Transportation in Vietnam is well organized. Buses and trains run between all major cities with great regularity. You can also easily get from one place to another within the cities. Discover all the options and handy tips on transportation in Vietnam below.
Content of this blog:
Buses in Vietnam
The buses in Vietnam are generally very good. Many buses are sleeper buses in which you can lie stretched out. Unless you are tall, which means over 1.75 meters in Vietnam, then you will not be able to lie fully stretched out. Nevertheless, they are comfortable buses that you can easily spend several hours in. Every 2 to 4 hours the buses stop to eat something or go to the restroom.
The sleeper buses operate both during the day and at night. If you have a long bus ride, such as from Dalat to Hoi An, it is recommended to go by night bus. You won’t sleep that well on the night bus in Vietnam but at least it’s comfortable and it saves time that can be well spent during the day.
For a comprehensive listing of all available buses, times and tickets, your best bet is 12GO.Asia. Here you can see for the specific day exactly what time the bus leaves, how long it takes and the reviews for the bus company. You can also buy your tickets right here. You then show this to the bus company online via your phone.
Trains in Vietnam
Vietnam has a vast train network: from the station at Sapa in northern Vietnam all the way to Ho Chi Minh City, you easily catch the train. The train is slightly more expensive than the bus and also takes a little longer. Still, it is advisable to occasionally take the train in Vietnam. After all, it is a comfortable and safe way to travel. In addition, it offers beautiful views. You can also book train times and tickets easily through 12GO.Asia. You can see all the options for the buses and trains here. That way, you can compare prices and times and choose which one suits you best.
Grab and Taxi in Vietnam
In addition to public transportation, you can use cabs and Grab (the Uber of Asia) in most tourist spots in Vietnam. The Grab motorcycle is especially popular in Vietnam. This involves getting on the back of the Grab driver’s motorcycle/motorbike, which then gets you to your destination easily and quickly. The traffic in Vietnam is chaos and by motorcycle/motorbike you can easily go between the cars in all the traffic jams.
You can find Grab in the following cities in Vietnam:
- Hanoi
- Ninh Binh / Tam Coc
- Phong Nha
- Hué
- Da Nang
- Hoi An
- Dalat
- Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Conclusion on transportation in Vietnam
Our conclusion is that transportation in Vietnam is very well organized. There are daily buses to all the (tourist) places for an excellent price. In addition, it is nice to travel by train occasionally and you can easily use the Grab to get around the cities.
