City promotes prepaid bus cards

Passengers will top up VND69,000 for yearly cards, VND90,000 for monthly cards, and VND63,000 for monthly student cards.

Monthly and yearly cards are transferable excepting student cards, said Le Hai Phong, deputy director of the center.

A passenger getting on a bus must insert the card into a scanning device that will automatically deduct the fee for that trip from his or her card. Bus conductors would ensure those using student cards are eligible.

The two piloted routes using prepaid cards are Route No. 1 from Ben Thanh to Binh Tay markets and Route No. 27 passing through Ben Thanh-Au Co-An Suong.

Prepaid cards previously cost VND30,000. Saigon Bus Management and Cho Lon are the only stations that have been issuing the cards.

Also from September 1, the subsidized bus Route No. 104 from An Suong stop to Nong Lam University would increase Monday-Friday bus services to 166 from 158.  The number of daily weekend trips on that route would rise from 148 to 156.