A mass of transport service companies operating at the Ho Chi MinhCity-based Mien Dong (East bound) Coach Station have been raising theprice of coach fares for weekdays by five to 10 percent sincemid-November, aiming to push prices up for the Lunar New Year (Tet)holiday.
According to the station's regulations,travel businesses are allowed to raise fares for coaches from the cityto destinations in central and northern provinces for peak days duringTet by 20-60 percent.
The increase in fares is aimedat making up for lost revenue for coaches that will return to the citywith low passenger numbers after taking people to their hometowns forthe holiday.
The Sao Vang Transport Service TradingLtd Co has raised fares for trips from the city to the central provinceof Quang Ngai by six per cent. The cost of a seat since early this monthhas gone up to 340,000 VND (16 USD), and a bunk has risen to 390,000VND (18 USD) on weekdays. The price will reach between 544,000 VND (25USD) and 624,000 VND (29 USD) during the Tet holiday.
If the company hadn't increased the fare on weekdays, passengers wouldonly have paid 512,000 VND (24 USD) for a seat and 592,000 VND (28 USD)for a bunk during the holiday.
Some transportbusinesses that sell tickets outside the station have taken advantage ofthe increase to illegally double their fares.
Duong Hong Thanh, Deputy Director of the city's Transport Department,told Tuoi Tre (The Youth) newspaper that inspectors were onlyresponsible for managing and tackling violations involving ticket pricessold inside coach stations.
"Currently, there areno regulations to punish transport business that sell tickets outsidethe stations for an inflated price," Thanh said.
The city's Transport Department advised passengers to purchase ticketsdirectly from the station to avoid problems. Transport inspectors havealso been asked to strengthen inspections at the city's coach stations.
Since early this month, some transport businessesin Hanoi's My Dinh Coach station have increased fares for weekdays by5-18 percent.-VNA
According to the station's regulations,travel businesses are allowed to raise fares for coaches from the cityto destinations in central and northern provinces for peak days duringTet by 20-60 percent.
The increase in fares is aimedat making up for lost revenue for coaches that will return to the citywith low passenger numbers after taking people to their hometowns forthe holiday.
The Sao Vang Transport Service TradingLtd Co has raised fares for trips from the city to the central provinceof Quang Ngai by six per cent. The cost of a seat since early this monthhas gone up to 340,000 VND (16 USD), and a bunk has risen to 390,000VND (18 USD) on weekdays. The price will reach between 544,000 VND (25USD) and 624,000 VND (29 USD) during the Tet holiday.
If the company hadn't increased the fare on weekdays, passengers wouldonly have paid 512,000 VND (24 USD) for a seat and 592,000 VND (28 USD)for a bunk during the holiday.
Some transportbusinesses that sell tickets outside the station have taken advantage ofthe increase to illegally double their fares.
Duong Hong Thanh, Deputy Director of the city's Transport Department,told Tuoi Tre (The Youth) newspaper that inspectors were onlyresponsible for managing and tackling violations involving ticket pricessold inside coach stations.
"Currently, there areno regulations to punish transport business that sell tickets outsidethe stations for an inflated price," Thanh said.
The city's Transport Department advised passengers to purchase ticketsdirectly from the station to avoid problems. Transport inspectors havealso been asked to strengthen inspections at the city's coach stations.
Since early this month, some transport businessesin Hanoi's My Dinh Coach station have increased fares for weekdays by5-18 percent.-VNA
