Ho Chi Minh City Launches First Bus App, Go!Bus, To Help Us Travel Around The City

Saigonese can now use the city’s first bus app

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Public transport is a popular means of transportation in Vietnam, especially in a populous city like Saigon where thousands of people commute around the city by bus from dusk till dawn.

Despite the many pros that come with travelling by bus, there are also many cons that make local residents reluctant to take buses, such as the long waiting times at bus stops and lack of timely updates on timetables.

In a bid to promote bus travel and make public transport more convenient, Ho Chi Minh City has launched Go!Bus, the city’s first bus app, to help travellers keep track of the bus timetables and be more active. The app was developed by FPT Information System, Grab, and the HCMC Department of Transport.

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Go!Bus App is now available on the Google Play Store

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Go!Bus has all you need to know about Ho Chi Minh City’s public transport in one app, including bus numbers, time intervals, arrival times, operating hours, the number of stops between destinations, changes in bus routes, and bus fares.

Knowing the accurate time of arrival of city buses also lets passengers manage their time better and spare them all the anxieties of waiting for or missing a bus.

The Go!Bus app interface
Image taken from: Go!Bus

For a bus journey from the pick-up point FV Hospital in District 7 and a drop-off point at the Notre Dame Cathedral in District 1, the Go!Bus app shows that travellers have to walk 167M to the nearest bus station and hop on Bus 102, then transfer to Bus 18, Bus 31, or Bus 36. The bus fare for this 25- minute bus ride is VND13,000 (~USD0.56).

Image taken from: Go!Bus

These instructions for the same journey tell you that Bus 102 will drop you off at Cao Thang University after 19 minutes, from which you can walk 30M (1 minute) to Cho Cu Bus Station. You can then get on Bus 31 for a 4-minute ride to the next bus station at Le Duan Street, from which you can walk 137M (2 minutes) to the Notre Dame Cathedral.

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Compare alternative forms of transport at one glance

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Go!Bus is also linked with Grab, a ridesharing app, allowing you to choose the mode of transport that will be the faster way to get you to your destination in case you’re in a hurry.

For example, when a traveller looks for directions between Destination A and Destination B, Go!Bus will show a detailed bus itinerary as well as information about the same ride provided by GrabCar and GrabBike for the sake of comparison.

GrabCar and GrabBike as alternative means of transportation are also suggested by the app
Image taken from: Go!Bus

If the distance between the traveller’s location and the bus pick-up point is longer than 200M, Go!Bus app will automatically provide information about Grab rides for the same itinerary for travellers to weigh their options.

The app also lets travellers send their feedback by posting photos or their opinions about the rides.

Inside a bus in Ho Chi Minh City
Image credit: Xe Buýt TP. Hồ Chí Minh

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Benefits of travelling by bus

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According to Mr Vo Khanh Hung, vice president of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transportation, the city is working on a plan to issue smart cards that integrate information about all the different types of public transport in the city, including regular buses, shuttle buses, water bus, and even the metro in the future.

Ho Chi Minh City water bus
Image credit: Quách Trường Sơn‎

Residents will also be able to get a smart card that will also function as a mobile wallet, allowing a traveller to pay fares by simply tapping the card at an electronic card reader on the bus or at the metro station. Currently, you can only pay for your bus rides by cash.

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Save money and hassle by travelling by bus

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Travelling by bus has plenty of benefits. Not only does it reduce fuel consumption and saves you tons of money on gas and maintenance of your personal vehicles, but it also reduces traffic congestion and pollution.

Besides, travelling by bus in a land-scarce city like Saigon will spare you the trouble of looking for a place to park your vehicle.

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Ho Chi Minh City launches first mobile bus app

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Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s largest metropolis with an all-time high population, welcoming thousands of visitors and immigrants into the city center on a daily basis. Heavy traffic is something we have to cope with daily, as the city’s infrastructures and the environment keep up with transportation demand.

But with this bus app, we can figure out the quickest way to get from point A to B more efficiently, saving us money, time, and hassle.

Also check out:

• Saigon’s 21 landmarks throughout 3 centuries
• Hanoi to host the Vietnam Grand Prix in November this year
• Saigon to build a city within a city called “Eastern Town”
• 3 Ride-Hailing apps in Vietnam to get around conveniently
• 9 tours near Saigon for every type of travellers
• 10 things to do in Saigon in July
• 8 beaches and islands near Saigon for a hassle-free picnic
• Saigon completes the construction of its first metro station

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Cover image adapted from: @baooooo_nd and Go!Bus

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