The launch of the Ho Chi Minh City – Con Dao high-speed train route, originally scheduled for February 23, has been rescheduled to March 15.
Rapid completion of final steps
As of February 27, relevant units were still urgently completing the announcement procedures for the route, the announcement of the terminal, as well as the passenger transit plan from the center of Ho Chi Minh City to the Saigon – Hiep Phuoc Port (Nha Be district) to board the train to Con Dao, Ba Ria – Vung Tau province.
Mr. Tran Song Hai, a member of the Board of Directors of the Phu Quoc High-Speed Boat Joint Stock Company, said that the modern high-speed boat with two bodies and a capacity of 1,000 passengers for the Ho Chi Minh City – Con Dao route is ready. The company is eager to put the route into service. The company is coordinating with relevant units to complete the announcement procedures for the route, announce the start of the terminal’s operation at the Saigon – Hiep Phuoc port, and arrange the station to serve passengers.
A modern high-speed boat with a capacity of more than 1,000 people is expected to be put into operation in mid-March 2024. Photo: PHU QUOC HIGH-SPEED BOAT JOINT STOCK COMPANY
To get from the center of Ho Chi Minh City to the Saigon – Hiep Phuoc port, passengers have two options: go directly to the port or go to Bach Dang terminal (District 1) and take a high-speed shuttle boat to the port.
“We are currently building additional small high-speed boats with a capacity of 350 people to pick up passengers at the Bach Dang terminal at 6:45 am, go directly to the Saigon – Hiep Phuoc port for passengers to board the 8:00 am train to Con Dao. The price of the shuttle train ticket is being calculated by the company to be the most balanced, averaging less than VND 200,000/ticket,” Mr. Hai said.
According to Mr. Hai, the problem of passenger transit from the center of Ho Chi Minh City to the port is not easy because the transportation is still difficult and far from the center, and the travel costs are high. Therefore, in addition to the shuttle train, if there are additional bus routes connecting to the port, it will better serve passengers.
This is the first train route from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao, and it is also the aspiration of the company. Therefore, the Phu Quoc High-Speed Boat Joint Stock Company is making efforts to operate the first trip on March 15.
The price plan submitted to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transportation has also been calculated. Specifically, the price of the Ho Chi Minh City – Con Dao train ticket will be the same as the Vung Tau – Con Dao high-speed train, with a minimum of VND 615,000/seat, regular seats at VND 880,000, and VIP seats at VND 1.1 million. On weekends, the lowest ticket price is VND 685,000/seat, regular seats at VND 980,000, and VIP seats are maintained at VND 1.1 million.
“Each day, the train operates one trip, departing at 8:00 am from the Saigon – Hiep Phuoc port, with a one-way travel time of about 5 hours over a distance of 230 km,” Mr. Hai said.
Creating convenience for passengers
The Ho Chi Minh City – Con Dao high-speed train route has been added by the Ministry of Transport to the list of water routes. This water route not only promotes the development of domestic water transportation but also meets the travel needs of people in the region, connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Long An, etc.
To expedite the progress, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has held a working session with many units regarding the operations of this route. Mr. Tran Quang Lam, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, confirmed that they are still awaiting the completion of the announcement procedures and the announcement of the terminals. The department has sent a document requesting the Saigon Hiep Phuoc Port Joint Stock Company and the Vietnam Maritime Administration to urgently request the Ministry of Transport for permission to operate during the waiting period for the Prime Minister’s approval of the adjustment of the Master Plan for the overall development of Vietnam’s seaport system in the period of 2021 – 2030.
“The department also assigned relevant departments to cooperate with the Saigon Hiep Phuoc Port Joint Stock Company and the Phu Quoc High-Speed Boat Joint Stock Company to conduct traffic surveys, connect bus routes, and high-speed boat transport routes from the center of Ho Chi Minh City to the Saigon – Hiep Phuoc port. This aims to create convenience for passengers who wish to take the train,” said the leader of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport.
“The leader of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport requested all units to complete the procedures, preparations, and report on the operations plan so that the department can plan and coordinate with relevant agencies for the grand opening of the high-speed train route.”
Waiting for the people
Upon hearing the news that the Ho Chi Minh City – Con Dao high-speed train route is about to be put into operation, many people living in Con Dao and Ho Chi Minh City are very interested.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien (residing in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City) said that her family has wanted to visit Con Dao for sightseeing and tourism many times, but they were hesitant due to high airfare costs. If there is a high-speed train route with reasonable ticket prices, her family will definitely travel during this summer.
Not only mainland residents, Mr. Tran Van Tien, who lives in Con Dao, shared over the phone with reporters that he is looking forward to this train route. According to him, the high-speed train with a travel time of about 5 hours will bring more convenience to people who need medical treatment in Ho Chi Minh City…
