Bus route No. 86  connecting Nội Bài Airport and Hà Nội Railway Station was launched three years ago. – VNA/VNS Photo Việt Hùng

HÀ NỘI – Hà Nội will open a new bus route connecting Nội Bài International Airport and Hà Đông District, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Tuesday.

It takes 70 to 75 minutes to travel the entire 40.7km route.

The buses will run every 30 minutes from Mê Linh Plaza in Hà Đông District from 5am until 9:30pm. For the opposite direction from Nội Bài Airport’s Domestic terminal T1, buses will operate from 6:28am to 9:30pm.

A ticket will cost VNĐ40,000 (US$1.72) per trip.

There will be 68 trips along the route per day.

Each bus can carry up to 80 passengers with free Wifi on board.

According to Vũ Văn Viện, director of Hà Nội's Department of Transport, the high-quality bus route will save travelling time compared to subsidised public bus routes as there will be fewer stops.

He said he expected the route to persuade more passengers to switch from taxis and private vehicles to public buses.

“By opening a new bus route, it will help ease the traffic pressure on roads to the airport as well as meet the demand of people who want to travel to Hà Nội’s southwest area and vice versa,” he said.

At present, there are five bus routes to Nội Bài Airport including four subsidised ones: No 07 Cầu Giấy – Nội Bài, No 17 Long Biên – Nội Bài, No 90 Kim Mã – Nội Bài, No 109 Mỹ Đình Bus station – Nội Bài and the high-quality bus route No 86 Hà Nội Railway Station – Hoàn Kiếm Lake – Nội Bài.

The No 86 bus route, which was launched in 2016, is Hà Nội’s first non-subsidised route connecting the city centre with Nội Bài Airport, costing VNĐ30,000 ($1.35) per trip.

The route has been welcomed by both local residents and tourists for its competitive price and good service. – VNS