Understanding Vietnam’s public transportation system is key to making the most of your journey. From bustling motorbikes to super deluxe comfortable sleeper buses, our comprehensive transportation guide will navigate you through the diverse modes of transport in Vietnam.
We explored Vietnam using public transportation for about a month navigating from far north to south. This blog goes beyond the ordinary travel guide, providing insights and extensive information on each mode of travel, how they work, tips for a seamless experience, and recommendations for budget backpackers and comfort-luxury travel.
Join us as we delve into the specifics of Vietnam’s transportation network.
How to Travel by Public Transports in Vietnam?
Table of Contents
Flights
There are five primarily used international airports spread across Vietnam namely
- Tan Son Nhat at Ho Chi Minh City (IATA code: SGN)
- Noi Bai at Hanoi (IATA code: HAN)
- Da Nang (IATA code: DAD)
- Cam Ranh at Nha Trang (IATA code: CXR)
- Phu Quoc (IATA code: PQC)
Beyond the international airports, there are 12 domestic airports as well. You can utilize them for the convenience of covering vast distances quickly.
Travelers generally use domestic flights to transit between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh, or Da Nang and Hanoi.
Trains
The trains in Vietnam run on diesel or steam engine meter gauge on single-track and are hence slow and expensive. The facilities they offer are of high quality, equivalent to the price. If you have a lot of time and are looking for comfort, consider trains over buses.
Snacks, drinks, and food can be purchased from the train attendants. The seat arrangements include hard seats, soft seats, and 2-berth, 4-berth, and 6-berth compartments.
Tickets can be purchased either offline from the ticket counters at the railway stations or online via 12AsiaGo, Baolau, bookaway, or the Vietnam Railways website.
Twin’s tip: Add a prefix of “Ga” to the place name to find the nearest railway station. For example, searching for Ga Nha Trang in Google Maps will show you the railway station in Nha Trang.
Although the connectivity and frequency are good, we didn’t find the need to take one while backpacking in Vietnam for a month. We stuck to the buses for their time and cost efficiency, sacrificing some comfort.
Public Buses
Vietnam City buses
Only in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, Google Maps can be used to know the bus routes for easy navigation. In other cities, it was challenging to use city buses. You have to ask and get help from the locals to navigate around as the place names are written in Vietnamese.
The city buses stop only at the dedicated bus stations or bus stops. It was difficult to use Google Translate and figure out the right buses within seconds.
All of the city buses are electric and air-conditioned. While some are smaller like mini-vans with about 12 occupancies, there are bigger ones that can hold around 42 people. A conductor will be present and come around to collect cash and give tickets.
City buses are the most affordable way of transport. On average, for each Km, they charge 1000 VND or less. When you want to stop the bus to get down, press the button on the support pillars. Use the front door for entering the bus and the back door for exit.
The person who collected the fares was very helpful in guiding us to the right bus stop on all of the buses that we boarded. They even used Google Translate to guide us.
Village Buses in Vietnam
Some buses connect remote settlements, even in the northernmost Vietnam that are mostly used by the locals. For instance, the route Ha Giang – Quan Ba – Yen Minh – Meo Vac – Cao Bang.
The frequency of these buses is very low and there is no pre-booking required. While Atchaya did the Ha Giang loop, she came across several such buses every day.
These buses are neither air-conditioned nor electric. They also serve as a means of transport for courier services.
Sleeper Buses
If you’re traveling in Vietnam for a week or more, you’re more likely to take a sleeper bus. While hopping from one city to another or traveling between North and South Vietnam, travelers and locals usually opt for overnight sleeper buses.
This will also cut costs on accommodation. There are two types of sleeper buses available in Vietnam.
Types of Sleeper Buses
Cabin Type Sleeper Buses
These are VIP or premium air-conditioned buses with more leg space and comfort. The seats look classy with cushions but are not reclining. Each cabin has USB ports and screens for privacy. There are 12 cabins with bunk beds arranged in 2 rows. They are expensive when compared to the normal sleeper buses. If you are taller than 6 feet, cabin-type buses are best for you.
