Regulations on the operation of passenger bus stations in Vietnam from January 1, 2025

Regulations on the operation of passenger bus stations in Vietnam from January 1, 2025​ (Image from internet)

On November 15, 2024, the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam issued Circular 36/2024/TT-BGTVT regulating the organization and management of passenger transport activities by automobile, and the operation of bus stations, parking lots, rest stops, and road stops; specifying procedures for bringing bus stations and rest stops into operation.

Regulations on the operation of passenger bus stations in Vietnam from January 1, 2025

According to Article 37 of Circular 36/2024/TT-BGTVT, the regulations on the operation of passenger bus stations are as follows:

(1) Responsibilities of the passenger bus station service business unit

- Fully comply with legal regulations applicable to passenger bus stations in managing passenger transport operations by automobile;

- Ensure security order, social safety, fire and explosion prevention, and environmental hygiene in the passenger bus station; take legal responsibility for all business activities within the passenger bus station premises;

- Regularly maintain, repair, and supplement facilities and equipment; disseminate and promote legal knowledge, and enhance the professional skills of employees to maintain and improve service quality at the passenger bus station, strictly complying with state regulations on passenger bus stations;

- Conclude contracts with transport units as per legal regulations before organizing transport business activities at the passenger bus station;

- Publicly post internal regulations of the passenger bus station and measures of handling according to the signed contracts in case of violations of the passenger bus station's internal regulations;

- Manage and apply information from the passenger bus station management software.

Equip passenger bus station management software and store departure information: vehicle information, driver details, route information, departure time, arrival time, passenger count on the vehicle.

Information provided by the passenger bus station is utilized in state management of transport activities, management of transport service business units, passenger bus stations, and shared with the Police, Road Inspectorate upon request.

Provide login credentials to access the passenger bus station management software for specialized state management agencies upon request.

Systematically update and store information on vehicles, transport service business units operating at the station for at least 3 years from the year the work ends.

Directly implement the regulations at points a, c, and d of this clause or authorize a service provider to implement them through a legally effective contract.

- Be subject to management, inspection, and examination by competent state management agencies;

- Submit periodic reports on December 15 annually and ad-hoc reports on the operation status of the passenger bus station as required by the local Department of Transport;

- Report to the local Department of Transport the unit's regulations on the list, positions, and signatures of personnel assigned to inspect and confirm the transport orders;

- Strictly and fully comply with regulations on passenger bus stations per National Technical Standards on passenger bus stations;

- Fulfill other responsibilities as prescribed in the Road Law 2024 and Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024;

- Ensure vehicles depart on schedule as announced by the route management agency.

(2) Responsibilities of the transport service business unit at the passenger bus station

- Conclude contracts and comply with the contracts signed with the passenger bus station;

- Comply with internal regulations, procedures, and processes for vehicle entry and exit as set by the bus station's management and operation unit.

(3) Responsibilities of passengers at the passenger bus station

- Maintain security, order, environmental hygiene, and fire and explosion prevention in the bus station area;

- Abide by the internal regulations and instructions of the passenger bus station staff.

(4) Responsibilities of the Department of Transport

- Announce, re-announce the opening, temporary suspension, and termination of passenger bus station operations in the local area; in cases of temporary suspension or termination, announce at least 90 days before the station temporarily suspends or terminates operations. Announcement documents must be sent to the Vietnam Road Administration and published on the Department's Electronic Information Portal;

- Manage the operations of passenger bus stations in the local area;

- Direct passenger bus stations in the area to apply management software;

- Organize regular and ad-hoc inspections and assessments of passenger bus service business units in the local area.

(5) Responsibilities of the Vietnam Road Administration

- Collect statistics and aggregate data on the passenger bus station system nationwide;

- Organize regular and ad-hoc inspections and handle violations against agencies, management units, and passenger bus service business units nationwide.

Circular 36/2024/TT-BGTVT takes effect from January 1, 2025.

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE