HÀ NỘI — Coach operators in major stations in Hà Nội have not announced any increases to coach fares during the National Day holiday.

This year, Việt Nam’s National Day – September 2 - falls on Sunday so formal workers have a day off on Monday, September 3.

Travel demand is expected to increase during the three-day holiday but it’s likely coach fares will not be hiked, at least at stations in Hà Nội.

Nguyễn Anh Toàn, director of Hà Nội Coach Stations Joint Stocks Company, said that up till now, the company had not received any proposals for fare increases from coach operators in stations like Giáp Bát, Mỹ Đình or Gia Lâm.

Toàn said coach operators faced less pressure than previous years because people had other options including private cars or renting cars for their trips.

The company also asked the city’s Transport Department to issue an additional 300 bus badges so more coaches could be used during the holiday if needed.

Trịnh Hoài Lam, an official of Nước Ngầm Coach Station, said long-distance coaches to central provinces of Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh and Thanh Hóa will serve many passengers.

The station managers asked coach operators on such routes to ensure services, Lam said, adding that no transport firms had mentioned fare increases.

Lam recommended passengers go directly to the station and buy fares to avoid crowds and being overcharged by service providers.

Meanwhile, Hà Nội Railway Joint Stocks Company announced that between August 30 and September 3, the company would use nearly 140 trains, providing about 90,000 seats on routes from Hà Nội to Thanh Hóa, Vinh, Quảng Bình, Lào Cai, Đà Nẵng and vice versa.

Vietnam Airlines will add 32 flights with a total 6,500 seats between August 31 and September 3, making the total number of seats provided during this period 151,000.

Jetstar Pacific will have 540 flights and expect to serve 100,000 passengers from August 30 to September 3. — VNS