Are students eligible for reduction in bus fares during the Lunar New Year 2025 in Vietnam?

Is an increase in bus fares during the Lunar New Year 2025 allowed in Vietnam?

According to the provisions of Article 19 of Circular 12/2020/TT-BGTVT, amended by Clauses 2, 3, and 4 of Article 1 Circular 02/2021/TT-BGTVT regarding posting of information as follows:

Posting of information

1. Post the following information on the website of the Department of Transport: list of routes within the province (after being published by a competent authority); list of operation routes; maximum number of trips using a route in a unit of time and total number of trips that have been registered; a list of transport businesses operating on the route; running timetable intended for automobiles operating along routes; hotline of the Department of Transport.

2. Post the following information at a station: a list of routes and departures of operational automobiles in the station; a list of transport businesses operating on each route; hotlines of transport businesses and of Department of Transport.

3. Post the following information at ticket counters: the names of the transport businesses, route name, fares (listed according to the form prescribed in Appendix 22 of this Circular), departure schedule of each trip, passenger services on the journey, free luggage allowance.

4. Post the following on an automobile:

a) On the front glass: name of the departure station and arrival station. The height of a character is at least 06 cm.

b) On both sides of the automobile body or both bus doors: the name and phone number of the transport businesses with a minimum size: length of 20 cm, width of 20 cm; fares listed according to the form prescribed in Appendix 22 of this Circular;

c) Inside the automobile: vehicle registration number (vehicle control plate), fares listed according to the form prescribed in Appendix 22 of this Circular, route journey, passenger services on the journey, free luggage allowance, hotline phone number of the transport businesses, and the Department of Transport where the badge, label is issued.

5. Responsibility for posting information and providing information to be posted:

a) Every Department of Transport shall post information as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article;

b) Every station shall post information at the station and ticket counters in the station as prescribed in Clauses 2 and 3 of this Article;

c) Every transport business shall post information on automobiles and at its own ticket counters as prescribed in Clauses 3 and 4 of this Article;

d) Enterprises and cooperatives conducting fixed-route passenger transport business shall provide information that has to be posted at a station to relevant stations.

Thus, Vietnamese law specifies the posting of fares.  However, the law does not prohibit increases in fares during major holidays such as the Lunar New Year or holidays on March 10 or April 30 and May 1.

Therefore, any fare increase and the increased amount must be agreed upon among transport businesses.

Simultaneously, a document must be sent to the relevant authorities in accordance with the Joint Circular of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transport; (Joint Circular 152/2014/TTLT-BTC-BGTVT), while also sending a fare notice to the station to post at ticket counters and sell tickets to passengers.

This fare increase must comply with legal regulations and be listed specifically as per legal requirements.

In summary, bus fares during the Lunar New Year 2025 may either increase or remain unchanged depending on the transport business; however, they must not increase excessively beyond regulation.

Are students eligible for reduction in bus fares during the Lunar New Year 2025 in Vietnam? (Image from Internet)

Are students eligible for reduction in bus fares during the Lunar New Year 2025 in Vietnam?

Under regulations in Article 10 of Decree 84/2020/ND-CP:

Exemption and reduction of public service fees for learners and students

1. In case of public transport services:

a) Students shall benefit from reduction in train and bus fares;

b) Public transport service providers shall issue discount tickets for students when they provide student ID cards.

2. In case of public services regarding recreation, museums, historical heritages and cultural structures:

a) Students shall benefit from reduction in ticket price when they directly utilize services of: Museums, historical heritages, libraries, and exhibitions;

b) Cultural and recreational service providers shall issue discount tickets for students when they provide student ID cards.

3. Based on specific conditions, People’s Committees of provinces shall decide on reduction and exemption of ticket prices for public services for students under their management.

4. Students who are disabled and handicapped persons shall benefit from reduction and exemption in ticket prices for public services in terms of transport, recreation, visit of museums, historical heritages and cultural structures as specified under Decree No. 28/2012/ND-CP dated April 10, 2012 of Government on elaborating to Law on Persons with disabilities.

Students who are beneficiaries of social policies shall benefit from reduction and exemption from railway fare as specified under Decree No. 65/2018/ND-CP dated May 12, 2018 of Government on elaborating to Law on Railway Transport.

Additionally, if students are severely disabled, they are entitled to exemptions and reductions in fares and transport service charges regarding recreation, museums, historical heritages and cultural structures under the provisions of Article 12 of Decree 28/2012/ND-CP:

Exemption from and reduction of fares and transport service charges

1. People suffering from particularly serious impairments and people suffering from serious impairments are exempt from fares or service charges when using bus.

2. People suffering from particularly serious impairments and people suffering from serious impairments are eligible for reduction of fares and service charges when using the following means of transport on domestic routes:

a/A reduction of at least 15% for air ticket;

b/ A reduction of at least 25% of fares for train, tram, ship and coach services on fixed routes.

3. Public transport service providers shall issue discount tickets for the disabled. The disabled must present impairment certificates to enjoy such exemption or reduction.

Thus, under the above regulations, Vietnamese law does not specify the reduction in bus fares during the Lunar New Year 2025 for students. Therefore, it depends on the transport policy of the transport business and only applies the reduction in public service charges during the Lunar New Year 2025.

The reduced amount depends on specific conditions, and the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee decides the level of exemption and reduction of fares and public service charges for students under their management authority.

Are students in Vietnam eligible for reduction in fares for visiting museums?

According to Article 10 of Decree 84/2020/ND-CP:

Exemption and reduction of public service fees for learners and students

1. In case of public transport services:

a) Students shall benefit from reduction in train and bus fares;

b) Public transport service providers shall issue discount tickets for students when they provide student ID cards.

2. In case of public services regarding recreation, museums, historical heritages and cultural structures:

a) Students shall benefit from reduction in ticket price when they directly utilize services of: Museums, historical heritages, libraries, and exhibitions;

b) Cultural and recreational service providers shall issue discount tickets for students when they provide student ID cards.

3. Based on specific conditions, People’s Committees of provinces shall decide on reduction and exemption of ticket prices for public services for students under their management.

4. Students who are disabled and handicapped persons shall benefit from reduction and exemption in ticket prices for public services in terms of transport, recreation, visit of museums, historical heritages and cultural structures as specified under Decree No. 28/2012/ND-CP dated April 10, 2012 of Government on elaborating to Law on Persons with disabilities.

Students who are beneficiaries of social policies shall benefit from reduction and exemption from railway fare as specified under Decree No. 65/2018/ND-CP dated May 12, 2018 of Government on elaborating to Law on Railway Transport.

Thus, students in Vietnam are eligible for reduction in fares for visiting museums.