All about the best Transport in Vietnam
Vietnam’s transportation facilities are progressively getting better in terms of both quantity and quality. With proper planning, one can travel around the country safely. In our experience, we found all the Transport options in Vietnam to be easily accessible, convenient, affordable, and user-friendly. Here’s a comprehensive guide on the best ways to travel in and around Vietnam, covering domestic flights, trains, buses, and taxis for travellers. Bicycles or scooters are a fun way to explore the smaller towns and countryside.
travelling to and around Vietnam
How to get to Vietnam
The best way to get to Vietnam is by flying. All international flights arrive and depart from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh airports. The only international rail connection to Vietnam is from China. Should you plan to travel by road to Vietnam, you can only do so from neighbouring Cambodia and Laos.
Flights to Vietnam: The easiest and best transportation to Vietnam is by plane, with regular flights to Vietnam from most International Airports. Primary hubs for international flights in Vietnam are Hanoi (Noi Bai Airport) and Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Singapore is the only country offering direct flights to Da Nang International Airport. To compare flights to Vietnam between Travelstart, CheapOair, and Qatar, go to flight tickets to Vietnam.
How to Get Around in Vietnam
Airport Transfers: Travel stress-free to and from any Vietnam airport to your hotel with a private transfer service. The driver will meet you at a designated spot so you don’t have to haggle with taxis. To get to and from Vietnam airport, check out the recommended Vietnam transport options: Hanoi Private Airport Transfer and Saigon Airport to Ho Chi Minh Transfer.
Local flights in Vietnam: When short on time, flying is the most convenient way to visit multiple destinations in Vietnam. However, consider road transport so you don’t miss out on beautiful scenery. Regarding domestic flights in Vietnam, there are airports in Hanoi, Vinh, Hue, Danang, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang, Dalat, Ho Chi Minh, and Phu Quoc Island.
Transport in Vietnam by Road
Road Transport Options in Vietnam: Several transportation options are available in Vietnam, including flights, taxis, and minibuses, also known as limousines. Bicycles or scooters are also a great way to explore the countryside, small towns, and villages in Vietnam. Various transport options are widely available in all regions.
I recommend using 12Go, Klook, Viator, or GetYourGuide to view bus, boat, and train schedules beforehand. They offer options throughout Asia and will save you the hassle of lining up in travel agencies or bus stations.
Instead, use a taxi scooter or a regular taxi and go to 12Go, which offers many affordable options. Grab is also a popular ride-hailing app in Vietnam that offers cheap rates. Once you arrive at the Vietnam airport, Install the Grab app on your mobile phone. Do not miss The Best tourist places in Vietnam.
Buses in Vietnam
Vietnam buses are available throughout the country and vary from ordinary short-distance buses and long-distance travel to overnight sleeper buses.
Hop On Hop Off Buses: The Vietnam Hop On Hop off bus is an excellent way of sightseeing in Vietnam City and its popular attractions at your own pace. Millions of trusted reviews can help you find the perfect activities. The hop-on, hop-off buses run every 30 minutes and even include night tours. That way, you can explore the parts of the city that interest you.
Long-distance bus travel Transport options in Vietnam
Travelling long distances in Vietnam can be comfortable with the right bus company. For example, we took the red Vietnam to Cambodia bus from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Pehn and had a great experience. Bus Transport in Vietnam is convenient, as most buses have large reclining seats and air conditioning. However, our experience with the Giant Ibis bus from Phnom Pehn to Siem Reap was uncomfortable and terrible compared to the red bus. The small, narrow seats couldn’t recline, and we were uncomfortable throughout the seven-hour journey.
Vietnam Sleeper Buses
Sleeper buses in Vietnam offer comfortable long-distance trips to destinations like Sapa, Ha Giang, and Da Lat; they allow one to arrive at your destination well-rested. Similar to overnight trains, sleeper buses have become a preferred travel option for many people visiting Vietnam. Sleeper buses in Vietnam are one of the most popular travel options for long-distance trips to Sapa, Ha Giang, and Da Lat, and they are a great alternative to overnight trains.
Night Bus Vietnam
By taking a night bus in Vietnam, you’ll save money on accommodation costs and arrive at your destination more relaxed. This will give you more time to explore. The only negative thing is that the bus driver only stops once or twice if you’re lucky, even if you need to use the loo. That’s the reason I prefer trains to buses.
