The bus route that connects Than Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City to the downtown area has quickly become a preferred form of transport for travelers.

After one month of operations, bus route No. 109 connecting Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Tan Binh District and 23/9 Park in District 1 has received positive feedback from both domestic and international passengers.

Tran Ngoc Anh, 45, who is a Hanoi businesswoman and frequent traveler to Ho Chi Minh City, has expressed her compliments on the ‘yellow coated’ buses, saying that they are very clean, pleasant, and comfortable.

Both the drivers and employees are all very nice and friendly, Anh continued.

“Prior to the opening of the bus route, I had to spend VND200,000 [US$9] for a taxi ride from the airport to the city center. Now with only VND20,000 [$1] I can have access to a faster and more convenient journey,” the woman said.

According to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters’ observations, the bus designs include a modern interior, an anti-slip floor, a lower platform, and large luggage spaces convenient for air travelers. 

Able to carry up to 70 passengers, the vehicles are also air-conditioned and outfitted with security cameras and fire extinguishers.

In addition, the drivers of these buses never make sudden breaks or sharp turns, providing a smooth experience for passengers.

According to Truong Quoc Hung, a driver of the shuttle bus, all drivers of bus route No. 109 are required to possess a Class E driver's license and five to six years of experience.

Information on the buses is written in both English and Vietnamese for international tourists while staffers on the vehicles and at the ticket counters have proper English skills to answer all travelers’ questions.

The fare for the service is VND20,000 ($0.9) for journeys over 5km and VND12,000 ($0.54) for those under 5km, driver Nguyen Thanh Dong said, adding that passengers are not charged an extra ticket for every large suitcase like on other public buses.

The six buses that ply the new route run every 15-20 minutes between 5:30 am and 1:30 am, which is very helpful for people who travel late at night, according to Hung, a resident of Phu Nhuan District.

Possible improvement

Tran Thi Thu, a passenger of the bus route, considered the vehicle very effective in terms of alleviating traffic congestion.

However, the route does overlap with route No. 152, which has a lower fare, VND5,000 ($0.22), and a longer journey, but those buses have become quite degraded, Thu said.

Many passengers have opted to travel on the No. 152 bus due to its more flexible route, such as Devadoss Jebaraj Joseph, an Indian expat who has been living and working in Ho Chi Minh City for 10 years.

“Though the new route No. 109 is very convenient, I still choose to travel on the old route No. 152 as it can take me closer to my home,” Joseph elaborated.

Nguyen Hong Ninh, a Vietnamese passenger, suggested that the bus route be extended to other districts in the city, preventing travelers from having to take additional buses or cabs to reach their final destinations.  

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