The Hanoi-based pilot project will have a total length of 14.7km, stretching from Yen Nghia bus station to Kim Ma bus station.

It has an investment capitalization of US$55 million sourced from World Bank loans, and is due to be completed in the second quarter of 2015.

Four similar routes will be built in Danang city at a total cost of US$50.2 million from the World Bank. They will be put into operation in late 2017.

Meanwhile, the first BRT lines in HCM City are expected to be ready for use in 2018 with a total investment of nearly US$156 million. They include BRT line 1 and another line on the Vo Van Kiet-Mai Chi Tho Expressway.

The BRT system has specialized designs, services and infrastructure to improve system quality, and help cut down energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.