A programme which subsidises ticket fares on 5 new intra-city bus routes officially started in Da Nang on 10 December. 

The inauguration of the subsidised bus service

The routes are:

No1: Nguyen Tat Thanh - Kinh Duong Vuong – Tran Cao Van – Quang Trung – 3 February – Xuan Dieu

No2: Xuan Dieu – Le Loi – Phan Chau Trinh – Trung Nu Vuong – Nui Thanh – Le Thanh Nghi – Cach Mang Thang Tam – Ong Ich Duong – Pham Hung

No3: Hoa Lu – Duong Van Nga – Ngo Quyen –Tien Son Bridge – Xo Viet Nghe Tinh – Cach Mang Thang Tam – Ong Ich Duong – Pham Hung

No4: Xuan Dieu – Ong Ich Khiem – Phan Thanh – Nguyen Huu Tho – Tieu La – Huynh Tan Phat – Phan Dang Luu – Tien Son

No5: Hoang Sa – Yet Kieu – Ngo Quyen – Khuc Hao – Thuan Phuoc Bridge – 3 February – Dong Da – Le Duan – Nguyen Tri Phuong –Tran Thi Ly Bridge – Nguyen Van Thoai – Truong Sa.

Routes 1,2 and 3 are now operating, whilst the other two will start on 1 January 2017.  Buses will operate daily on these routes every 10 - 20 minutes from 5.00am to 9.00pm.

Under the city-approved subsidy programme, the fare is only 5,000 VND per passenger.  In addition, a monthly pass for 45,000 VND is now available for prioritised commuters, and 90,000 VND for unprioritised ones.  These beneficiaries are identified in line with the city’s regulation.  Fare exemptions are offered to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, disabled, elderly or poor people, local students and pupils, and workers in local industrial parks.

The programme, the first of its kind in the city, is under the management of the municipal Traffic Signals Control and Public Transport Centre of the municipal Department of Transport, whilst the Quang An No1 Joint Stock Company is the programme’s operator.

The programme now operates 61 high-quality buses, all equipped with air conditioning, and the fares are visually displayed on the buses.  There are designated bus stops along each route.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the programme, municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Tuan remarked that the development of a good public transport system should help to reduce the number of personal vehicles in the city centre and ease traffic congestion.  He also underlined the importance for bus drivers and assistants to show a friendly and polite attitude and behaviour towards their passengers.  He also urged the city-based media agencies to continue widely publicising the subsidy programme to the general public.

To mark the occasion, all local residents and visitors can travel free on the 3 already-operating routes for the 30 days after the official launch.