Decision No. 09/2005/QD-BGTVT promulgating the "Regulations on passenger transport by bus on fixed routes and passenger transport by bus under contracts"

DECISION OF THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT

Issuing "Regulations on passenger transport by bus on fixed routes and passenger transport by bus on contract basis" and passenger transport by automobile under contract"

                                           

THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION

Pursuant to the Road Traffic Law dated June 29, 2001;

Pursuant to Decree No. 92/2001/NĐ-CP dated December 11, 2001 of the Government on Conditions for Operating Motor Vehicle Transport Services;

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 34/2003/NĐ-CP dated April 4, 2003 on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Transport;

At the proposal of the Heads of the Department of Transport and the General Department of Vietnam Roads,

DECISION:

Article 1. Issued together with this Decision are "Regulations on passenger transport by bus on fixed routes and passenger transport by bus on contract basis".

Article 2. This Decision shall take effect 15 days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette and shall replace Decision No. 4127/2001/QĐ-BGTVT dated December 5, 2001 of the Minister of Transport. All previous regulations that conflict with this Decision are hereby abolished.

Article 3. The Director of the Ministry's Office, Heads of Departments, Directors of General Departments, Head of the Ministry's Inspectorate, Directors of Provincial Transport Departments, Directors of Provincial Public Works Departments under central cities, Heads of relevant agencies and units, and individual households engaged in passenger transport business by bus are responsible for implementing this Decision./.

REGULATIONS

 

On passenger transport by bus on fixed routes and passenger transport by bus on contract basis

(Issued together with Decision No. 09/2005/QĐ-BGTVT dated January 10, 2005)

of the Ministry of Transport)

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of application

This document regulates passenger transport by bus on fixed routes and passenger transport by bus on contract basis within the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Article 2. Applicability

1. These provisions apply to state management agencies; enterprises registered for passenger transport by bus on fixed routes and enterprises, individual households registered for passenger transport by bus on contract basis.

2. In cases where international treaties on passenger transport by bus signed or acceded to by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam provide different provisions than these Regulations, such treaties shall be applied.

Article 3. Definitions

In these provisions, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Fixed route is a route determined for buses to transport passengers from a bus station in one locality to another bus station in another locality.

2. Bus itinerary is a specific fixed route for passenger transport, specifying the starting point, destination, and stop points for buses to perform passenger transport during each trip.

3. Schedule of a passenger transport trip is the time determined for a bus itinerary from departure to completion of the trip.

4. Bus schedule chart on a fixed route is a compilation of schedules of passenger transport trips participating in exploitation on the route over a certain period of time.

5. Passenger transport business by bus is the use of bus vehicles to transport passengers for payment.

6. Passenger transport enterprise is an organization engaged in passenger transport established according to the Law on State-Owned Enterprises, the Law on Cooperatives, the Law on Enterprises, and the Law on Foreign Investment in Vietnam.

7. Fixed route passenger transport is passenger transport along a route with departure and arrival stations being bus stations and the vehicle running according to a specified itinerary and schedule.

8. Contract-based passenger transport is passenger transport not along a fixed route, carried out according to a transport contract signed between the transport service user and the transport service provider.

9. Trip logbook is a logbook issued to buses operating on fixed routes for the departure and arrival bus stations to confirm the number of passengers boarding and alighting at each station and the times of departure and arrival of each trip.

10. Bus ticket is evidence of the conclusion of a transport contract between a passenger transport enterprise and a passenger, and simultaneously serves as a sales invoice for transport services provided by the passenger transport enterprise.

Article 4. Classification of passenger transport routes

1. By scope of operation:

a) Intra-provincial passenger transport route.

b) Inter-provincial passenger transport route.

c) International intermodal passenger transport route.

2. By type of operation:

a) Fixed route passenger transport.

b) Contract-based passenger transport.

