VietNamNet Bridge – The leading transport companies in HCM City on Wednesday sold all of their tickets for several routes from the city to destinations in central and northern provinces for the peak days of Tet (Lunar New Year).



However, the city's Mien Dong Coach Station said it would add more coaches to ensure that there would be enough seats for passengers.


The station on Tuesday began to sell in advance tickets for 16 routes from HCM City to central and northern provinces.

Most tickets were bought for routes from HCM City to Quy Nhon, Quang Ngai, Da Nang and Ha Noi, according to Mai Linh Joint Stock Company, one of the leading transport companies.


With 21 coaches, Mai Linh can transport about 800 passengers a day on the routes during Tet, which falls on February 3.

Pham Minh Suong, deputy general director of Mai Linh Joint Stock Company, said tickets had sold out because thousands of people had booked and bought tickets in advance before January 5.


The HCM City–Qui Nhon route, for example, had no tickets available from January 22 to February 2, Suong said.


Other transport service companies like Hoang Long, Chin Nghia and Mien Dong Co-operatives, which sells tickets at the Mien Dong Coach Station, have also said they have sold out of tickets from January 25 to February 1.


Of the transport service companies that had sold all of their tickets, some are planning to rent more coaches to serve customers, according to the Mien Dong Coach Station authorities.

Passengers prefer to buy tickets from prestigious transport companies because of their good services and high quality. Their buses typically have air conditioners and reclining seats.


Thuong Thanh Hai, deputy director of the Mien Dong Coach Station, said his station would add more coaches to ensure a sufficient supply for Tet.


The station estimates that it will sell a total of 7,000 tickets for the 16 main routes from HCM City to central and northern provinces at Tet, up 700 tickets compared to last year. Ticket prices have increased by 20-40 per cent, depending on the routes.


The Mien Tay Coach Station yesterday, Jan 13, also began to sell tickets for Tet to passengers travelling from HCM City to the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.


Huynh Hai Oanh, deputy director of the station, said ticket prices would increase by 40 per cent on 56 routes from HCM City to Delta provinces and Can Tho City.


VietNamNet/Viet Nam News