According to Bao, Con Dao’s rapidly growing population and booming tourism sector are putting pressure on transport infrastructure, which currently lacks public transit options. This initiative will mark the island’s first public passenger transport system.

The six electric routes will cover a total distance of nearly 72 kilometres, with each route operated by five 40-seat buses. Services will run every 15 minutes.

The Public Transport Management Centre has also proposed policies to accelerate the transition from petrol-powered to electric motorbikes. Starting in 2026, buyers of electric motorbikes will receive a 50 per cent reduction in registration and license plate fees. Low-income households will be eligible for subsidies covering 80 to 100 per cent of the cost of new or replacement electric motorbikes under VND 20 million (approximately USD 785).

The total investment for green transport solutions in Con Dao and Can Gio is estimated at VND 2,158 billion (approximately USD 84.6 million), with VND 627 billion (approximately USD 24.6 million) sourced from the state budget and the remainder from private funding. Support for electric motorbike adoption alone is expected to require around VND 590 billion (approximately USD 23.1 million).

Con Dao, with a land area of nearly 76 square kilometres and comprising 16 islands, currently has around 8,500 motor vehicles. Over 97 per cent of its motorbikes and almost 82 per cent of cars run on petrol or diesel. The island’s motor vehicle density per 1,000 residents is similar to the average in Ho Chi Minh City.

Along with Can Gio, Con Dao is designated as a low-emission zone in HCM City. Under the city’s five-year green transport plan, all private vehicles will meet emission standards, 57 per cent of petrol-powered motorbikes will shift to electric, the bus network will cover the entire island with 40 per cent of the population using public transport, and all taxis and public vehicles will operate on clean energy. After 2030, all petrol-powered motorbikes will be replaced with electric models, and public transport use is expected to reach 80 per cent.