Chapter II

MANAGEMENT AND EXPLOITATION OF PASSENGER TRANSPORT BY BUS ON FIXED ROUTES

BY AUTOMOBILE ON FIXED ROUTES

Article 5. Basis for determining fixed route passenger transport by bus

1. There must be a road system ensuring safety and smoothness for buses to carry out their itineraries and schedules.

2. There must be stable passenger travel demand over each cycle of time.

3. There must be departure and arrival bus stations meeting standards, rest stops, and passenger transport stop points as prescribed by the Minister of Transport.

Article 6. Announcement of new fixed route passenger transport

1. Based on Article 5, the route management agency is responsible for reviewing and announcing new fixed route passenger transport.

2. The registration dossier for opening a new route includes: "Application for Opening a Route" of the passenger transport enterprise accompanied by "Plan for Operating Intercity Passenger Transport by Bus" according to the prescribed form.

3. Upon receipt of the application for opening a new route, the route management agency must review and issue a "Approval for Trial Operation" document according to the prescribed form. If approval is not granted, a written response stating the reasons must be provided.

4. Authority to announce new fixed route passenger transport:

a) The General Department of Vietnam Roads announces the opening of interprovincial fixed route passenger transport based on the application for opening a route submitted by the passenger transport enterprise after obtaining written agreement from the Transport Departments and Public Works Departments at both ends of the route.

The opening of interprovincial fixed route passenger transport applies only to routes with departure and arrival stations from Class 1 to Class 5 as defined by the Minister of Transport regarding bus stations.

b) Provincial Transport Departments, Provincial Public Works Departments announce intra-provincial fixed route passenger transport, adjacent provincial fixed route passenger transport sharing a common land border, collectively referred to as adjacent provincial fixed route passenger transport. For adjacent provincial fixed route passenger transport, the announcement document is a joint document between the Transport Departments and Public Works Departments at both ends of the route.

5. Content of announcing new fixed route passenger transport includes:

a) Bus itinerary;

b) Distance traveled;

c) Departure bus station, arrival bus station.

6. After the route management agency announces the opening of a new fixed route passenger transport, the Transport Departments and Public Works Departments at both ends of the route are responsible for promptly informing passenger transport enterprises with headquarters or branch offices located in the area to register for exploitation.

7. Passenger transport enterprises may register to organize trial runs on newly opened fixed passenger transport routes; the acceptance period for registration shall be thirty days from the date of announcing the trial run.

8. The maximum trial run period is six months from the date the route management authority announces the opening of a new fixed passenger transport route. Upon expiration of the trial run period, enterprises wishing to continue operations must submit a "Request for Route Announcement" form as prescribed, to the route management authority (if the route is managed by the Vietnam Road Administration, the document must be confirmed by both terminal stations).

After thirty days from the end of the trial run period, if no trial-run enterprise submits a formal request for route announcement, the route will be automatically abolished.

9. Enterprises participating in trial operations will have exclusive rights to operate for three years on newly opened fixed passenger transport routes (inter-provincial or contiguous inter-provincial) if either or both terminal stations are located within areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions as defined by the Government.

Article 7. Announcing temporary or permanent cessation, or adjustment of fixed passenger transport routes currently in operation

1. A fixed passenger transport route by bus will be announced for temporary or permanent cessation when:

a) It no longer satisfies any of the bases set forth in Article 5 of this Regulation.

b) The road requires urgent repair or upgrading that does not ensure safety for transportation, terminal stations change locations, public order and security are not guaranteed, or there are other unusual incidents.

2. When ceasing operations, the route management authority must widely announce the reasons for cessation thirty days in advance; in cases of temporary cessation, the duration of the temporary cessation must also be announced.

3. The authority responsible for announcing the route has the responsibility to announce the temporary or permanent cessation of fixed passenger transport routes currently in operation, following the prescribed model for announcing the cessation of operations.

4. Prior to announcing the cessation of operations, the route management authority must examine the organization of transportation to ensure it does not affect the travel of the people and simultaneously announce adjustments along with the cessation notice for the route.

