Interprovincial bus stations in Ho Chi Minh City report that passenger traffic during the 2025 Lunar New Year is only slightly higher than last year. To offset costs on days with lower ridership, ticket prices will increase by 40-60% compared to regular days.
Mien Tay Bus Station is expected to welcome about 760,000 passengers during this year’s Lunar New Year. Photo: Le Vu
For the 2025 Lunar New Year, the three major bus stations in HCMC — Western Bus Station, Eastern Bus Station, and the New Eastern Bus Station — have planned for a 20-day peak service period from January 19 to February 7, 2025.
To meet the travel demand of residents returning to the Mekong Delta provinces, Western Bus Station has prepared to handle 33,650 bus trips and 760,000 passengers, an increase of about 5% compared to last year and nearly 40% compared to normal days.
During peak days, the station will collaborate with transport operators to expand ticket sales channels. Ticket counters will extend their service hours, and passengers can book tickets in advance through multiple methods to ensure all travel needs are met.
The Western Bus Station has requested that the HCMC Department of Transport and transport departments in provinces such as Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, and Dong Nai issue directives to relevant authorities. These measures include traffic routing, enhancing public transport services, and ensuring smooth traffic flow.
Eastern Bus Station forecasts that passenger traffic during this year’s Lunar New Year will be similar to last year, with a slight increase of about 1%, reaching approximately 181,000 passengers and 9,300 bus trips. Most passengers will travel in the 10 days leading up to the Lunar New Year, with peak days on the 26th and 27th of the lunar calendar, each accommodating about 19,000 passengers.
To protect passenger rights, the Eastern Bus Station has issued guidelines on ticket price adjustments. Transport operators are allowed to raise ticket prices by a maximum of 40% or 60%, depending on the route and timing. For additional buses deployed during the holiday period, ticket prices will be flexibly adjusted to meet market demand.
Meanwhile, the New Eastern Bus Station expects fewer passengers than the old Eastern Bus Station. specifically, the new station plans to serve about 138,000 passengers, a slight 3% increase from last year. Passenger traffic will concentrate in the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, with peak days accommodating around 11,300–13,000 passengers.
According to the New Eastern Bus Station Management Board, its operations face significant challenges due to unauthorized bus stops, illegal “ghost” buses, and incomplete infrastructure. To address these issues, the station has proposed several solutions, including ticket price adjustments, advance ticket sales, and additional transport services for passengers.
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Source: Vietnam Insider