A new bus station serving as a permanent replacement for the old Ben Thanh Bus station in Ho Chi Minh City is finally open and ready to take on its role as a central hub for the city’s commuters.

The Ho Chi Minh City Management and Operation Center for Public Transport (MOCPT) formally inaugurated the modern bus station, located on Ham Nghi Street in District 1, on Thursday morning.

The VND8 billion (US$352,427) facility is situated just a stone's throw from the old Ben Thanh Bus Station, now demolished to make way for the construction of Saigon’s metro route No. 1.

The metro line, the first of its kind in the metropolis, connects Ben Thanh Terminal in District 1 with Suoi Tien Terminal in District 9.

A total of eight waiting areas, each measuring six meters long, are divided into two separate zones for buses to pick up and drop off passengers commuting across 33 of the city’s bus routes.

Each zone is also designed to be handicap accessible.

Buses arrive at the bus stop on the morning of December 28, 2017. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Two information booths with Wi-Fi accessibility allow commuters at the 5,600 square meter station to access information regarding the city’s public transport system and read local newspapers.

Twelve electronic boards provide details about route numbers, arrival times, and the distance between buses and the station.

An information booth at the station. Photo: Tuoi Tre

According to Tran Quang Lam, deputy director of the municipal Department of Transport, the location of the new station was selected due to its close proximity to important sites in the downtown area, namely the Ben Thanh Market, the Ben Thanh Terminal of metro line No. 1, and Bach Dang Station on the city’s river bus route.

Additional improvements are expected to maximize convenience and encourage citizens to use public transportation, Lam added.

An automatic bathroom at the waiting zone of the bus stop. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Commuters await buses at the station. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A charging station is provided free for travelers. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Passengers board a bus on the afternoon of December 28, 2017. Photo: Tuoi Tre

An electronic board displays bus details. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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