Factors influencing parents’ choice of school bus transportation for their children in Hanoi

In the context of rapid urbanization in major Vietnamese cities, students’ daily travel demand has become a growing concern from both social and urban transport management perspectives. This study analyzes the factors influencing parents’ mode choice with respect to school bus usage for primary and lower secondary school students in Hanoi. Data collected from 400 questionnaire surveys were analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability testing of measurement scales, and binary logistic regression to estimate the probability of parents choosing school bus services. The results indicate that safety perception, service convenience, and trust in the service are the three key factors exerting a positive and statistically significant influence on parents’ mode choice behavior. In contrast, travel cost and home–school distance do not show a significant effect. In addition, parental socio-demographic characteristics (including age, income, and vehicle ownership) differ between users and non-users of school bus services. These findings reflect the characteristics of school-related travel in Hanoi, where safety and service reliability are prioritized by parents over cost considerations. The study provides empirical evidence to support policy formulation and the organization of safe and appropriate school bus systems in the context of Vietnamese urban mobility