Speaking at a meeting on Thursday, Nguyen Ngoc Hai, deputy head of the Waterway Transport Management Department under the HCM City Transport Department, said, "We're going to work with the investor, Phu Quoc Express Company, to find measures to assist and encourage the service so that they can provide better prices."
Phu Quoc Express Company recently announced that, just over two months after its launch, it would temporarily suspend the HCM City-Con Dao express boat service from July 29 due to low profitability.
The 1,0170-passenger Thang Long high-speed was launched in mid-May 2024, connecting the southern metropolis with Con Dao island off Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. Ticket prices ranged between VND615,000-1.1 million (US$26-43) per trip.
Three trips depart each port weekly. The boat departs Sai Gon-Hiep Phuoc Port for Con Dao at 7 am and from Ben Dam Wharf of Con Dao for HCM City at 1 pm.
According to the service operator, several factors have hindered passengers from choosing the service, such as the long distance, over 20km, between the city's centre and the Sai Gon-Hiep Phuoc port in the outlying district of Nha Be, where the boat departs; passengers having to pay fees to enter the port; and weather conditions.
The company offered a free shuttle bus service from the September 23 Park in HCM City's District 1 to the port for passengers booking in advance. However, some problems occurred, and the company decided to suspend the service in early June but later resumed operations.