The capital city administration plans to operate women-only buses on certain routes during peak hours on trial basis as a move to counter sexual harassment and stealing.

It has instructed the Hanoi Transport and Services Corporation (Transerco) to implement this plan.

Nguyen Quoc Hung, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, said at a recent conference that women-only buses should be introduced in areas where female workers and students are vulnerable to sexual assault.

He said the move aims to combat sexual harassment of women and girls in public transport.

A survey of 2,046 people, conducted recently in Hanoi and HCM City, showed that 57 percent of the women aged 16 and above felt sexual harassment was most likely to happen on the streets.

As many as 87 percent of the surveyed women and girls said that they had experienced sexual harassment in various forms, including being whistled and stared at, having their physical appearance commented upon and being teased and touched on sensitive parts of their bodies.

About 31 percent of school girls said they'd suffered sexual harassment on buses, according to the survey, which was conducted by ActionAid Vietnam and the Research Centre for Gender, Family and Environment in Development.

Previously, the National Trafic Safety Committee had asked the city to identify locations, public transport routes and road sections where sexual harassment occurs most often.-VNA