Normal Sleeper Buses
Most frequently used by travelers, locals, and backpackers. These are air-conditioned buses with bunk beds arranged in 3 rows. They have recliner seats, so some people even call them semi-sleeper buses.
With around 36 seats in general, normal buses are for people whose height is less than 6 feet. This is the most affordable sleeper bus option out there. The buses do get cramped as the locals sleep in the alleyways, sometimes (1 out of every 7 trips).
We have traveled in normal public sleeper buses while backpacking across Vietnam. The buses were decent and used by many foreigners as well. If you are on a budget, normal sleeper buses are your go-to choice.
Where & How To Book?
Prices are cheaper when you book the sleeper buses with the hostel or travel agency when compared to online. You can negotiate the prices with them.
Another advantage is that they will provide pick up from your accommodation. A small limousine will pick you up and leave you at the bus station or at the place where the bus departs. You will then be transferred to the actual sleeper bus that you will be traveling.
When we enquired about a bus from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh, a travel agency quoted 500K VND while another agency quoted 350K VND. We negotiated to 300K VND and made a deal. Compare the prices online to get the idea and quote a nominal price.
When you book online, you can see the picture of what the buses and seats look like, read the reviews of other travelers, and gear yourself up. But you’ll have to go to the pickup location by yourself. At all times, the price at the bus station was the same as quoted from my hostel, plus the hostel pickup.
Twin’s Tip: Go to the Futa Buslines office for a fixed affordable price. Also, have your seats reserved. For more about the Futa bus lines and more money-saving tips in Vietnam, refer to this blog.
Sleeper Bus Booking
Booking can be done online or with the hotel or hostel where you’re staying. The booking agencies are available in all the cities and tourist destinations.
Do pre-book your seats, especially for traveling during the peak season or holidays. We sorted our bus to the next destination on the day we arrived or at least the day before, but not last minute. Also, remember to have some meals and be ready at least 30 minutes before the departure.
Cost
The cost of transportation is expensive in Vietnam, although the fuel prices are cheap. The sleeper buses charge different prices every day. Yeah, that’s right. There is no fixed bus pricing in Vietnam.
Overnight normal sleeper bus that runs anywhere from 300 to 500 Km would cost you 300K to 500K VND. The price is higher for cabin-type buses. The price is the same for the locals as well.
Driving Skills
The bus driver’s driving skills are important for a peaceful night’s sleep. People have good driving skills in Vietnam and they generally follow traffic rules in all places (except in Saigon). The overnight sleeper buses are smooth with less honking and sudden breaks. We were able to sleep peacefully throughout the journey.
Restroom Availability
Cabin-type buses have toilets onboard while only a very few normal sleeper buses have toilet facilities onboard. If restrooms are not available, the driver would mindfully stop many times, every 2 to 3 hours for 20 minutes. You can also request him if needed.
The restrooms where the drivers stop are very clean and neatly maintained. While most of them are free, some do charge a small fee.
There are no dinner stops in Vietnam. You can use these restroom breaks to buy snacks in the shops.
Facilities On-Board
- A sealed bottle of water (300 ml), a pillow, and a mattress are given on all the buses.
- The air conditioning is good.
- Many buses have WiFi onboard.
Luggage Space
All your big bags and suitcases will be kept in the huge storage space underneath, along with other parcel deliveries. In normal sleeper buses, there is no space to keep even your 30 L bag as well. You can keep your 10 L small bag with valuables with you. So pack accordingly.
Seating Allocation
For both cabin and normal sleeper buses, the seat is not allocated during the time of booking, even when you book online. The driver or the person in charge will guide on the seat to be occupied. The cabin-type buses are well organized in this case.
