department of Transport. The area where sleeper buses are banned would remain the same, which is surrounded by the National Highway 1, Nguyen Van Linh, Vo Chi Cong, Nguyen Thi Dinh, Dong Van Cong, Mai Chi Tho, and Hanoi Highway. However, the buses can still run on these streets, which lie at the city's eastern and western borders. The current ban has been in place for around four months. The transport department said that it has helped to stabilize traffic in downtown areas. However, it has also caused vehicles to stop by ring roads to take customers in and let them off, and created unofficial bus stops that may cause unsafe traffic and congestion. HCMC currently has over 1,400 transport businesses with around 92,600 vehicles. In March, the city found that there were around 60 unofficial bus stops, mainly in downtown areas. … [Read more...] about Total ban of sleeper buses proposed for downtown HCMC

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has proposed banning sleeper buses from entering the inner-city area around the clock instead of between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm every day. Sleeper buses will be prohibited from traveling into the inner city area bounded by National Highway No. 1 – Nguyen Van Linh Street – Vo Chi Cong Street – Nguyen Thi Dinh Street – Dong Van Cong Street – Mai Chi Tho Boulevard – Hanoi Highway – National Highway 1. The department has issued a report on the implementation of the ban on sleeper buses from entering the inner-city area from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm every day. In particular, traffic in the downtown area has become better. Individuals and transport firms have basically complied with the prohibition. However, several sleeper buses regularly stop on the streets near the inner-city area for passenger pick-ups and drop-offs, causing traffic disorder and posing a high risk of traffic accidents. Unlicensed coach stations have also mushroomed along … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City transport dept proposes banning sleeper buses from inner city 24/7

Most backpackers travelling around the country will take sleeping buses, and there are a number of things people should know beforehand, according to Canadian travel magazine The Travel. Vietnam is one of the most rewarding countries to explore throughout all of Southeast Asia. Somewhat similar to Chile and Norway in shape, the country is long and skinny and is notable for having the sea on one side and the mountains on the other. The distances are often large, meaning sleeping buses in Vietnam are common, the website wrote. Taking the sleeping bus is therefore a good suggestion for long-distance travel with stops, traffic, and many extremely windy roads in the mountains, including the stunning mountain town of Sa Pa. Interior of sleeping bus in Vietnam (Photo courtesy of The Travel) Sleeping buses are buses featuring fully reclining seats that do not have the option of sitting upright and buses with proper beds. Most sleeper buses in the nation do not have … [Read more...] about Foreign tourists impressed by sleeping bus in Vietnam

HCM City has resumed services on two subsidised bus routes that were halted in January this year. According to the municipal Public Transport Management Centre, the Bus 61 service linking Cho Lon Station and Le Minh Xuan Industrial Park and the Bus 86 running from Ben Thanh Market to Ton Duc Thang University will be reopened by the end of this month. Bus route 57 The two services along with the 57 and 61-6 were suspended for upgrading. Bus 57 connecting Phuoc Binh Market and Hiep Binh High School has also been reopened since May 15. According to Phuong Trang FUTA Bus Lines Corporation, buses on these routes have 40 seats. Tran Quang Lam, director of the HCM City Department of Transport, said the city was making efforts to improve the quality of bus services to attract more passengers. … [Read more...] about HCM City resumes two bus routes

Since travel restrictions were lifted post-pandemic, I've visited places such as Borneo, western Malaysia, Laos and India. One thought keeps entering my mind: why aren't things as straightforward as they are in Vietnam? Inarguably, Vietnam has it complications at times. The traffic can instigate road rage in the calmest of individuals, and compromises to one's safety are not limited to when you're sitting on a motorbike. But there are at least 10 reasons why a Vietnam trip is easy, and one of the best. 1. The weak currency You cannot discuss travel without talking about money. An inescapable fact that makes Vietnam one of the easiest places to travel in the world is its currency. Vietnam dong is one of the weakest in the world, with the price of one U.S. dollar often converting to around VND23,000. Usually you have to be cautious with your spending when traveling. It’s easy to be afraid of checking the converted price of food alongside one too many drinks at lunch. But in … [Read more...] about The convenience of travel in Vietnam

