Following recent approval by the Da Nang Department of Transport, Vietnamese transport firm FUTA Bus Lines has just put into operation 5 subsidized intra-city bus routes in Phase 2  with many incentive programmes for passengers as well as the use of the latest technology.

Buses operate on the 5 subsidized bus routes in Phase 2 operated by the FUTA Bus Lines. Photo: T.L

Specifically, the 5 subsidized bus routes with route numbers 05, 07, 08, 11 and 12, with the starting and ending points of the route respectively: Hoa Hiep Nam apartment complex - Bien Dong (East Sea) Park; Xuan Dieu bus station - Southern bus station; Vung Thung - Pham Hung bus station; Xuan Dieu bus station - Da Nang Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital; Xuan Dieu bus station - Pham Hung bus station.

Mr. Dao Viet Anh, the General Director of FUTA Bus Lines, acknowledged that Da Nang is one of the fastest growing and most beautiful cities in Viet Nam and this central coastal city is emerging as an attractive destination for millions of domestic and foreign tourists. With foresight and commitment to providing the best transportation service, the company realises that the need for a standard bus system in Da Nang is urgent.

The expansion of the operation of 5 bus routes in Phase 2 is a special event, marking the development direction of the FUTA Bus Lines, thereby benefiting the community and contributing to the city’s sustainable development. FUTA Bus Lines aims higher than it expects as bringing convenience, safety and saving time to the Da Nang people.

With the 5 new bus routes as above, the FUTA Bus Lines hopes to help relieve traffic congestion, reduce the number of personal vehicles along local streets and create favourable conditions for travel.

The staff of FUTA Bus Lines has been professionally trained with enough knowledge, skills and good service mindset for their customers.

Not only meeting the daily travel needs, FUTA Bus Lines has also paid special attention to the development of accompanying services and utilities.

The company will continuously improve its work performance to provide better travel experience for passengers, including improving in-car amenities, convenient payment systems and exploiting technology to enhance service quality.

Accordingly, all routes utilise new Minibus B26i vehicles manufactured by GAZ, Russia's top producer of commercial vehicles. Buses are fully equipped with cameras, GPS, wifi, using EURO 5 emission treatment system with environmentally-friendly features.

According to Ho Nguyen Quoc Cuong, the Director of the Traffic and Public Transport Signals Operation Centre under the Da Nang Department of Transport, a total of 55 minibuses daily operate from 5:30 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. 

in particular, priority is given to such special commuters such as veteran revolutionary and pre-insurrection cadres; Vietnamese heroic Mothers; wounded and sick soldiers with an injury or disease rate of 81% or higher; armed forces heroes, and Labour Heroes.

The fare for the service is only 6,000 VND per passenger per trip. In addition, a monthly pass for 65,000 VND is now available for prioritised commuters and 130,000 VND for unprioritised ones. These beneficiaries are identified in line with the city’s regulation.

The operation of the 5 subsidized bus routes in Phase 2 is also a premise for the city's transport industry to keep on researching and proposing to open new ones and other forms of public transport from now till 2030 to meet the travel needs of both local residents and tourists, thereby contribute to building rich, peaceful, civilised and modern Da Nang.

Reporting by THANH LAN - Translating by A.THU