Ho Chi Minh City plans to hire more ferries to reduce the load at Binh Khanh wharf.

Binh Khanh Wharf connecting Can Gio district to the city center is considering hiring more ferries to meet travel needs due to frequent traffic jams.

The information was just announced by the leader of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport after working with relevant units, in order to soon resolve the overload situation at Binh Khanh wharf, connecting Can Gio and Nha Be districts.

The above agency recommended that the leasing options be carefully studied before reporting to the city government, because there are still a number of issues related to law, technology, and traffic organization.

The addition of ferries to Binh Khanh wharf is considered an urgent solution to help solve the travel needs of the area due to the lack of transportation, causing congestion at both ends of the wharf. On weekends, vehicles often have to wait in long lines to board the ferry.

Passenger ferry at Binh Khanh wharf, 2020. Photo: Gia Minh — Passenger ferry at Binh Khanh wharf, 2020. Photo: *Gia Minh*

Currently, Binh Khanh wharf has 6 ferries, including two 200-ton ferries and three 100-ton ferries in constant operation. The remaining 60-ton ferry is reserved. The travel demand of tourists and workers in this area is increasing, so the number of vehicles above is not enough to meet the demand.

A representative of Thanh Nien Xung Phong Public Service Company Limited (the management unit) said that on weekends, Binh Khanh wharf receives an average of 35,000 passengers; on holidays and Tet, it can increase to 50,000, more than double the operating capacity.

Faced with the overload situation at this wharf area, the youth volunteer unit previously proposed the city to build two new 200-ton ferries to increase passenger capacity, but it has not been approved. Last year, this unit also proposed to repair and convert three ferries at Binh Khanh wharf from 100 tons to 150 tons, but due to inspection regulations, it was not approved.

Vehicles lined up waiting to cross Binh Khanh ferry, August 2023. Photo: Ha Giang — Vehicles lined up waiting to cross Binh Khanh ferry, August 2023. Photo: *Ha Giang*

According to Vice Chairman of Can Gio District People's Committee Truong Tien Trien, the overload situation at Binh Khanh wharf is a major bottleneck, affecting travel and local development needs. Increasing the number of ferries for the wharf is necessary, so the district is focusing on coordinating with relevant parties to review and select suitable options to report to the city leaders for consideration and early implementation.

Binh Khanh ferry runs across the Soai Rap River with two terminals in Can Gio and Nha Be districts. This is the main route connecting the only island district of Ho Chi Minh City to the inner city. According to the plan, in 2025 the city will start the Can Gio bridge project, 3.4 km long, 4 lanes, with a total investment of more than 10,000 billion VND, helping to remove traffic congestion in this area.

Gia Minh

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