Too many strict regulations, fixed-route buses leave stations

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Tung, Director of Giap Bat bus station, Hanoi, said that the regulations for fixed-route transportation are very strict (requiring the installation of journey monitoring devices, cameras to monitor conditions of listing, and related transportation order documents), but contract vehicles are not like that.

“That means contract vehicles are not subject to the management of state agencies at both ends of the station. They only need to register with the Department of Transport with a contract and a list of passengers without being subject to the same management as fixed-route vehicles.

Meanwhile, fixed-route transport vehicles must be approved by the Department of Transport at both ends of the route, and must comply with all the following lists (about 17-18 lists): posting inside and outside the vehicle, posting ticket prices, posting hotline phone numbers, fire fighting equipment, emergency hammers, journey monitoring cameras, etc.

The two terminals check these lists every day. Only when the bus has everything is it can it depart," said Mr. Tung.

truck bed.jpeg — *The number of vehicles entering Giap Bat station decreased by about 40% (Photo: N. Huyen)*

Giap Bat bus station is a class 1 bus station, with a daily capacity of 1,150 vehicles, but since the Covid-19 epidemic was controlled, it has only served about 600 - 700 vehicles/day (a decrease of 40-45%). Among the many reasons for the decline, Mr. Tung admitted that it was also due to the explosion of other types of transportation (contract vehicles, group vehicles).

Adding, Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen, Chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association, said that for a long time, we have been managing passenger transport on fixed routes too tightly while managing contract vehicles loosely. This is one of the factors that has caused more and more fixed-route vehicles to switch to contract vehicles.

“The first thing that contract vehicles are strictly controlled is related to the management of the station. For example, transport units must be approved by the Department of Transport at both ends of the route and operate at the prescribed departure frequency. However, passenger transport is not always stable in terms of traffic volume, but can increase on weekends, holidays, Tet, and tourist seasons.

At this time, transport units that want to adjust to increase trips must request to increase the frequency, passing through both ends of the route, which is very difficult. Transport units are not proactive in adapting to market demand.

The announcement of ticket prices is similar, it must be announced several days in advance and then approved by the Department of Transportation at both ends of the route, and wait until the station announces it before adjusting the ticket prices.

This makes fixed-route vehicles not fully adapt to market supply and demand, while contract-based passenger transport is proactive in pricing," Mr. Quyen emphasized.

Reduce the "rights" of bus stations

Frankly admitting the situation of passenger buses not entering the station, Mr. Ho Van Huong, former Vice President of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association in charge of the Southern provinces for many terms, said: the buses do not have to leave the station, but they no longer have the "mark" to enter the station, so they are forced to run outside.

“In Ho Chi Minh City, there are about 300 transport cooperatives. Of these, only about 100 enterprises operate fixed routes, nearly 200 units specialize in operating contract vehicles with the number of vehicles reaching nearly 100,000 transport service vehicles. While the entire city has only 5 bus stations.

The number of vehicles is too large and there are not enough "covers" to enter the station, so businesses are forced to operate outside. For example, the route from Ho Chi Minh City to Dak Lak every day from 2 bus stations Mien Dong and An Suong. Each station is only allowed to depart 50 vehicles, any more than that and they cannot enter," said Mr. Huong.

Meanwhile, according to Mr. Huong, the procedures for running fixed-route buses are very strict. Contractual units are more convenient - no need to register for entry and exit (not controlled by the bus station), no need to register for ticket prices, run at any time they want, and businesses can set up an outside parking lot to receive passengers.

“Fixed routes must be registered at the station, the frequency of running in and out of the station… and there are many fees such as: entering and exiting the station, parking fees, ticket sales commission. If the business sells tickets itself, it does not have to pay ticket sales commission but will have to pay for the ticket office rental fee.

On average, each vehicle entering the station must pay fees of 200,000 - 300,000 VND depending on the length of the route. Meanwhile, contract vehicles do not have to pay this fee," Mr. Huong said.

Another issue that many bus operators are concerned about is that current circulars and decrees “give too much power” to bus stations. Bus stations are authorized to check relevant documents (vehicle registration, driver’s license, etc.).

Former Vice President of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association Ho Van Huong said: "Bus stations are also enterprises in the market mechanism, not state management agencies and must be equal to transport enterprises. The authority should not be given to bus stations to check the procedures of transport enterprises' vehicles when entering and leaving the station.

This creates harassment and inconvenience for transport businesses. I have received feedback from drivers about the difficulties in checking documents. Therefore, I propose to remove this right of the station and set up an inspection team of traffic police."

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