The Vientiane State Bus Enterprise has raised the price of bus tickets for bus routes within the capital city due to constant hikes in fuel prices in recent months.
The raised ticket prices apply to the following routes, from/to Kuadin Bus Station (old price/new price):
Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge: 6,000 kip/8,000 kip per person
Thangon Village, Xaythany District: 5,000 kip/7,000 kip per person
Sangthong District: 15,000 kip/20,000 kip
Phontong Village, Chanthabouly District: 3,000 kip/4,000 kip per person
Donpamai Village, Sisattanak District: 3,000 kip/4,000 kip per person
Dongdok Village, Saythany District: 3,000 kip/4,000 kip per person
Nongtheng Village, Sikhothabong District: 4,000 kip/5,000 kip per person
Thongpong Village, Sikhothabong District: 4,000 kip/5,000 kip per person
Dongkhamsang Village, Saysettha District: 4,000 kip/5,000 kip per person
Sangthong District: 15,000 kip/20,000 kip per person
Namsuang Village: 10,000 kip/12,000 kip per person
Phialath Village, Sangthong District: 15,000 kip/20,000 kip per person
The recent hike of bus fares is the first of its kind since 2011, according to a senior official of the Vientiane State Bus Enterprise.
After having released the announcement to the public, many bus goers immediately took to social media. Their comments were mainly focused not on the price hike but the lack of enforcement of bus rules. They highlighted several inappropriate behaviors exhibited by certain people including eating and drinking on the bus, conversing disrespectfully loudly, putting one’s feet up on the chairs, panhandling, and even selling goods.
One social media user, however, spoke for many when she remarked that the price was expected because the national minimum wage had been recently adjusted from 900,000 to 1,100,000 kip per month.
“What’s the point of an increase in our minimum wage if all the price of necessary goods and services go up with it?”