Over the past three years, Tran Minh Anh, a third-year student, regularly catches the 47B bus route from her home in Thach Ban, Long Bien District, to the National Economics University. While chatting, Minh Anh happily shared: “I find that taking electric buses nowadays is both clean and safe, plus the staff are very friendly.”
At Long Bien Bus Station in Ba Dinh District, Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc is waiting for a bus to transfer to her company. Ngoc said: “The waiting shelters are now much better and the buses run on time. I also frequently use the route lookup app, which is very convenient, and I hope that the city will invest in more electric buses.”
The positive impressions from Anh and Ngoc are just a few of the many reasons why the capital city’s residents increasingly trust and choose public buses.
Furthermore, with the monthly pass costing only 70,000 VND (2.7 USD) for a single route and 140,000 VND (5.4 USD) for multiple routes, buses have become both an economical and convenient choice for pupils and students. For passengers over 60 years old, the fare is free. Additionally, from February 2025 to January 2026, users of VinBus electric routes E01 to E10 are getting a 50% discount on single-route monthly passes.
Recently, Transerco, the main bus operator in Ha Noi, has organised numerous training sessions to develop communication and customer service skills for drivers and conductors.
Nguyen Van Hung, who has been a conductor for over ten years, shared: “I notice that more and more students, workers and elderly people are choosing buses for their convenience and ease of travel. Gone are the days of pushing, speaking loudly or impatience; instead, passengers are increasingly showing more civility and friendliness.”
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| Inside an electric bus. |
Currently, Ha Noi has 15 bus routes using electricity and green energy, with a total of 226 electric vehicles and 139 vehicles using compressed natural gas (CNG), accounting for 19.7% of the city’s bus fleet.
Not only investing in new vehicles, Ha Noi is also promoting technology applications in organising, managing and operating the bus network. Along with this, the electronic ticketing system has been implemented, serving more than 20 million passengers in just the first three months of the year, generating revenue of over 200 billion VND (7.7 million USD).
Thai Ho Phuong, Director of Ha Noi Traffic Management and Operations Centre, stated: “As of the first quarter of 2025, the total number of bus routes piloting electronic ticket cards is 28, an increase of 3 routes compared to 2024, accounting for 22.2% of the network’s total routes. In addition, the capital city’s bus system has served 54 million passengers. This is an important foundation for expanding the electronic ticketing system across the entire network by the end of 2025.”
Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and artificial intelligence (AI) are also being integrated into the monitoring and operation of the bus system. Modern technology not only improves the accuracy and reliability of services but also enhances management efficiency and passenger experience.
Additionally, functional units have processed more than 32,000 feedback items from bus users, contributing to improved management efficiency and passenger experience.
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| A bus shelter in Ha Noi. |
However, Ha Noi buses still face challenges such as high operating costs for electric vehicles and congestion in some inner-city areas, especially during peak hours, requiring relevant authorities to implement more synchronised and bolder solutions.
To address these difficulties, Transerco is coordinating with functional agencies to optimise routes and invest in infrastructure. At the same time, Transerco has adjusted 37 routes with the aim of reducing travel time and traffic congestion.
During the 2025-2026 period, Ha Noi plans to invest more than 30 billion VND (1.2 million USD) to build new and upgrade existing bus shelters and stops. Additionally, the installation of charging stations at bus terminals and parking areas is being carried out urgently to serve the development of the electric vehicle fleet.
According to Ha Noi Vice Chairman Nguyen Manh Quyen, to make the bus fleet greener, the pioneering role of management units, specifically the Ha Noi Traffic Management and Operations Centre, the Department of Construction, and bus operators is extremely important.
To achieve this goal, Transerco is receiving financial support from banks to invest in new vehicles to meet the travel needs of the capital city’s residents.
Nguyen Thanh Nam, General Director of Transerco, said: “The banks’ commitment to provide credit with preferential interest rates for green energy vehicle investment projects by Transerco helps us realise the roadmap for transitioning to electric buses sooner.”
From boldly investing in electric vehicles, applying digital technology in management and operations, to continuously improving service quality and enhancing passenger experience, Ha Noi is showing strong determination in creating a civilised public transport network that increasingly better meets the travel needs of residents and contributes to the sustainable urban development goals of the capital.
