Waterway Service

Traffic congestion has been more and more serious in big cities, especially Ho Chi Minh City.

Road extension, clearance for new construction, subway construction, elevated road and so on are very sluggish while population and number of vehicles has increased sharply.

For traveling, it is a people’s custom to “be tie to ground” and they rarely pay attention to “water surface” and “air”.

A part from development of a public bus system on road, the city government should study waterway routes – big river, small river, channel, and canal – to develop “waterway bus” networks.

Everyday, you and I have to inch for hours on the cars or motorbikes to move in the city. I found that in various locations, if a system of ferry and boat that go across or go along can be arranged, the traffic will be smooth and relaxed; no longer to be stress and worried of being late for an appointment or work due to traffic jam.



Arrangement of “waterway bus” system probable includes:

1. Across-ferry: similar to Thu Thiem ferry: probable allow motorbikes and cars to use ferry free of charge to prevent them from using bridge. Vehicles that travel by bridge shall pay fee, and ones that travel by ferry shall pay no fee. These ferry systems can be arranged at hot points which always fall in traffic jam such as Sai Gon bridge, Dong Nai bridge, so on.

Applying principle “ combine modern and traditional measures”: traveling on a bridge is regarded as a modern transportation measure while going to a ferry and wait for coming to the other side of river is regarded as a backdate transportation way. However, not everyone wants to rush on a bridge, among ten thousand of people in traffic, I believe that there is a considerable number of them who are not in hurry, they can choose “backdate but free” transportation way, and thank to that, pressure of bridge congestion will reduce.

2. Ferry that goes along river, ship: Setting up waterway station is similar to setting up bus station on road; especially develop routes from peripheral residential areas to the centre. I believe that a significant number of travellers will be very relaxed and comfortable when using this transportation means: they can load their motorbike on ferry, go on board and have a coffee or a cigarette, sightseeing, then when ferry stops at the centre they can use motorbike to go to their office. It is very relax and quite safe, no need to scramble for road and inch on the inner-city roads.

3. Across boat: In short section of river in the city – to allow local people to exploit across boat under a control. Motorboat or rowing boat can be used, motor boat can be used to carry people and motorbike that in a hurry, rowing boat can be use to carry tourists. Another form of tourism using rowing boat that cannot be found in Thailand or Indonesia may be developed ...

4. Boat going along the river: Operation method will be similar to ferry going along the river/ ship. The difference between ‘ferry’ and ‘boat’ is that ferry is under management and exploitation of Public works agency, and boat is exploited by a private individual or organization under management of Public works agency.


If this solution is applied in practice, I do believe that traffic congestion and pollution in Ho Chi Minh City will be improved much.

Now, Uni-Bros. is preparing feasibility study and investment plan for this project.
The investors and sponsoers may contact below person for further information:

Dr. Thái Bá Chu
E-mail: [email protected]
Mobile phone: 091 202 0601