Article 8. Receiving, reviewing, and approving the operation of fixed passenger transport routes

1. Assignment of receiving, reviewing, and issuing approval documents for operating routes:

a) The Vietnam Road Administration receives, reviews, and issues approval documents for routes over 1,000 kilometers in length and international routes.

b) Departments of Transport and Departments of Transport Infrastructure receive, review, and issue approval documents for routes up to 1,000 kilometers in length.

2. The route management authority is responsible for reviewing the contents registered by enterprises and must notify in writing, according to Appendix 2, within seven working days from the date of receipt of complete and valid application files, allowing the enterprise to prepare for the negotiation meeting to operate the route.

3. Vehicles registered to participate in route operations must meet one of the following conditions:

a) The vehicle is registered at the local authority accepting the application for route operation registration, under the name of the enterprise, a joint venture or associated enterprise with the function of passenger transport business, and must have a joint venture or association agreement with the enterprise.

Branches of enterprises registering to operate at the local level include vehicles registered at the location where the branch is established and vehicles registered at the location where the main office of the enterprise is situated.

b) The vehicle is under the name of a financial leasing enterprise based at the headquarters location of the financial leasing enterprise.

c) The vehicle is under the name of an individual business household with a Business Registration Certificate for passenger transport business when jointly venturing or associating with an enterprise, and must have a joint venture or association agreement and be subject to the management and control of the enterprise in accordance with the law. A vehicle registered in a certain locality can only associate with an enterprise engaged in passenger transport business in that locality.

4. For high-quality transport services:

a) The Vietnam Road Administration sets standards for high-quality inter-provincial passenger transport services. The route management authority organizes and manages the activities of high-quality service trips according to the issued standards.

b) Vehicles participating in high-quality transport service trips must display the "High-Quality Service Trip" emblem as specified in Appendix 4 inside the windshield, on the right side of the driver.

5. Enterprises notified of permission to operate fixed passenger transport routes, during the operation period without violating this Regulation, operational rules on the route, or other laws, may operate for seven years. At the end of this period, the enterprise must re-register in accordance with the regulations.

Article 9. Registering to Operate Fixed Passenger Transport Routes

1. Enterprises with a Business Registration Certificate and meeting the legal requirements for passenger transport business are eligible to register to operate passenger transport on fixed routes that have been announced and on newly opened fixed routes.

2. For fixed routes currently in operation and those officially announced after the trial run period, enterprises registering for the first time, supplementing vehicles, or replacing vehicles for route operation must submit registration documents to the route management authority as follows:

a) Initial registration documents:

- "Application for Operating Fixed Route Passenger Transport by Bus" as prescribed in Appendix 1;

- Vehicle operation plan as prescribed;

- "Business Registration Certificate" of the enterprise including appropriate business activities (photocopy with notarization or photocopy accompanied by the original for verification);

- Photocopies of the Vehicle Registration Certificates of the listed vehicles;

- Photocopies of the "Technical Safety and Environmental Protection Inspection Certificate" of the listed vehicles;

- "Application for Operating Fixed Route Passenger Transport by Bus" submitted to the route management authority must be confirmed by the Department of Transport or Department of Transport Infrastructure where the enterprise's headquarters or branch is located.

- The registration deadline is October each year.

In addition to the aforementioned registration period, if a business wishes to register for operating on a route, it shall prepare a dossier and submit it to the route management authority. The route management authority will consider granting approval based on the operational situation of businesses on the route, with the principle of not affecting the operations of existing businesses on the route.

b) Dossier for registering additional vehicles on the route:

- A "Vehicle Registration Supplement Form" as prescribed.

- A copy of the "Approval for Participation in Operating Fixed-Route Intercity Passenger Transport Services by Motor Vehicles" issued by the route management authority;

- Photocopies of the Vehicle Registration Certificates of the listed vehicles;

- A copy of the "Safety Technical Inspection and Environmental Protection Certificate Book" of the vehicles listed in the registration.

c) Dossier for registering replacement vehicles on the route:

- A "Request for Vehicle Replacement Form" as prescribed, submitted to the route management authority.

