Ensuring readiness of transport vehicles and fare stabilization during Tet

From February 7, 2026 (the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month of the Year of the Snake), Dong Nai officially enters the peak period for serving the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026.

Crowds of people take coaches home for Tet at Dong Nai Bus Station. Photo: An Nhon

Transport units, bus stations and transport enterprises have proactively prepared plans to increase trips, arrange backup vehicles, control fares and tighten traffic safety measures, ready to meet the sharply rising travel demand of residents.

Proactively increasing trips, improving service quality

According to reporters of Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television, in recent days, the atmosphere at bus stations across the province has become more bustling than usual. At Dong Nai Bus Station in Tam Hiep ward, the number of passengers purchasing tickets and waiting for departures has increased markedly, especially in the early morning and late afternoon.

Unlike previous years, this year many people tend to return home earlier, mainly workers, freelance laborers and small traders. Transport enterprises have proactively announced specific schedules and sold tickets in reasonable time frames, resulting in a steady flow of passengers to stations, without the overcrowding and jostling seen in the past.

While waiting for her departure, Nguyen Thi Hanh from Nghe An province shared that she has left her hometown for more than 10 years to build a career in Dong Nai. Every year, no matter how busy she is, she tries to arrange time to return home for family reunions during Tet. “Last year, I bought a ticket to return to Nghe An on the 25th day of Tet for 1.8 million VND. This year, I’m going home earlier, so the ticket costs only 1.6 million VND. I find the fare increase during Tet reasonable as fuel and labor costs have risen. More importantly, I am satisfied because the buses are newer, safer and more comfortable,” she said.

In response to higher-than-usual travel demand, transport enterprises in the province have developed plans to reinforce vehicles on routes with large passenger volumes and stand ready to dispatch additional buses when necessary. Tickets are sold at listed prices, and information on service quality for each route is publicly and transparently disclosed. Notably, many coach operators have invested in new vehicles, enhancing amenities and technical safety to better serve passengers during Tet.

“During peak Tet days, the average number of rail passengers at Bien Hoa Station reaches about 850 per day, with the highest day recording 1,100 passengers, up 300–500% compared to normal days. Therefore, the station arranges additional staff to guide passengers and check tickets, assigns two security guards inside and outside the station to ensure order and assist travelers, and mobilizes two to three youth volunteers per day to provide support.”

NGUYEN XUAN CANH, in charge of Bien Hoa Railway Transport and General Services Business Center (Bien Hoa Station)

Pham Bich Ngoc, representative of Tu Tien Coach Company at Dong Nai Bus Station, said the company mainly operates the Dong Nai – Kien Giang route and vice versa, with pick-up and drop-off points at Dong Nai Bus Station, Nhon Trach IP and Tri An intersection. On normal days, the company runs seven trips per day, which may increase to 11–12 trips during Tet peak days. “We always pay attention to periodic maintenance and refurbishment of vehicles. This Tet, we have invested in three new coaches equipped with full amenities to better ensure passenger safety and comfort,” Ngoc noted.

According to Tong Thanh Hai, Director of Dongnai Station and Transportation Services Joint Stock Company, passenger traffic through the station has increased since the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month and is forecast to rise sharply in the coming days. Following directives from the Provincial People’s Committee and the Department of Construction (DoC), the company has synchronously implemented Tet service plans, arranging staff and security guards on 24/24 duty during peak days to support and guide passengers while strengthening security in and around the station area. “Our guiding principle is not to let any passenger be left behind at the station due to a lack of vehicles to return home for Tet. Therefore, backup vehicle plans are always ready, creating the most favorable conditions for residents to reunite with their families for a joyful and warm Tet,” Hai emphasized.

Strengthening supervision, preventing passenger congestion

At Bien Hoa Bus Station in Tran Bien ward, passenger numbers have also gradually increased in recent days, especially during morning and late-afternoon peak hours.

Trinh Hoai Vinh, Deputy Director in charge of Bien Hoa Bus Station, said surveys show that Tet travel demand mainly comes from workers and students returning to provinces in the Mekong Delta and the Central Highlands, as well as tourists traveling to Ho Chi Minh City and Lam Dong. Accordingly, the station has proactively assigned specific tasks to each division and required transport enterprises to prepare sufficient backup vehicles, register Tet service vehicles and be ready to increase trips before, during and after Tet to clear passenger flows. The station resolutely refuses departure clearance for vehicles that fail to meet technical safety standards, inspection and insurance requirements; drivers violating alcohol regulations or holding expired licenses; or vehicles whose journey monitoring devices are not operational or not equipped with cameras as prescribed.

A new feature of the upcoming Tet 2026 is that many operators have invested in high-quality vehicles to better serve travel demand in northern Dong Nai. For instance, Thanh Cong Coach Company (Thanh Cong Transport Co., Ltd., Binh Phuoc ward) operates the Bien Hoa Bus Station – Truong Hai Bus Station route; while Hong Hanh, Ut Nga and Nghia Bay coaches have registered routes such as Long Khanh Bus Station – Bu Dang and Long Khanh Bus Station – Phuoc Long.

According to Le Van Duc, Head of the Transport, Vehicle and Driver Management Department under the DoC, the department has recently organized inspection and supervision teams to review Tet service preparations at various transport units and bus stations. Inspections show that most units have developed Tet service plans, clearly assigned responsibilities, proactively maintained and repaired vehicles, and cleaned station areas, contributing to ensuring traffic order and safety. The DoC has emphasized fare stabilization during Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026. For routes with supply-demand imbalance (vehicles running empty one way), enterprises may apply a surcharge of no more than 40% and must declare and publicly list fares in accordance with regulations.

In the coming time, the DoC will continue to effectively implement directives from the Government, the Ministry of Construction, the Provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee, and the Department for Roads of Vietnam on transport organization to best serve residents’ travel demand during Tet. It will also closely monitor the situation, intensify ticket price inspections at bus stations and transport units, require fare reductions or exemptions for war invalids and the elderly, and rectify service attitudes while strictly enforcing traffic safety regulations.

With proactive and synchronized preparations by authorities at all levels and transport enterprises, it can be affirmed that Tet transport services for the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 in Dong Nai are ready to enter the peak period, aiming for safety, convenience, civility and fare stabilization, so that each journey home becomes a complete and meaningful spring reunion.

By An Nhon – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha