Two more river bus routes proposed for HCMC

Ho Chi Minh City’s District 7 has proposed to municipal authorities that two new river bus routes be established to connect it with downtown District 1.

A private company will invest and operate the two routes on Saigon River for five years, with a total price tag of nearly VND260 billion ($11.5 million), District 7 authorities proposed.

The No. 3 route will run 13 kilometers from Bach Dang Wharf to Mui Den Do with a total time of 56 minutes. There will be 11 stations. A boat will have 50 seats.

The No. 4 route will run over 13 kilometers from Bach Dang Wharf to the Phu My Hung urban area. A boat will have 40 seats.

Authorities of District 7 said both routes would help take advantage of the waterways as the city strives to recover its economy following the fourth Covid-19 wave, the proposal read.

HCMC is operating the No. 1 route from District 1 to Thu Duc City. The No. 2 route from downtown to District 8 is pending operation.

River buses are part of the city’s efforts to reduce traffic congestion.

With 110 rivers and canals covering 1,000 kilometers, the city needs over VND21 trillion to develop this network in the next 30 years, according to its Department of Transport.