- A copy of the "Approval for Participation in Operating Fixed-Route Intercity Passenger Transport Services by Motor Vehicles" or the "Approval for Vehicle Supplement" on the route, noting the license plate number of the vehicle to be replaced;

- A copy of the "Motor Vehicle Registration" of the replacement vehicles;

- A copy of the "Safety Technical Inspection and Environmental Protection Certificate Book" of the replacement vehicles;

d) In case of urgent need to replace a vehicle within a period not exceeding thirty days, the business owner decides and is responsible for confirming this in the "Vehicle Operation Log" of the vehicle being replaced.

3. The name and telephone number of the business must be displayed at the top front part of both sides of the vehicle body or on both sides of the vehicle doors.

4. On the upper part of the front windshield of the vehicle, there must be a display of the bus station name and the departure and destination locations.

5. Seats inside the vehicle must be numbered sequentially from the front to the rear of the vehicle, starting from the left side (behind the driver) to the right side.

6. Each vehicle may be registered to operate on a maximum of two fixed-route passenger transport services. When submitting the registration dossier, the passenger transport business must provide and present relevant documents and prove to the route management authority its capability or actual participation on the two routes.

7. For routes managed jointly by two Departments of Transportation or Departments of Transportation and Public Works, the business registers with the Department of Transportation or Department of Transportation and Public Works where the main office or branch office of the business is located. The department receiving the registration is responsible for informing the other department in writing about the information of businesses that have registered to operate on the route.

8. For routes managed by the Vietnam Highway Administration, the Administration is responsible for informing the Departments of Transportation or Departments of Transportation and Public Works at the start and end points of the route about the related information regarding the registration and operation of the route when announcing approval.

9. Vehicles approved to operate on a fixed route must affix the "Fixed Route Vehicle" emblem on the front windshield of the vehicle, on the upper right corner from the driver's perspective (except for high-quality service trips). The "Fixed Route Vehicle" emblem follows Model Appendix 4.

9. The "Fixed Route Vehicle" or "High-Quality Service Trip" emblem has a validity period not exceeding twelve months.

Article 10. Negotiation of Fixed-Route Passenger Transport Routes

1. Basis for establishing the timetable:

a) Passenger flow on the route;

b) Schedule of trips;

c) List of planned vehicles;

d) Capacity of the terminals at both ends of the route;

e) Rest stops and pick-up/drop-off points along the route.

2. Establishment and allocation of timetables:

a) The route management authority directly or delegates to one of the Departments of Transportation or Departments of Transportation and Public Works at either end of the route to convene and direct the negotiation meeting to establish and allocate the timetable. If the route is managed by two authorities, these two authorities must reach an agreement before delegating.

b) The route management authority has the authority to decide on matters that businesses cannot agree upon during the negotiation meeting.

c) The Vietnam Highway Administration transfers the responsibility for negotiating the routes from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and vice versa to the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association. In this case, the Vietnam Highway Administration still must fulfill all functions of the route management authority as stipulated.

3. Content of the negotiation meeting:

a) Establishing and allocating the timetable for each business on the route;

b) Agreeing on fare structures or levels according to the quality of vehicles and services provided to passengers;

c) Establishing operational regulations on the route between participating units according to the prescribed model and form of handling violations of such regulations.

4. The negotiation meeting will base decisions on the type of vehicle, age of the vehicle, and services provided by the businesses to determine the organization of high-quality service trips on the route (if applicable).

5. The minutes of the negotiation meeting, prepared according to the prescribed model, must be sent to the route management authority for monitoring and checking implementation.

For routes managed by the Vietnam Highway Administration, in addition to sending the minutes of the negotiation meeting to the Administration, they must also be sent to the Departments of Transportation or Departments of Transportation and Public Works with departure and arrival terminals for monitoring and checking implementation.

6. Negotiation will only proceed when there is a change in one of the contents specified in Clause 3 of this Article, specifically: changing the timetable due to the addition of a new business registering to operate or existing businesses registering to increase or decrease vehicles affecting the timetable on the route; a majority of businesses proposing changes to the content of the operational regulations on the route; changing the fare structure or level established by the previous negotiation meeting.

