Double-decker tourist bus starts trial run in capital

The first double-decker bus to ferry tourists around the city started its trial run in Hanoi on June 30 morning.

The bus, called City Tour, departs from Hanoi Opera House and runs through Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh and Tay Ho districts, taking tourists to popular attractions such as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature and Old Quarters.

The bus, painted a cheerful red, has 14 seats at the lower level and over 30 seats on the open top level, which has a mobile roof that can be closed during bad weather.

A photo of Hanoi's double-decker bus


Nguyen Cong Nhat, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Transport Service Company (Transerco), said only one bus has been put on trial run to gather public opinion. “The city plans to have more double-decker buses with open roofs. They will better serve tourists and help reduce traffic density,” he said.

The bus, designed following all technical safety standards, is equipped with 4G, Wifi, and has supportive devices for the disabled.

The city plans to run the first 10 buses in July. Passengers can either buy tickets for the city tour, or hire the entire bus for different purposes.

Last year, the Prime Minister gave the go-ahead to Hanoi, HCM City and five other areas to pilot double-decker bus for tourism activities within five years. These buses will start operating in the capital and HCM City in the next two months.

Other countries in the region where double-decker buses are commonly used for city tours include Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and Hong Kong.

Source: VietnamPlus

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