Ho Chi Minh City has allowed the first bus to resume operations after nearly a month of suspension as part of the government’s enhanced social distancing order to curb the transmission of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Bus No. 5 started plying the Cho Lon-Bien Hoa route again on Tuesday to facilitate commute between Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring Dong Nai Province, the local public transportation management center said the same day.

The city’s Cho Lon is a neighborhood consisting of parts of District 5, District 6, and District 11 while Bien Hoa is the capital of Dong Nai.

The municipal administration began suspending all buses on April 1, when Vietnam went into extensive social distancing to slow the COVID-19 spread, in accordance with an order from Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

The government started gradually easing restrictions on April 23 after infection rates had slipped since April 4.

The bus will make 20 journeys a day, the center said.

The operators of the bus are required to take precautionary measures, as per regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control, such as asking passengers to declare health status and wear face masks.

They are permitted to reject any passenger refusing to follow the rules.

Plans on the reopening of other bus routes will be announced after May 3.

Bus No. 5 route:

* From Dong Nai: Bien Hoa Bus Station – National Road 1K – National Road 1A – National Road 13 – Dinh Bo Linh Street – Bach Dang Street – Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street – Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street – Phung Khac Khoan Street – Tran Cao Van Street – Vo Van Tan Street – Ba Huyen Thanh Quan Street – Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street – Hung Vuong Street – Le Hong Phong Street – Vinh Vien Street – Ngo Gia Tu Street - Nguyen Chi Thanh Street – Thuan Kieu Street – Chau Van Liem Street – Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street – Trang Tu Street – Cho Lon Bus Station.

* From Ho Chi Minh City: Cho Lon Bus Station – Le Quang Sung Street – Pham Dinh Ho Street –Thap Muoi Street – Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street – Chau Van Liem Street – Thuan Kieu Street – Nguyen Chi Thanh Street – Ngo Gia Tu Street – Vinh Vien Street – Le Hong Phong Street – Tran Phu Street – Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street – Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street – National Road 13 – National Road 1A – National Road 1K –Nguyen Ai Quoc Street – Bien Hoa Bus Station. 

Waterbus No. 1, running from Bach Dang to Linh Dong in Ho Chi Minh City, is scheduled to come back on stream on May 3, its operator Daily Limited Company said on Tuesday.

The bus will make 12 journeys a day and the frequency will gradually increase over time, the firm added.

Vietnam reported no new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday morning.

The national tally remains at 270, with 221 recoveries.

The Southeast Asian country has confirmed only two new patients, both imported cases in quarantine, since April 17.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!