Passenger and freight transport vehicles will continue to enjoy reduced road use charges from July 1 until the end of December 2021.The road tolls have been reduced for the third time in a row in a bid to help transport operators overcome the challenges resulting from the COVID-19.

Passenger and freight transport vehicles began to enjoy reduced road use charges from July 1. Photo: THANH LAN

Under this new regulation, monthly road tolls for private and public passenger vehicles which carry school pupils, college and university students, workers, with fewer than 10 seats,​ are VND 91,000 and VND 126,000 respectively. Meanwhile, monthly road use charges for vehicles with 10 seats to less than 25 seats are VND189,000, VND 273,000 for vehicles with 25 seats to less than 40 seats, and VND 413,000  for vehicles with 40 seats or more. In addition, trucks, special-purpose vehicles and trailers will pay from VND 162,000 to VND 1,287 million per month to use roads.

Freight and passenger transport operators who have suspended their operations and carried out suspension procedures at the Da Nang Department of Transport, and  had  their badges revoked, will be exempt from paying road use charges until they resume operations .

According to the Ministry of Transport, the opening of Hai Van 2 tunnel has a significant possitive effect on investment efficiency, bringing benefits to its users because of the safety and shorter journey lengths.

Charges for users of Hai Van and Phuoc Tuong - Phu Gia tunnels (Thua Thien Hue Province) have been reduced from VND 119,300 – VND 586,800 to VND 110,000 - VND 280,000.

Mr Tran Thanh Tam, CEO of Vinasun taxi company, and Chairman of the Da Nang Taxi Association, said that the fourth wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the city had a high negative effect on taxi operators due to a decrease of 80-90% in passengers.This resulted in significant decline in revenue and income of taxi drivers. In addition, many taxi businesses are at risk of bankruptcy as the COVID-19 pandemic batters the sector. Non-performing loans are still increasing despite slow credit expansion as the pandemic stretches many businesses to their limits.

Thus, Mr Tam proposed to reduce futher road tolls for transport operators to help them get through these challenging times.  

Da Nang Road Freight Transport Association Chairman To Van Hiep said that many transport operators have suspended their operations or are operating at 50 per cent capacity due to COVID-19. Therefore, toll fees should be reduced by 70 per cent for road freight transport businesses in the context of the COVID-19 crisis, Mr Hiep susgested.

Reporting by THANH LAN – translating by H.L