Article 11. Ceasing Operations on Fixed-Route Passenger Transport

1. Businesses currently operating on a fixed-route passenger transport service must submit a request letter clearly stating the reasons according to the prescribed model to the route management authority before ceasing operations on the route.

2. Within seven working days from the date of receipt of the request letter via registered mail, the route management authority is responsible for reviewing and notifying the business that made the request and the terminals at both ends of the route about the approval to cease operations on the route. The notification of cessation of operations follows the prescribed model.

3. A business will be subject to current legal provisions if it ceases operations on the route without receiving approval from the route management authority.

Chapter III

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF PASSENGER TRANSPORT BY MOTOR VEHICLES UNDER CONTRACT

Article 12. Registration for Contract-based Passenger Transport Services

1. Enterprises and Individual Business Households with a Business Registration Certificate for passenger transport services using automobiles and meeting the conditions for automobile transport business as stipulated by law shall be allowed to operate contract-based passenger transport services using automobiles.

2. Automobiles registered abroad shall not be permitted to operate contract-based passenger transport services within the territory of Vietnam.

3. The registration dossier includes:

a) "Application for Registration of Contract-based Passenger Transport Services using Automobiles" according to Form 3;

b) Business Registration of the enterprise or individual business household issued by the competent authority, including the business activities related to contract-based passenger transport services using automobiles (a certified copy or a copy with the original for comparison);

c) A copy of the Ownership Registration Certificate of vehicles listed in the application;

d) A copy of the "Technical Safety Inspection and Environmental Protection Certificate" of vehicles listed in the application;

đ) A list of vehicles applying to participate in contract-based operations.

4. The name and telephone number of the enterprise or individual business household must be displayed on both sides of the vehicle body or doors.

Article 13. Approval and Issuance of Contract-based Passenger Transport Vehicle Markers

1. Enterprises and individual business households registering for contract-based passenger transport services must submit the "Application for Registration of Contract-based Passenger Transport Services using Automobiles" to the Department of Transportation or the Department of Transportation and Public Works where they have registered their business. These departments are responsible for reviewing and issuing the "Contract Vehicle Marker."

The review period and issuance of the marker shall not exceed five working days from the date of receipt of complete and valid documents.

2. The "Contract Vehicle Marker" must have two different colors to distinguish between vehicles providing pick-up and drop-off services for officials, workers, and students within urban areas and those operating on long-distance routes under contracts. The "Contract Vehicle Marker" is valid for up to six months.

3. Vehicles engaged in contract-based passenger transport services must display the "Contract Vehicle Marker" according to Form 4 inside the right windshield.

Article 14. Contract for Passenger Transport Services

1. Vehicles engaged in contract-based passenger transport services must have a written transportation contract according to the model prescribed by law.

a) In the transportation contract, the time of execution, specific addresses of departure and destination, number of passengers, and route must be clearly stated.

b) For vehicles that have registered to operate fixed routes, if there is a need to provide contract-based passenger transport services, enterprises must submit the "Application for Registration of Contract-based Passenger Transport Services using Automobiles" to the management agency of the fixed route and demonstrate their ability to fulfill the schedule on the fixed route to obtain approval and issuance of the "Contract Vehicle Marker" within the term of the signed contract.

2. When executing contract-based passenger transport services, drivers must carry the contract (copy 2). The content of the contract must correspond to the contract retained at the enterprise or individual business household when issuing the contract (copy 1). For vehicles of travel businesses, the transportation contract can be replaced by service, program, and itinerary contracts as prescribed by the tourism sector.

Chapter IV

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LINE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY FOR PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION, TRANSPORT ENTERPRISES, BUS STATIONS, AND PASSENGERS

TRANSPORT ENTERPRISES, BUS STATIONS, AND PASSENGERS

Article 15. Line Management Authority for Passenger Transportation

1. The Vietnam Highway Administration is the authorized body to uniformly manage passenger transportation activities generally and directly manage inter-provincial fixed-route passenger transportation services over 1,000 kilometers and international intermodal passenger transportation services.

