With a ticket that costs VND199,000 (US$8.8) and is valid for 24 hours, tourists can get off at any destination around the downtown area like Ben Thanh Market and Independence Palace, according to operator Anh Viet Media TV & Tourist.

A tour of the Cho Lon area, a.k.a Chinatown, in District 5, including Thien Hau Pagoda and Binh Tay Market, costs another VND100,000 (US$4.4) if bought in combination or VND149,000 if bought alone.

The buses, which ply from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., are equipped with Wi-Fi and audio guides in English, French, Korean and Spanish. Maps of their routes can be found here.

Hop-on hop-off is the third tourist bus service to be launched in the city since March after two routes linking downtown with Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Ho Chi Minh City expects to receive 5.1 million international tourists this year, more than 10% higher than last year.