The diversity of means of transport from motorbikes, taxis, buses to trains, river buses... in Ho Chi Minh City is facing the problem of connectivity - Photo: QUANG DINH
Each big city has its own traffic problem, but the common point is that travel needs are increasingly diverse and complex.
Moving around the city is too inconvenient
I have had the opportunity to come to Vietnam many times for work, travel and recently attended the ITE International Tourism Exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City in September 2025. I noticed that during peak times or when it rains, getting a taxi or technology car is not easy, sometimes you have to wait for more than an hour. That made me think a lot about a bigger problem: Why is traveling in fast-growing cities like Ho Chi Minh City still so inconvenient?
The answer lies in fragmentation. Major cities in Vietnam and the rest of Southeast Asia, which are growing rapidly, with urban populations and tourism increasing rapidly, are faced with the reality of infrastructure not keeping up and lack of solutions for urban transport connectivity.
There are too many car rental service providers, but most of them still do not have a management system and apply technology to optimize coordination, management or connection with each other.
Mr. Choi Minsuk, author of the article
Imagine, when car rental service providers apply technology to optimize operations, optimize vehicle coordination, optimize routes... it will increase efficiency a lot. And all transportation service providers from cars, buses to trains... use technology to manage and operate, then we can optimize the overall connection of urban traffic, which we call Mobility as a Services (MaaS) solutions.
One of the big differences between Asia and Europe is the level of synchronization of transport infrastructure. In Europe, the public system is interconnected and less fragmented, making it easy for tourists to use. In Asia, especially in Vietnam, the diversity of means of transport from motorbikes, taxis, buses, trains, to private rental cars, is a challenge but also an opportunity to create suitable technological solutions.
If you want to book a flight or hotel, you can check the price, choose according to your needs, and book in just a few minutes. But if you want to rent a private car for a business trip, to pick up employees, or for a group trip, you still have to call, email, and wait for a quote. The field of "ground transportation" is still left behind in the digital transformation process.
In the age of globalization, “transportation” is not just about moving goods from one place to another, but also about how people connect to work, study, travel and life. The more convenient, fast and transparent mobility is, the more it contributes to increased productivity, expanded business opportunities and improved quality of life.
Connecting urban transport with technology
To effectively connect different types of transportation, service providers must first be digitized. If the metro or bus system is managed intelligently but car rental companies still operate manually, there can be no connection.
I believe that when businesses, regulators and start-ups all view transportation as a vital link in urban development, Vietnam can absolutely become a regional model in applying technology to smart transportation and tourism.
With Ho Chi Minh City, where many domestic and foreign enterprises are concentrated, along with the huge need to connect with factories and ports, the city is also one of the frequent destinations of business travelers around the world .
Especially in the future when Long Thanh airport comes into operation and the Vung Tau - Binh Duong area is more strongly connected, the new city will become the most vibrant center in the region. The explosion of business trips, conferences and tourism will lead to a huge demand for transportation.
Vietnam and Korea have many similarities, from history to progressive spirit. Korea is currently the largest investor in Vietnam, and vice versa, Vietnamese tourists to Korea are always in the largest group and I think we should start with the problem of business transportation, business trips, shuttle from Long Thanh airport to the center, shuttle employees, experts, long-term car rental...
And when this business problem is solved, we can expand to tourism, services and connect with public transport systems such as metro, bus, even river boat. It sounds simple but to transform digitally and optimize operations will take a long time.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/do-thi-viet-nam-can-mot-cach-di-chuyen-thong-minh-hon-20251019091702705.htm
Comment (0)