2. Departments of Transportation and Departments of Transportation and Public Works manage intra-provincial fixed-route passenger transportation services and inter-provincial fixed-route passenger transportation services up to 1,000 kilometers.

Article 16. Responsibilities and Authorities of the Vietnam Highway Administration in Managing Passenger Transportation Lines

1. Announce inter-provincial passenger transportation lines crossing adjacent provinces.

2. Receive applications for new line openings from passenger transport enterprises; review and issue approval documents.

3. Receive "Applications for Registration of Fixed Route Passenger Transport Services using Automobiles," additional vehicle registration forms, and vehicle replacement requests; review and issue approval documents for inter-provincial fixed-route passenger transportation services over 1,000 kilometers.

4. Inspect, supervise, and handle violations during the operation of passenger transportation lines as stipulated by law.

5. Uniformly print, issue, and manage "Vehicle Log Books," "Fixed Route Vehicle Markers," "High-Quality Trip Markers," and "Contract Vehicle Markers."

Article 17. Responsibilities and Authorities of Departments of Transportation and Departments of Transportation and Public Works in Managing Passenger Transportation Lines

1. Announce intra-provincial fixed-route passenger transportation lines and adjacent fixed-route passenger transportation lines. Receive applications and issue approval documents for the operation of adjacent fixed-route passenger transportation lines.

2. Implement the provisions of Article 6 to request the Vietnam Highway Administration to announce the opening of new inter-provincial fixed-route passenger transportation lines.

3. Receive applications and issue approval documents for the operation of fixed-route passenger transportation lines for routes up to 1,000 kilometers.

4. Confirm the first "Registration for Operating Lines" of enterprises for fixed-route passenger transportation services over 1,000 kilometers according to the prescribed form.

5. Issue, manage, and distribute "Automobile Passenger Transport Contracts" according to the models prescribed by relevant authorities.

6. Manage and issue markers: "Contract Vehicle Marker," "High-Quality Trip Marker," "Fixed Route Vehicle Marker," and "Vehicle Log Book."

When issuing new markers or "Vehicle Log Books," old markers or "Vehicle Log Books" must be collected.

7. May collect fees not exceeding the cost of printing and managing certificates when issuing "Vehicle Log Books" or markers: "Contract Vehicle Marker," "Fixed Route Vehicle Marker," "High-Quality Trip Marker," and "Automobile Passenger Transport Contracts." Strictly prohibit the issuance of other types of documents and collection of unauthorized fees.

8. Inspect, supervise, and handle violations related to passenger transportation operations for assigned and delegated management lines.

Article 18. Rights and Responsibilities of Enterprises Engaged in Fixed-Route Passenger Transportation Line Operations

1. Powers:

a) Put the registered vehicle on the route into operation according to the timetable approved by the route management authority;

b) Dispatch authorized representatives to attend and vote at conferences related to the management and exploitation of fixed-route passenger transport lines that the enterprise participates in. Depending on specific conditions, attend and contribute opinions at conferences related to the management and exploitation of fixed-route passenger transport lines;

c) Register a specific color scheme, company name, or logo on the body of the vehicle operating on the registered route in accordance with the provisions of the law;

d) Lodge complaints or denunciations against agencies, organizations, or individuals who violate the contents of this Regulation or obstruct lawful business operations;

2. Responsibilities:

a) Arrange vehicles to ensure the quantity and quality registered on the route and operate strictly according to the timetable approved by the route management authority;

b) Organize vehicle operation strictly along the prescribed route and schedule;

c) Prepare sufficient tickets for sale to passengers, ensuring that all passengers have tickets. Tickets sold to passengers must indicate seat numbers and arrange passengers to sit in the seats indicated on the ticket. The ticket must contain the name, address, and phone number of the enterprise;

d) Provide drivers or service staff on board with a "Vehicle Operation Logbook" and necessary documents, instructing drivers to record all required information in the documents carried;

