"The King's Joyful Car" in Ha Tien

(NLĐO) - Ha Tien City, Kien Giang province, is the only place where the "royal cars," which are now just a memory in other provinces and cities across the country, can still be seen.

Bicycle rickshaws were a familiar mode of transportation for people in the Mekong Delta in the latter half of the 20th century. These were bicycles with a cargo box attached to the back, capable of carrying 2 to 4 people. At that time, many provinces in the Mekong Delta called this type of vehicle by a rather pretentious and amusing name: "King's bicycle".

Royal carriages have become a familiar sight and a specialty of Ha Tien tourism .

Around the early 21st century, for traffic safety reasons, this type of vehicle, as well as passenger three-wheeled vehicles in general, were phased out nationwide. Since then, the legendary "king's vehicle" only remains in the memories of nostalgic people.

Upon arriving in Ha Tien City, tourists will be impressed by the brightly colored "royal cars" and their cheerful drivers, taking visitors on sightseeing tours around the city.

Times have changed, and few would have expected that the legendary "royal carriage" would "come back to life" in a picturesque southwestern border city more than a decade ago, in an eye-catching and constantly improved form.

Every day, as night falls, these "royal cars" light up brightly and cruise through the city, transporting passengers. This is a familiar, distinctive, and unique sight found only in the tourist city of Ha Tien.

Today's "royal bicycles" are equipped with electric motors, so older drivers no longer need to use their strength to pedal and carry passengers as they did in the past.

Today, drivers of "royal cars" in Ha Tien no longer have to sweat and strain to pedal their vehicles carrying passengers like in the past, because the cars are now equipped with electric motors and decorated with dazzling LED lights, truly befitting the status of a royal car.

The buses are also designed with canopies and cushioned seats for passengers, and steps on both sides make it easier for elderly passengers and young children to board. Some buses even come equipped with phone chargers and Wi-Fi for passengers.

"I invested nearly 40 million dong in this car, the electrical system alone cost 20 million. I've been driving for 9 years, whether there are customers or not. I only stay home on days with heavy rain. But I'm used to driving; taking a day off feels kind of sad!" - shared Mr. Tam, a driver over 60 years old in Ha Tien.

"Get in the car, I'll take you on a tour of the city, it's only 50,000 dong per person," the old driver said with a beaming smile, inviting customers.

The moment when "privileged" taxi drivers wait to pick up passengers.

The brightly colored cars, each with its own unique style, glide along the ancient streets, sparkling like something out of a fairy tale. As soon as they reach a historical site or landmark, the drivers immediately act like professional tour guides. It seems almost everyone here can recount in detail the historical periods of Ha Tien's historical sites and readily offer further explanations if passengers have questions.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Tuan (40 years old), head of the Ha Tien City Rickshaw Club, said that initially, when one person customized their rickshaw beautifully, others were impressed and followed suit. Before long, the entire fleet of nearly 100 rickshaws in Ha Tien had transformed into dazzling "king-sized vehicles." Seeing that tourists visiting Ha Tien really liked this self-made mode of transportation, the city leaders gave the "green light" for the tourism industry, police, etc., to support the drivers in establishing the rickshaw club.

"After nearly four years since its establishment, the club now has 154 members and 154 registered vehicles. The club's spirit is to maintain order, abide by the law, and also to support and help each other. Club members receive training on the culture and history of the region, and we even invite experts from Ho Chi Minh City to train drivers in communication skills and community etiquette, hoping that each driver will become a tour guide in Ha Tien," Mr. Tuan shared.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/xe-vua-vui-ve-o-ha-tien-19625013110041998.htm