More than 90 percent of train tickets on peak days of the coming Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, which begins next month, have already sold out, according to Vietnam Railway (VNR).

Passengers purchase train tickets at Hanoi Train Station. More than 90 percent of train tickets on peak days of the coming Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, which begins next month, have already sold out

The peak days are from January 31 to February 6. Train tickets prior to January 31 are still available, the VNR said.

The VNR will organise 23 more trains to central provinces before, during and after the holiday.

It started to sell train tickets for the holiday in the beginning of October last year.

By December 24, the selling was smooth. Disadvantages in previous years such as errors while paying for the tickets and shoddy internet were improved.

This year, residents were made aware that they needed to list their correct names on identity cards while registering tickets, so no obstacles were reported.

An official from the VNR said most customers by now had become acquainted with the process of buying tickets online, so they did not experience crowding at ticket-selling stations.

During the holiday, the VNR will use 52 trains to run on the Hanoi-HCM City route. The VNR will also temporarily stop construction work on bridges and roads along the route.

Coach tickets booked

Meanwhile in HCM City, most of the high-quality coach operators at Mien Dong Coach Station, the country's largest bus station, have sold out tickets for trips from HCM City to the central and northern regions for the Tet holiday.

Thuong Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of Mien Dong Coach Station, said that more than 30 coach operators started selling Tet tickets two weeks ago.

Most passengers bought tickets in advance for soft-sleeper buses on long trips, Hai said.

Phan Dinh Hung, Director of Hung Mai Coach Service Company, said that passengers called to book tickets beginning last month.

Dozens of coach trips from HCM City to the central provinces of Quang Nam and Da Nang were fully booked, he said.

Although the station began selling Tet tickets mandated by coach operators on January 10, some popular coach brand names announced that tickets were sold out.

This year, the station kicked off selling tickets online for Tet to help passengers save time, Hai said.

Passengers can access www.pasoto.com to choose routes, dates and coach operators and make payments with credit cards or cash.

Thirty-five transport enterprises at the station have sold 34,000 tickets for Tet services.

A total of 217 transport enterprises registered for operation at Mien Dong Coach Station.

The number of passengers travelling by coach on Tet is forecast to remain unchanged compared to last year as some passengers have booked air or train tickets for Tet holiday, he added.

Authorities of Mien Tay Coach Station predict an increase of 3-5 percent in the number of passengers travelling on Tet holiday compared to last year.

The number of passengers will reach a peak on February 5 and 6, with 54,000- 56,000 passengers per day.

VNA