Ho Chi Minh City to launch first electric bus route next week

Ho Chi Minh City’s first public electric bus route is scheduled to start operation from March 9, according to the city’s public transport management centre.

Ho Chi Minh City's first electric public bus is scheduled to start operation on March 9.
Ho Chi Minh City's first electric public bus is scheduled to start operation on March 9.

Assigned the code D4, the route is operated by Vinbus, a subsidiary of Vingroup, and will run from Vinhomes Grand Park to the Saigon Bus Station, along such streets as Nguyen Xien, Vo Chi Cong, Mai Chi Tho, Vo Van Kiet, Ham Nghi and Le Lai.

The route has a fleet of 12 vehicles and features 94 trips per day, with each ride taking 100 minutes and a cost of 7,000 VND for regular passengers or 3,000 VND for students.

Following D4, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport is planning to launch another four electric bus routes in the third and fourth quarters of 2022, under a trial programme that will last 24 months.