During many weeks of "camping" around the new Eastern Bus Station area (Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City), we were surprised by the current situation here.
Infiltrate the carefully guarded illegal bus stations in Ho Chi Minh City.
In mid-November 2023, passenger transport activities in Ho Chi Minh City were "hotter" than ever when the "big guys" in the industry urgently tightened their operations. But many bus companies still brazenly operated in their own airspace, as if no laws existed.
Arriving at Lien Phuong Street (in Phu Huu Ward, Thu Duc City), we witnessed the bustling pick-up and drop-off activities even more bustling than the new Mien Dong Bus Station, even though this location is not far from the most modern bus station in Vietnam.
On the short stretch of road, there are 5-6 parking lots that are always crowded with passenger and shuttle buses coming in and out. These vehicles have the nameplates Kumho Samco, Tam Hanh, Ha Phuong, Hai Nam. Some vehicles also have the words “Tourist”, “Travel”, “Vehicle Tourist”.
From above, the parking lots are built quite solidly, with concrete floors and carefully fenced with connecting pieces of corrugated iron. In each lot, there is an “operations” area for drivers to rest and change shifts.
It is worth mentioning that these parking lots "grow" close together, creating a large-scale "complex" of parking lots.
According to some residents living around the area, after Thanh Buoi's business license was revoked indefinitely, access to parking lots on Lien Phuong Street has become more difficult. There are always people guarding the parking lots. When they see people appearing around the area, the staff immediately become alert and ask what they are doing here?! It is not easy to get into the parking lot.
On November 15, waiting in front of a parking lot for about 3 hours, we witnessed a series of passenger and shuttle buses labeled Kumho Samco, Tam Hanh, and Ha Phuong continuously coming in and out.
When the car with the words "Tam Hanh Travel" just arrived at the parking lot, the gate was quickly closed, and the guests were guided out of the car by the staff.
About an hour later, the gate of Tam Hanh parking lot opened. This time the sleeper bus was filled with passengers and sped out onto Lien Phuong street.
Doors open and close, people come and go like a real bus station.
Similar to what happened at Tam Hanh and Ha Phuong bus stations, the drop-off at the parking lot said to be owned by Kumho Samco also took place "professionally" and quickly.
When they saw the car was about to arrive, two employees of the car company immediately opened the gate, while the driver quickly backed the car into the parking lot and closed the gate. About 5 minutes later, about 10 passengers with their luggage sat down to drink water in front of the parking lot, which was said to be owned by Kumho Samco, waiting for a motorbike taxi to pick them up.
When asking around, we were surprised to learn that passengers were already familiar with this way of traveling. When we asked if they knew that the new Mien Dong Bus Station was nearby, one passenger said yes. However, they still chose to take the Kumho Samco bus and accepted the stop to drop off passengers on Lien Phuong Street because: "I find it convenient, what's the problem?" .
The noise and bustle of these suspicious parking lots are in complete contrast to the gloom of the new Eastern Bus Station, which was invested with more than 4,000 billion VND, has an area of more than 16 hectares located right in Thu Duc City with infrastructure, equipment and technology considered the most modern in Vietnam.
Posing as a tourist wishing to travel on the Ho Chi Minh City - Vung Tau route, we went to buy tickets directly at the parking lot that was supposed to be owned by Kumho Samco on Lien Phuong Street but were unsuccessful. Seeing a stranger, the parking lot staff was wary and refused. At the same time, the staff instructed us to call the hotline number on the website to book tickets.
Unable to approach, we decided to change the plan by hanging around at a cafe in front of the parking lot that was said to belong to Kumho Samco and Tam Hanh.
Sure enough, when we said on the phone that we wanted to buy a large number of tickets to Vung Tau City, an employee wearing a Kumho Samco bus uniform offered to show us how to buy tickets.
This person said that we could call in advance to book tickets through the hotline or buy tickets directly at the Kumho Samco parking lot (No. 299 Lien Phuong Street) - the location where we were initially rejected.
After showing us how to buy tickets, the man quickly returned to the parking lot. Once again, the gate slammed shut.
About an hour later, two Kumho Samco employees appeared at the cafe and were called “boss” by the owner. After chatting with them, both of them introduced themselves as working in the Kumho parking lot.
When they learned that we were in need of buying a large number of bus tickets to Vung Tau City for tourism, the two “bosses” did not hesitate to share the schedule and ticket prices: “The last trip to Vung Tau is at 7 p.m., the ticket price is 165,000 VND/ticket/route”. These two people also said that Kumho Samco bus company is ready to pick up passengers and can pick up passengers along the way.
According to the two "bosses", the listed ticket price for the Ho Chi Minh City - Vung Tau City route of Kumho Samco at the new Eastern Bus Station is 180,000 VND/ticket/route, but if we buy tickets right at 299 Lien Phuong Street, it will only be 165,000 VND/ticket/route.
So, is there a clear difference in ticket prices at the two ticket sales locations for the same route of Kumho Samco?
Not stopping there, both the "leaders" and employees at this parking lot do not hesitate to show off their "tricks" to avoid the authorities.
On the afternoon of November 15, when the bus companies were busy picking up and dropping off passengers, the Interdisciplinary Inspection Team came to inspect. Despite the surprise inspection, the bus company employees did not panic. On the contrary, they calmly handled the incident in an amazingly smooth manner.
As soon as he saw the interdisciplinary inspection team, one of the two "bosses" sitting outside the cafe picked up the phone and made a call, directing the people in the parking lot to let all the passengers get on the "bus", and at the same time requested: "Take everyone to the new stop" .
While talking on the phone, this “boss” was still sitting quietly at the coffee shop without any worries. The other person was not sitting idle either, but directed the car that was about to pull into the parking lot to quickly back into the “headquarters” and close the gate.
Under orders from the “bosses”, the parking lot gate was quickly closed, an employee hurriedly used a motorbike to take a customer out of the parking lot. From the bustling place, cars going in and out continuously, the parking lot suddenly became quiet as a sheet.
After 30 minutes of working, the interdisciplinary inspection team left the Kumho Samco parking lot.
Recording this inspection with a flycam, we witnessed other bus companies "closing their doors and locking them", using the tactic of remaining motionless even though there were still passengers inside the bus.
Continuing to monitor the every move of the bus companies, we were surprised to see the scene of the Interdisciplinary Inspection Team leaving and everything back to normal. The bus companies continued to open and close the gates according to the driver's signals. Passengers continued to carry their luggage out of the parking lot.
The question is, are bus companies allowed to sell tickets and pick up and drop off passengers at the parking lots on Lien Phuong Street? And why, even though they have registered to depart from the new Mien Dong Bus Station, are bus company employees still brazenly selling tickets without going through the new Mien Dong Bus Station? Who manages and supervises these activities?
Regarding the situation of being surrounded by illegal bus stations, in response to VTC News, a representative of the Eastern Bus Station confirmed that they were aware of this situation and had coordinated with the authorities many times to invite bus companies to operate in accordance with regulations. However, up to now, there has been no positive action.
>>> Part 2: Exposing the tricks of "herding" customers to illegal parking lots of bus companies in Ho Chi Minh City
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