HCM City (VNS/VNA) - The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transporthas proposed reopening a high-speed boat and water-bus route that connects thecity with Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong and Tien Giang provinces from October 20.

The services will connect to beach destinations in Vung Tau and Can Gio.

The HCM City public river bus route No.1 between Bach Dang Wharf in District 1and Linh Dong Wharf in Thu Duc city has restarted after more than four monthsof suspension due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to Nguyen Kim Toan, director of the Thuong Nhat Co., Ltd., whichoperates the service, there are 12 one-way trips on the route each day and theboats operate at not more than 50 per cent passenger capacity.

“We will change the number of trips depending on demand.”

All boat crew members have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

Passengers have to follow guidelines issued by the city Department of Transportfor the safe operation of inland waterway passenger transport such as using aQR code for movement declaration on the VNEID app and another showingvaccination status on the HCM Health app or the electronic Health Book.

People who do not have a QR code need to furnish a certificate showing theyhave recovered from COVID or got at least one dose of a vaccine at least 14days prior.

Fares remain the same as before the pandemic, at 15,000 VND per trip.

According to the department, the decision to resume inland waterway transportof inter-provincial inland waterway aims to meet the needs of residents,workers, and experts, and contribute to tourism and socio-economic recoveryduring the pandemic.

Inter-provincial bus service

The HCM City Department of Transport has planned a draft on resuminginter-provincial bus service between the city and other provinces by November1.

Under the draft, the fixed route buses will provide from three to five tripsper day from November 1-15.

The routes that offered 100 trips per day before the pandemic will be allowedto provide 15 trips.

Passengers must follow the 5K message, and not occupy more than 50 percent ofseats.

The number of trips will be up to 10 for normal routes and 30 for highfrequency ones from November 15-30.

In December, inter-provincial bus service companies will be allowed to have nomore than 50 percent of the operating frequency of all routes.

All passengers travelling by inter-provincial buses will have to have anegative COVID-19 test within the last 72 hours.

They should have received at least one vaccine dose 14 days from departure dayor have recovered from COVID-19 within the last six months.

They must fill out a health or vaccination declaration on the PC-Covidapplication before travelling.

In case passengers accompany people who are not eligible to receive avaccination under the Ministry of Health’s guidelines, their companions mustfollow the 5K protocol, make a health declaration, and have a negative test.

When leaving bus stations, passengers must go straight to their accommodations,inform local authorities, and self-isolate for seven days.  

Meanwhile, drivers and service staff must be fully vaccinated, or haverecovered from COVID-19 within the last six months. They also have to have anegative COVID-19 test within the last 72 hours.

The bus service companies must arrange accommodations for their staff at thedeparture site and destination in the city and other provinces.

The draft has been sent to provincial departments of transport for opinions./.