Accessible buses for persons with disabilities begin operating in Vietnam metro

Asia-Pacific Jul 5, 2012

HCM CITY, VIETNAM: Two buses designed to be easily accessed by persons with disabilities have gone into operation in Ho Chi Minh City.

The buses have low floors and wide doors and are equipped with wheelchair lifts.

The CNG buses worth VND2 billion (US$96,000) each, will run from An Suong Bus Station to Ho Chi Minh City-based Agriculture and Forestry University.

They are among eight CNG buses imported from South Korea.

Duong Hong Thanh, Deputy Director of the city’s Transport Department, said public transport in general was not accessible for persons with disabilities.

It was planned that 5 per cent of buses would be accessible for persons with disabilities by 2020, he said.

Persons with disabilities travel free on buses. Statistics from the Ministry of Transport show the city has nearly 3,000 buses running on 146 routes.

In a related move, the Ministry of Transport announced a circular draft on support for accessible for persons with disabilities traveling by public transport.

The draft also regulates that bus stops, ticket desks, emergency exits and toilets must be easily accessible by accessible for persons with disabilities.

Under the draft, operators of public transport vehicles must offer seats which are easily accessible by accessible for persons with disabilities and help them get on and off the vehicles.

Operators are also encouraged to set up hotlines to receive complaints from accessible for persons with disabilities.

Statistics show the country has around 6.7 million accessible for persons with disabilities, including nearly 90,000 in Ha Noi and 70,000 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Source: Vietnam News