Electric transport for tourism spots

February 20, 2014 | 08:53

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Electric cars will be rolled out across tourism areas nationwide following a recent proposal from the Ministry of Transport made out to the Prime Minister.

Tourists visit Ha Noi's Old Quarter in an electric car. The Transport Ministry has asked Prime Minister to deploy electric cars at all tourist attractions across Viet Nam. — VNS Photo Doan Tung

Under the proposal, the vehicles will be used in old precincts in cities across the country. The proposal also details that the number of cars used in each area will not exceed 150.

The Ministry is expected to issue regulations concerning the management of the vehicles, regarding ownership and registration, if the proposal is accepted.

Meanwhile, local authorities are expected to manage the vehicles to ensure traffic safety and in areas where they are used.

Tran The Hai, a 34-year-old resident in Ha Noi's Dong Da District, said he supported the proposal as it would help to protect the environment.

"It is also an effective way to ensure traffic safety and order in tourist areas," he said.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has so far agreed the pilot project will service tourists in Ha Noi, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Quang Binh provinces. Over 600 electric cars have been used during the course of the project, of which 431 are based in the central province of Thanh Hoa.

In Ha Noi, a pilot project using electric cars to service tourists in downtown areas, was launched in 2010.

As part of the project, 30 electric cars in 2010 were purchased by the Dong Xuan Joint Stock Company at a cost of around VND11 billion (US$500,000), according to the company director Do Xuan Thuy.

More than 1.2 million tourists have used the electric car tours in and around the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake as of June last year, he added.

"The vehicles are serving tourists very well and the project has been regarded to be feasible thanks to the economical, social, and environmental benefits it offers", Thuy stressed.

VNS

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