Ho Chi Minh City launches first electric double-decker sightseeing buses

On Tuesday, the Ho Chi Minh City branch of Vietnam Sightseeing JSC officially launched its first electric double-decker buses in the southern metropolis.

The branch is the operator behind the familiar City Sightseeing - Ho Chi Minh City brand.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper, Nguyen Le Vinh Lynh, director of the branch, said the company deployed two electric double-decker buses in the city, following a similar rollout of two vehicles in Hanoi last month.

Ho Chi Minh City has offered double-decker sightseeing bus tours since 2015, with conventional fuel-powered buses taking tourists around the city.

A greener way to explore Ho Chi Minh City

According to Lynh, introducing electric buses aims to enhance the sightseeing experience while supporting the development of environmentally friendly urban tourism products.

“Beyond offering a distinctive sightseeing experience, electric vehicles are intended to promote greener transport, align with the city’s sustainable urban tourism goals and diversify its tourism offerings,” he said.

Initially, the company will prioritize deploying electric buses on central city routes, with ticket prices remaining unchanged, before considering the conversion of its remaining fleet.

City Sightseeing Saigon operates two main sightseeing routes covering central Ho Chi Minh City and Cho Lon. The routes feature around 10 stops where passengers can hop on and off at their convenience.

“We are working with partners to explore options for replacing the batteries in our existing conventional internal combustion engine buses, with the goal of transitioning our entire sightseeing bus fleet to electric vehicles before 2030,” Lynh said.

The transition comes as Ho Chi Minh City plans to introduce measures to control transport emissions, including a pilot low-emission zone in the city center and Thu Thiem area from 2028.

Under the proposed roadmap, vehicles in low-emission zones will be required to use clean energy by 2040, with the requirement extending across Ho Chi Minh City, including specialized vehicles, by 2045.

Green tourism gains ground among visitors

Beyond sightseeing bus operators, travel agencies are also seeing growing demand for tourism experiences that are immersive, flexible and environmentally friendly.

Nguyen Van Luan, a representative of Vietbalo Tour, said travelers now have a range of options for short trips, from motorbike and river tours to double-decker bus sightseeing.

European tourists, in particular, tend to place a strong emphasis on environmental considerations, favoring low-emission transport and service providers committed to reducing plastic waste.

“Developing electric sightseeing vehicles could help position Ho Chi Minh City as a greener, more environmentally friendly destination for international visitors,” Luan added.

Do Thi Anh Ngoc, a representative of Besttravel, said green tourism, sustainable tourism and experiential travel were among the notable emerging trends.

The tourism industry is increasingly seeing competition not only among providers offering similar products, but also across different types of travel services.

“Green transport is only one part of the urban tourism experience. Connectivity between attractions, convenient stops, service frequency, access to information, and ticket prices also influence travelers’ choices,” she said.