HCMC bus employee denies disabled passenger assistance

The issue came to light after a Facebook account Thursday revealed a wheelchair-bound passenger had been denied service when trying to board a bus near Thu Duc Market.

According to the account, the man had boarded the bus, with his wheelchair left on the street. The bus employee had subsequently obstructed a passerby from helping get the apparatus on board.

The bus, operated by Quyet Thang Transport Co-operative, began its journey at Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City at 7:35 a.m. and reached Thu Duc Market at around 8 a.m. Camera footage from the bus confirmed a female employee had denied the disabled man service.

The suspended employee explained she could not lift the wheelchair onto the bus, and had requested the man to "kindly" wait for the next service, where a male employee could better assist the passenger.

A commotion on board the bus lasted for about five minutes until another passenger gave the man VND100,000 ($4.35) to take a taxi.

Public buses in Vietnam are not built with low floor or other aids to make them accessible to people with mobility handicaps.