Scepticism over double-decker tour bus

While many approve of the new tour bus, some have said the open-top double-decker might not be suitable for Vietnam's streets and weather.

First open-top double-decker in Hanoi

The first double-decker bus was launched on June 30 and scheduled to run pass famous attractions such as the Opera House and the Temple of Literature. The open, upper deck can carry 42 passengers and there are umbrellas in case it rains.

Phung Quang Thang, head of Hanoitourist Company, said, "I think we can totally expand this project. But to make in a professional service, we must carefully map out the tour routes with good products. We should have a device or a guide on the bus that can speak multiple languages to introduce the attractions to the passengers. Or else the bus will just be another regular bus."

The representative of Hanoi Redtours while agreed that it should prevent over-charging and offer a fresher experience, but he said the bus was not very suitable for Vietnam.

They said the open-top bus was for slow travel under fair weather. Other countries can use it because of better weather. However, the weather in Vietnam is hot, rainy and there are traffic jams.

"Vietnam's streets are small and many places still have electric lines strewn across the streets. The tour routes must be carefully planned to avoid all those problems. Operating the bus during rush hours will be impossible," he said.

Beepro, manager of the project, affirmed that the bus was designed for Vietnam. The bus will run every 30 minutes, from 9 am to 5 pm. The passengers can buy daily tickets and easily visit any attractions on the route.

Beepro said they would research the problems like congestion and bad weather and gather public opinions for solutions.