Being one of Viet Nam’s top tourist destinations, Da Nang hosts millions of domestic and foreign visitors every year. In a bid to meet the growing travel demand of tourists, the seaside city has opened many bus routes running through popular attractions with very cheap ticket price of only 5,000 VND/ person/ route.

The open-top double-decker buses

Ms Nguyen Tran Gia Linh from Dong Thap Province said she was totally surprised at the city’s bus fares. Especially, there are many bus services for some of the city’s popular attractions which are very attractive to visitors.

Mr Tran Ngoc Thao from Ho Chi Minh City noted that travelling by bus was much cheaper than other transport services. He, therefore, underlined the importance of promoting the development of this public transport service in order to make visitors feel more convenient and alleviate traffic congestion. He also remarked that the focus should be given to widely publicising this bus service amongst locals and visitors.

Currently, there are some intra-city bus routes going to many popular attractions.

In particular, the bus route No 12 departs in Son Tra District’s Tho Quang Ward and it then runs along Xuan Dieu, Dong Da, Le Duan and Duy Tan streets, Tran Thi Ly Bridge, and Vo Nguyen Giap, Truong Sa, Hoang Sa, Nguyen Van Thoai, Vo Van Kiet and Ho Nghinh streets. Passengers onboard can reach to Pham Van Dong and My Khe beaches.

In addition, a free Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF)-funded bus route takes passengers to the Con and Han markets. This TMF route passes Xuan Dieu, Le Duan, Ly Thai To and Hung Vuong streets, plus the Thuan Phuoc Bridge.

The bus route No 11 is preferred by children and their parents because it passes such entertainment areas as Asia Park, Helio Centre and Children’s Cultural Palace. In addition, passengers onboard will have the chance to admire the beauty of the Han River Bridge and Bach Dang Street at night.

Especially, a free TMF bus route linking Da Nang with Hoi An takes passengers to the Museum of Cham Sculpture and the Marble Mountains - two popular attractions in the seaside city.

Last year, the Empire Group, the developer of the Da Nang Cocobay Entertainment and Tourism Complex in Ngu Hanh Son District, launched its Coco Bus Tour N1 using open-top double-decker buses.

The ongoing route N1 of the Coco Bus Tour is running through a total of 25 scenic pick-up and drop-off points from the Da Nang International Airport to the Cocobay.  It takes visitors for a sightseeing journey of such scenic attractions as the Museum of Cham Sculpture, the Bridge of Love, the Nuoc Man Airport, the Marble Mountains, and the Asia Park.

In order to meet the increasing travel demand of visitors, the Coco Bus Tour N2 using open-top single decker buses will continue to be launched in the coming time.

The 2^nd route with 45-seater buses will feature 18 pick-up and drop-off points from the airport to My An Beach, My Khe Beach, Eastern Sea Park, Linh Ung Bai But Pagoda, Rong (Dragon) Bridge, Han River Bridge, the Museum of Cham Sculpture and 29 March Park.

Buses will run every 30 minutes from 7.00am to 10.00pm every day. One-way tickets for adults are priced at 250,000 VND per person, and are valid for 24 hours after activation. The tickets can be used for both routes, and passengers can hop on or off the buses at any stops. The tickets can be bought on buses, Cocobay information desks, the airport and any bus stops.

Leaders of the municipal Department of Tourism highlighted the significance of opening such bus tours to popular tourist attractions because recent years have seen growing demand for this type of transport service from locals and visitors.

Hence, the Empire Group has been asked to develop more accommodation establishments, drinking and eating areas, and entertainment venues along streets where the routes N1 and N2 will run to bring more convenient to visitors.