Increased travel requests linked to unification of Pleiku and Quy Nhơn provinces
In the heart of Vietnam, the Pleiku-Quy Nhơn route has witnessed a significant surge in transport services, driven by the recent provincial merger between Gia Lai and Bình Định provinces. This merger has enhanced economic ties and mobility between the Central Highlands and the coastal areas.
### Increase in Transport Services and Scheduling Measures
Between May and July 2025, the number of registered transport operators servicing the Pleiku-Quy Nhơn fixed route doubled from four to eight, and average daily trips increased from eight to 20. Along with this expansion, ticket prices rose from VNĐ115,000–150,000 to VNĐ150,000–220,000, reflecting increased demand and improved service offerings.
The majority of vehicles currently deployed are minibuses seating 9, 16, or 29 passengers, with no sleeper buses yet on this route. Passenger traffic data reveals peak demand time slots crucial for scheduling: outbound peaks at Sunday 6 pm and Monday 3:30 am, and inbound returns primarily on Friday at 5:15 pm and 5:45 pm. This scheduling aligns with weekly commuting patterns, as about 370 people travel weekly for work, returning mostly on weekends.
### Long-term Investment Implications
The provincial administration prioritizes transportation infrastructure investments to support these growing demands. Key projects include the Quy Nhơn–Pleiku Expressway, a 160 km modern highway that shortens travel time to around 2.5 hours, enhancing trade and mobility between the Central Highlands and the coastal region.
The expressway is part of a broader strategy to integrate and develop roads connecting the former provincial boundaries, supporting logistics, tourism, and industrial growth. The expressway project is slated for completion by 2029 and includes special project management mechanisms to accelerate delivery and maximize its strategic benefits, such as boosting economic linkage between Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands) and the Central Coastal region.
Additionally, ongoing infrastructure expansion aligns with Vietnam's national agenda to improve connectivity through multiple transport modes, including airports, seaports, railways, and highways, further enhancing regional development and integration.
### Summary of Key Measures
| Aspect | Details | |-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | **Operator increase** | From 4 to 8 fixed-route operators (May–July 2025) | | **Daily trips** | Increased from 8 to 20 | | **Ticket price range** | Increased from VNĐ115,000–150,000 to VNĐ150,000–220,000 | | **Vehicle types** | Mainly 9-, 16-, 29-seat minibuses, no sleeper buses | | **Peak travel times** | Sunday 6 pm & Monday 3:30 am (outbound), Friday 5:15 pm & 5:45 pm (inbound) | | **Expressway length & travel time** | 160 km, reduces travel time to 2.5 hours | | **Expressway completion** | Planned by 2029 with special project execution mechanisms | | **Regional connectivity focus** | Integration of road, rail, air, and sea transport will support economic development |
The provincial merger has thus acted as a catalyst for transport demand surges and infrastructure investment, prompting transport operators to expand service frequency and capacity significantly. The anticipated completion of the Quy Nhơn–Pleiku Expressway and related infrastructure will further bolster these gains, enhancing long-term regional integration and economic growth.
Several other fixed routes passing through Pleiku, including Kon Tum-Quy Nhơn, Đức Cơ-Quy Nhơn, Chư Sê-Quy Nhơn, and Đắk Lắk-Bình Định, have experienced similar growth in passenger traffic. Trần Đình Sơn, Deputy Director of the Gia Lai Department of Construction, emphasized the importance of maintaining seamless connectivity across administrative regions for public service delivery, production, trade, and socio-economic development in the new Gia Lai Province.
Other transport providers have also scaled up their operations, with the number of registered operators servicing the fixed Pleiku-Quy Nhơn route doubling from four to eight between May and July 2025. Bus stations have been directed to cooperate with carriers to ensure timely dispatches and to assign staff to monitor passenger flows and issue transport permits during peak periods. Some journeys on the Pleiku-Quy Nhơn route begin as early as 3am, making it difficult to schedule drivers effectively.
- The expansion of transport services along the Pleiku-Quy Nhơn route, driven by the recent provincial merger, has resulted in an impressive increase in the number of registered operators from four to eight between May and July 2025.
- A surge in passenger demand has led to an increase in daily trips from eight to 20, coupled with a hike in ticket prices from VNĐ115,000–150,000 to VNĐ150,000–220,000.
- Besides transportation, this growth in travel is expected to have a ripple effect on trade, industry, finance, and lifestyle in both the Central Highlands and the coastal areas.
- In line with this growth, other fixed routes, such as Kon Tum-Quy Nhơn, Đức Cơ-Quy Nhơn, Chư Sê-Quy Nhơn, and Đắk Lắk-Bình Định, have experienced similar increases in passenger traffic.
- To address challenges like driver scheduling, bus stations have been tasked with cooperating with carriers to ensure timely dispatches, monitor passenger flows, and issue transport permits during peak periods. The early morning journeys on the Pleiku-Quy Nhơn route, which begin as early as 3am, pose a particular challenge in this regard.