đ) Assign drivers in compliance with legal regulations and in accordance with the distance of each transportation route;

e) Arrange service staff who have signed labor contracts with the enterprise on buses over 16 seats when transporting passengers on fixed routes;

3. Strictly prohibit drivers, assistants, and service staff on the vehicles of enterprises exploiting fixed-route passenger transport lines from violating the following behaviors:

a) Skipping trips;

b) Running off-schedule, picking up or dropping off passengers at unauthorized locations;

c) Adding extra vehicles to the route beyond the registered quantity;

d) Transferring passengers mid-journey without justifiable reasons;

đ) Collecting fares from passengers at rates not registered;

Article 19. Rights and responsibilities of enterprises engaged in the operation and management of passenger bus stations

1. Powers:

a) Refuse to load passengers onto vehicles that do not meet specified standards;

b) Require drivers, assistants, and service staff on vehicles to comply with passenger transport regulations;

c) Request vehicle owners to replace broken-down or non-compliant vehicles to ensure the timetable and traffic safety;

d) Charge service fees for passenger-carrying vehicles operating at the station according to agreements in contracts;

2. Responsibilities:

a) Enter into contracts with passenger transport enterprises assigned to exploit fixed-route passenger transport lines based on the results of the conference approved by the route management authority;

b) Sell tickets on behalf of transport enterprises or lease ticket counters to transport enterprises;

c) Ensure order, safety, and environmental hygiene at the station;

d) Inspect compliance with regulations and process departure procedures for vehicles;

Article 20. Rights and responsibilities of passengers traveling on fixed-route passenger transport lines

1. Powers:

a) Carry and be exempted from charges for 10 kg of small personal luggage;

b) Claim compensation for damages to persons or personal luggage caused by drivers, assistants, or service staff on vehicles;

c) Directly or indirectly provide feedback to drivers, assistants, service staff on vehicles, and transport enterprises, station operation enterprises;

2. Responsibilities:

a) Travel with a ticket; board and disembark at bus stations or designated stops;

b) Observe instructions from drivers, assistants, and service staff on vehicles;

c) Not carry prohibited items, flammable or explosive goods, foul-smelling items, or animals;

Article 21. Rights and responsibilities of enterprises or individual households engaged in contractual passenger transport by automobiles

1. Powers:

a) Put registered vehicles into operation for contractual passenger transport;

b) Collect transportation fees as agreed upon in the contract;

2. Responsibilities:

a) Only transport passengers after signing a transportation contract;

b) Fulfill all commitments made to the transportation lessee in the contract;

c) Arrange service staff on vehicles with 30 seats or more; only assign drivers, assistants, and service staff who have signed labor contracts and are suitable for working hours on the route;

3. Representatives of both parties in the transportation contract shall have corresponding rights and responsibilities as the Carrier and the Transportation Lessee;

Article 22. Rights and responsibilities of the transportation lessee under the contract

The transportation lessee has the right to require the carrier to fully implement the contents agreed upon in the transportation contract and is responsible for fully fulfilling the terms agreed upon with the carrier.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 23. Implementation provisions

1. The types of insignia and the "Vehicle Operation Logbook" issued together with Decision No. 4127/2001/QĐ-BGTVT dated December 5, 2001, of the Minister of Transport shall remain valid for use until June 30, 2005.

2. Enterprises operating fixed-route passenger transport services prior to the date this Regulation takes effect shall continue to operate on their routes according to the period approved by the route management authority.

Article 24. Responsibilities for implementation

1. The Director of the Vietnam Highway Administration shall be responsible for issuing uniform models as stipulated in this Regulation based on the principles of simplicity, comprehensive information, facilitation of management work, and compliance with relevant laws.

2. The Director of the Vietnam Highway Administration, the Directors of Provincial Departments of Transport, Departments of Transport and Public Works of centrally governed cities, organizations and individuals engaged in passenger transport operations, enterprises operating bus stations, and passengers have the responsibility to implement this Regulation./.