The Great Holiday Travel: Managing Fare Increases

Additional Train Carriages for the Lunar New Year

According to the Vietnam Railway Corporation, over 110,000 train tickets for the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday in 2025 have been sold so far, marking a 4-5% increase in ticket prices compared to last year. The current highest ticket price is 3.2 million VND for a bed in the SE2 train traveling from Saigon to Hanoi, while the lowest is 2.2 million VND for a soft seat on the same route.

Mr. Lam Vinh from Binh Tan district shared with our reporters that his family had planned to leave Ho Chi Minh City on the 26th of the twelfth lunar month to return to their hometown in Phu Yen province. However, as the railway sector started selling tickets earlier this year, the train from Ho Chi Minh City to Tuy Hoa on that day is already fully booked. “We have to wait for the additional ticket sales,” Mr. Vinh said.

Mr. Thai Van Truyen, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Railway Corporation, stated that the company annually prepares sufficient facilities, equipment, human resources, and logistics to meet the travel demands during the Tet peak season. This year, they have deployed 774 passenger carriages for the 2025 Tet holiday, matching the number utilized in 2024.

On the North-South railway route, the company has organized 22 pairs of passenger trains, including 9 pairs of North-South trains (Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City) and 13 pairs of sectional trains (Hanoi – Vinh, Hanoi – Danang, Saigon – Phan Thiet, Saigon – Nha Trang, Saigon – Quy Nhon, Saigon – Danang, etc.).

Additionally, from the 29th of the twelfth lunar month to the 3rd of the first lunar month, the company will operate trains for holidaymakers traveling to popular destinations like Vinh, Dong Hoi, and Nha Trang.

“We are making calculations and adjustments to meet the potential increase in passenger demand. We will attach additional train carriages if needed,” said Mr. Truyen.

The Eastern Bus Station in Binh Thanh district, Ho Chi Minh City, forecasts a rise in passenger numbers from the 23rd to the 28th of the twelfth lunar month. During the ten days before Tet, the station estimates serving approximately 139,000 passengers, a 1% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

The Eastern Bus Station encourages transport units not to adjust fares during the Lunar New Year 2025. In cases where fare adjustments are necessary to ensure sufficient operating costs when returning empty (without passengers), transport units must make declarations as per regulations.

The specific time frames for fare adjustments are as follows: For routes belonging to Kon Tum and Gia Lai provinces, fares can increase by up to 40% from the 16th to the 18th of the twelfth lunar month and by up to 60% from the 19th of the twelfth lunar month to the 3rd of the first lunar month. For routes in Dak Lak and Dak Nong provinces, fares can increase by up to 40% from the 19th to the 22nd of the twelfth lunar month and by up to 60% from the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month to the 3rd of the first lunar month.

For routes in Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc provinces, fares can increase by up to 40% from the 25th of the twelfth lunar month to the 7th of the first lunar month. The Eastern Bus Station requests that transport units submit fare adjustment declarations and fare boards to the Transport Planning Department five days in advance for inspection and to ensure proper fare display for passengers.

Meanwhile, the new Eastern Bus Station in Thu Duc City anticipates serving approximately 90,000 passengers during the ten-day peak period before Tet, a slight increase of 4% compared to the previous year. From the 26th to the 29th of the twelfth lunar month, the station expects to serve 11,000-13,000 passengers daily.

Similarly, the station encourages transport units not to increase fares during the Lunar New Year peak season. If fare adjustments are unavoidable to compensate for empty return trips, transport units are advised to consider fare increase options.