Da Nang planned to ban over 30-seat buses from the downtown area during rush hour to reduce alarming congestion in the first quarter of 2019, Director of the city’s Transport Department Le Van Trung said.

Coaches parked at a site in Da Nang’s downtown in rush hour. The city plans to ban the operation of 45-seat coach in the city centre during rush hour to ease congestion. — VNS Photo Cong Thanh

He said the city had limited the operation of over 30-seat buses between April and December and it had gradually helped to ease traffic jams.

Trung said 45-seat coaches, which were mostly operated by travel agencies, often caused congestion between .005pm and 6.30pm.

The city does not have enough parking areas for coaches and buses.

Tourists enjoy an open-top bus in Da Nang.— VNS Photo Cong Thanh

The city will expand the ban for buses and coaches at popular tourist destinations, such as Han Market, the city’s Administrative Centre, the Museum of Cham Sculpture and the Da Nang Museum.

Trung said the city would ask travel agencies to only offer rides to these destinations after rush hour, while boosting the operation of public buses.

According the city’s transport department, six new inner-city bus routes with subsidised fares will be added in the second quarter of 2019, increasing the number to 11.

The routes will have new 40-seat buses connecting major mass commuter destinations including the former Han River Port, the Marble Mountains Tourist Area, 29 March Park, the Hi-Tech Park and Viet Nam - Korea Friendship IT College.

Tickets will cost 5,000 VND (0.2 US$) per trip, or 90,000 VND ($4) for a monthly pass. People with disabilities, students and workers in industrial parks will get a 50% discount.

In 2018, the city, in co-operation with Toyota Mobility Foundation, launched 61 new 40-seat buses on 5 routes operating between 5.00am until 9.00pm each day.

The city’s population of 900,000 has far outgrown the current public bus system, which has just 48 buses on five routes, meeting just 10% of demand.

More than 7.6 million tourists, including 2.9 million foreigners, visited the city in 2018.

(Source: VNS)