In normal sleeper buses, the staff are naggy sometimes, but not in all the buses. They would direct you to the last few seats and start to fill seats from there. Do listen to them only if you were given a slip with seat number, before boarding. Or else, know that there are no strict rules and you have the liberty to choose whichever seat you want. Be fast, just go and make yourself comfortable in somewhere middle of the bus as they tend to be less bumpy. Do not make a scene or argue with them. You can change later if you find any vacant seats.
Cleanliness
The buses are neat and clean. They are maintained well. Upon boarding the bus, the driver will give you a plastic cover in which you have to put in your shoes. Walking inside the bus with your footwear on is not allowed.
Limousine Vans
For traveling shorter distances during the daytime, sleeper buses are not available. Limousine Vans are air-conditioned seater buses with occupancy of about 12-15 people. For instance, from Ha Long to Ninh Binh, Hanoi to Ha Long there are no sleeper buses so you’re left with no other options. They are expensive and it costs between 200K VND – 300K VND for a 2 to 3-hour journey, inclusive of hostel pickup. For bookings, they follow the same steps as sleeper buses (see above). There are no toilets, dedicated luggage space, or seat allocation.
VIP Limousine buses with better facilities, comfort, and more occupancy are used for organized tours around Vietnam.
Taxi/ Cabs
Grab and Xanh SM are the most widely used taxi services in Vietnam. Although not available extensively throughout Vietnam, their services are covered in all the cities and most of the touristy places. You can check the fares for using electric cars for Xanh SM from the official website.
The local drivers are really friendly and offer to drop you at your accommodation once you get down from the bus station, even at midnight. But they quote a much higher price when compared to Grab or Xanh SM. The prices are usually calculated at around 10K VND for one Km approximately for two-wheelers and slightly higher for four-wheelers. You can check the fares at Grab to get an idea and negotiate accordingly.
People also rent private cars or limousines on a day basis for sightseeing and day tours.
Two Wheeler
Two-wheelers in Vietnam are huge. You can see a lot of wheelers rushing on the road. In Vietnam, people follow the road and traffic rules, except in Ho Chi Minh where the city is densely populated. The road conditions are fairly good. You must know the basic rules. Helmets are compulsory for both rider and pillion. Remember, Vietnamese drive on the right side of the road.
Renting Two Wheelers
Two-wheeler rental services are available in almost all the cities and tourist attractions across the country. Automatic, semi-automatic, gear bikes and superbikes are available in Vietnam. The gear bikes are more comfortable for longer journeys.
It is mandatory to have an international driving license to drive in Vietnam. If caught by the police for not holding one, you are subjected to pay hefty fines. However, the rental service providers do not ask for an international driving license. They ask you to submit your original passport (not recommended) or any national ID as a security deposit. We did not pay any cash as a security deposit in Vietnam. In Ha Giang and very few places, they provide insurance for the bike at an extra cost. It costs 100K VND – 300K VND per day to rent two-wheelers, depending on the type of motorcycle you choose.
Twin’s Tip:
If you are planning to travel in Vietnam for a longer duration, say 30 days, and plan to cover the whole country, the most affordable option is to buy a two-wheeler in either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and sell in another city. You can split the costs if you’re traveling in two.
The fuel is affordable and you’re flexible to explore the far-off corners. The more the number of days, you can negotiate for a better price. But make sure to have an international driving license for longer travels.
Cycle
Cycling is a great way to explore the local areas after arriving in a place. In Tam Coc and Hoi An, cycling tours are very popular. Some homestays allow their guests to rent bicycles for free or charge a fee of 30K – 50K VND.
Cyclo Rides
Cyclo or a cycle rickshaw is a traditional three-wheeled bicycle where the passengers sit at the front and the driver pedals the vehicle from sitting behind, giving the passenger a unique and leisurely way of exploring the streets.
You can spot many cyclos all across the country, primarily in tourist hotspots and cities of Hanoi, Hoi An, Hue, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and many more. When the driver spots a foreigner, he’ll call out and ask if he/she is interested. Fix your price first and hop if you’re interested. You can negotiate the price as well. Several organized tours include cyclo rides as a part of their tour.
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