Situated over 70 kilometers from Hanoi, Hoa Binh Province overflows with cultural identities and charming venues to lure visitors. As the gateway to the northwestern region, the province, which boasts various unspoiled tourist destinations, has attracted numerous travelers over the past few years. Some must-visit places are recommended to holidaymakers in Hoa Binh. Mai Chau: Hoa Binh’s most popular tourist area Mai Chau is the province’s most famous tourist site, which is favored by not only in-the-know tourists from Hanoi and neighboring provinces, but also international visitors. The place is often selected for a weekend trip to relax and relieve stress. Apart from enjoying the fresh air in the majestic mountainous area, travelers might also admire a picturesque view shrouded by clouds at Thung Khe Pass or Da Trang (White Stone) Pass en route to the heart of Mai Chau District. Also, the mountainous district features a variety of cultural traits and the Thai ethnic … [Read more...] about Hoa Binh Province in Vietnam delights travelers with northwest beauty, uniqueness

Among destinations for solo travelers, Ho Chi Minh City is most suitable for solo backpackers, according to U.S. online magazine Money.com. The Vietnamese metropolis is a bustling and affordable place that offers a wide range of attractions to solo travelers, from the inexpensive food and accommodations to an abundance of cultural and historical sites. “Its vibrant culture, friendly people, and amazing food attract millions of tourists annually," Money.com said. "And it’s also one of Vietnam’s safest cities.” The website recommends travelers try some of the mouth-watering street food available in every corner of the city, especially in District 1, District 3, and District 5, do shopping at Ben Thanh Market, and visit the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon in District 1. Travelers can book tours to the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City. It is also easy to get around the city with many transportation options, from buses, taxis to motorbikes, and metro lines in the near … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City the best destination for solo backpacking: Money.com

Keep up to date with the latest events in Vietnam on The Hanoi Times. First e-commerce on digital solutions launched in Vietnam Noventiq launches the All-in-One E-commerce Solution in Vietnam to enable and outsource digital sales on software vendor’s websites. Users will find there a variety of services provided by leading IT developers like Adobe, Autodesk, Eset, Google, JetBrains, and Microsoft. Vietnam’s rice export price highest in 10 years Vietnam’s rice export price has hit an average of US$517/ton this year, the highest over the past decade. Between January and May, the country’s rice exports reached $2.02, up 49% on year. Vietnam is the world’s third-largest rice exporter, after India and Thailand. Hot waves hit Hanoi. Photo: Duy Khanh/The Hanoi Times Hot waves strike Northern Vietnam Hot waves continue to hit Vietnam's northern and central regions today [May 31], with average temperatures ranging from 34°C (degrees Celsius) to 37°C, up to 38°C … [Read more...] about Vietnam News Highlights for May 31, 2023

The ministry’s proposal to extend the special consumption tax (SCT) payment period is expected to give a boost to the vehicle market, and create better conditions for cars manufacturers across the country. Currently, there are 12 vehicle manufacturing and assembling enterprises that could benefit from the extension (see box). Thanks to the support from the government policies, the domestic auto industry has recovered markedly from the pandemic and other pressures, with growth and sales in 2022 much higher than in 2019. However, output and sales of domestically manufactured cars are decreasing. In October 2022, the output was 25,571 vehicles and the corresponding SCT was $169 million. In November, the output decreased to 23,658 vehicles, and the corresponding SCT was $148 million. In December 2022, the amount of SCT incurred was $140 million; in January 2023, the amount was only $63 million. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has yet to announce SCT collected in recent months. … [Read more...] about Carmakers keen on extension of SCT pay

Going to department stores to avoid the hot weather has become the 36-year-old woman’s family ritual. On sunny days, their house in a cluster of rentals in Quyen District, Hai Phong, absorbs the heat from outside, making it unbearably hot. Hoa tried several ways of reducing the heat in her house, from pouring water onto the floor, to wiping the walls with a wet cloth, to opening every door and window. None seemed to work. The three-member family thus began seeking air-conditioned places outside the home to avoid sitting at home sweating and being uncomfortable. Both Hoa and her husband work at factories. Their accumulated monthly income is VND14 million (around $596), which is just enough to pay for their costs of living. Hoa once contemplated buying an air-conditioner, but even the one with the lowest power consumption would make her family’s monthly electric bill increase by VND400,000. "With that amount of money, I can buy enough food for my family to eat for eight days," … [Read more...] about Northerners use public ACs to escape heat wave