VietNamNet Bridge – The city's two inter-provincial coach stations should secure enough tickets for passengers on peak days before Tet (Lunar New Year), according to the deputy permanent chairman of HCM City People's Committee.


People queue to buy tickets at Mien Dong Coach Station. HCM City plans to lay on additional buses to meet increasing demand over the Tet holidays. (Photo: VNS)
Nguyen Thanh Tai told the Mien Dong (East bound) and Mien Tay (West bound) stations to provide better services for passengers, including clear instructions at the terminals and good security.


He noted while visiting the stations on Tuesday that the transportation need was great because about 2-3 million migrants are returning to their hometowns for the holiday.


The Mien Dong Coach Station's buses to southeastern, central and northern regions transported a total of 40,000 passengers on Tuesday, double the normal amount.


Most of them had bought tickets in advance, according to station officials.


Vu Ngoc Thua, director of Mien Dong Coach Station, said the number of passengers on peak days before Tet, January 29, 30 and 31, could reach 50,000-60,000 a day.

"However, the station will ensure enough tickets for passengers," Thua said, adding that more buses will be added.


Robust sales


The Mien Tay Coach Station buses, which travel to the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta, took 24,000 extra passengers on Tuesday.


Huynh Hai Oanh, deputy director of the station, said advance ticket sales had been robust.


The Sai Gon Railway Station yesterday ran 19 train trips carrying 12,000 passengers to the central and northern regions.

Of the train trips, 14 ran from HCM City to Ha Noi, and the remaining five from HCM City to Hue City.


Dinh Van Sang, deputy general director of the Sai Gon Railway Passenger Transportation Company, said January 26 had the highest number of passengers compared to previous days.


The station will operate 19 train trips a day to January 31, with all trains adding more carriages.


VietNamNet/Viet Nam News