Ho Chi Minh City to roll out 169 electric buses in push for greener transport

It held a ceremony on Friday to announce the conversion of the 169 electric buses across nine existing routes around the city.

The new fleet will be operated by VinBus, a subsidiary of Vingroup, Vietnam’s largest private conglomerate, and will run on routes numbered 32, 38, 45, 53, 64, 93, 127, 140, and 148.

The buses feature low-floor designs, spacious interiors, and wheelchair ramps for passengers with disabilities.

They are equipped with security cameras, air conditioning, route display systems, WiFi, and USB charging ports.

Depending on the route, 30- or 60-seat models will be deployed.

Nguyen Cong Nhat, deputy chief operating officer at VinBus, said converting the nine routes to electric buses would help accelerate the city’s shift toward greener transport.

The company is already operating three other electric routes, including D4, 33, and 150, and has built a synchronized charging network to ensure stable operations.

Bui Hoa An, deputy director of the Department of Construction, said the city now has 180 bus routes following administrative expansion, of which 66 use environmentally friendly energy, including 50 electric and 16 CNG (compressed natural gas) routes, totaling 1,082 vehicles, or about 48 percent of the network.

The city aims to transition the entire bus system to electric and green energy by 2030. An urged VinBus to maintain schedules, improve punctuality, and enhance service quality as the new routes begin operations.

Le Ngoc Dung, director of the Public Transport Management Center, thanked city authorities and relevant agencies for their coordination in advancing the green transition.

He also praised VinBus for its proactive investment and efforts to improve the image and service quality of the city’s bus system, and expressed appreciation to drivers and staff for providing safe journeys for residents.