There have been many unlicensed passenger coaches operating in Da Nang, which have been spurred by the growing demand for travel options in the run up to the upcoming Tet Festival. 

Law enforcement forces handling an unlicensed passenger coach

An interdisciplinary team from relevant local agencies recently detected and dealt with many unregistered coaches along the southern approaching road to the Hai Van Road Tunnel.

At around 6.00am on Monday, a 7-seater Fortuner car, which was en route from Thua Thien-Hue to Da Nang, was found operating without displaying badges as required by the national transport laws.

A civil penalty was imposed on the offending vehicle’s driver, 49-year-old Nguyen Xuan Phuong from Hue City, for his violation.

Local police officers performing a check over a 16-seater vehicle

In addition, administrative fines were imposed on other unregistered passenger coaches for having offered transport service without a permit for passenger transport.

There are 5 legal types of transport businesses in Viet Nam, namely taxis, buses, passenger coaches, cargo carriers, and for-hire cars.

As stipulated in the national government–issued Decree 46/2016/ND-CP, between 3 and 5 million VND in fines are imposed on any violation of such a case.

In reality, the current increase of unlicensed coaches is thought to be that because many passengers prefer to catch any coach along the roadside, rather than the legal ones from coach stations. 

Passengers are recommended that they should buy tickets from coach terminals’ booking offices to avoid being illegally picked up by these unlicensed coaches.