To compare the night buses in Vietnam, check out the following three options:
Bus from Sapa to Ha Giang
The Quang Nghi Bus operates several routes, including Ha Giang – Hanoi, Ha Giang – Sapa, Ha Giang – Ha Long, Ha Giang – Ninh Binh, and Ha Giang – Dong Van/Meo Vac. The Sapa to Ha Giang bus takes about 6 hours and departs from 431 Dien Bien Phu Street in Sapa town. One can choose between departures at 7:30, 10:00, 16:00, and 19:00 and offers two types of Limousine buses: Sitting Limousine with 14 seats and Sleeper Limousine with 34 berths. The journey by bus from Sapa to Ha Giang takes approximately 6.5-7 hours. Quang Nghi Bus, a leading transportation company in Vietnam, provides safe and high-quality passenger transportation services.
Train travel in Vietnam
To travel by train in Vietnam is a fantastic experience. Although trains can be more expensive than bus travel, you must experience it. Travelling by train is more comfortable and relaxing and offers views of the surroundings. One of the most beautiful ones I recall is the train journey from Hoi An to Da Nang. Exploring the country by train is an excellent way to travel around Vietnam. Vietnam Railways and its subsidiaries, Hanoi Railways and Saigon Railways, own the railway network from Ho Chi Minh City to Ha Noi, covering a distance of 1,726km. For the Best train tickets in Vietnam, visit Train Tickets Vietnam.
Vietnam Train Tickets: Train travel in Vietnam is relatively safe and suitable for solo travellers, couples, and groups. Take advantage of the best deals with Klook, 12Go, Viator, and GetYourGuide, making your travel experience more accessible.
To book train tickets in Vietnam, check out the following train routes.
- Hanoi to Sapa Sleeper Train: Travel conveniently aboard a deluxe train from Hanoi to Lao Cai (Sapa). Choose between a shared or VIP air-conditioned cabin, which includes complimentary water and snacks.
- Da Nang – Hue Train Ticket: The scenic route lasts about 2.5 hours.
- A scenic train ride from Da Nang via Hai Van Pass to Lang Co beach and Hue.
- Ho Chi Minh City – Nha Trang train route: The journey takes about 8.5 hours (from Saigon to Nha Trang).
- Hanoi to Hai Phong: The journey from Ha Noi to Hai Phong or Hai Phong to Hanoi Train takes 2.5 hours.
- Train or Bus travel from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay.
Dong Hoi Transport
Transport in Dong Hoi options:
- Flights to Dong Hoi: Dong Hoi Airport is just 6km from the city centre and offers convenient flights to and from HCMC and Hanoi, making your travel plans smooth and hassle-free.
- Buses: The Dong Hoi bus station is conveniently located on Tran Hung Dao Street, about 1km west of the post office. Several local buses are available in the morning to prominent cities like Vinh, Da Nang, and Hue. Travellers of open-tour bus companies can easily find a bus at the cafés on Ly Thoung Kiet, which makes transport in Vietnam very comfortable.
- Trains: The train station is approximately 3 km west of the river and connects the city to the north and south.
Hanoi to Ninh Binh, Hanoi to Hue, Hanoi to Da Nang, Hanoi to Nha Trang, and Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh. To plan your journey, refer to the Vietnam Train Map and quickly purchase tickets from Vietnam Railways for train stations across Vietnam as per the following Vietnam Train Map.
Overnight Trains in Vietnam
The Vietnam Sleeper train is one of the transport options in Vietnam I highly recommend and an experience you don’t want to miss. It will save time and money and allow one to sleep comfortably and arrive at your destination well rested. We had a great time in Hanoi before we took the overnight train from Hanoi to Hue, which was a wonderful experience. What’s more, the Hanoi to Hu Train route is known as one of the most scenic routes in the world. For those who want luxury, Anantara has developed the Vietage, providing luxury travel journeys through Vietnam. To check out the routes, options, prices, and what to expect on these luxury trains, as well as bookings, go to Vietnam luxury trains.
Vietnam grab
Grab in Vietnam is one of the best – Honestly, I don’t think any other Country have such a tremendous service. As soon as you arrive in Vietnam, download the Grab app from the Google Play store, and you’re settled. Grab is easy to use, and you can book a ride anytime. It is very much the same as Uber in other countries.
Motorbike and Easy Rider Options
Experience the Hai Van Pass, one of the world’s top ten most stunning coastal roads in Vietnam, with a Motorbike Tour. Mister T Easy Rider Tours is an incredible transport experience in Vietnam in central Vietnam. The entire day motorbike tour will reward you with breathtaking scenery and great food with an experienced driver and guide. For a once-in-a-lifetime, value-for-money experience, Hai Van Pass Motorbike Tour, or explore the Hai Van Pass by US Army Jeep experience.
Cycling in Vietnam
The beautiful country of Vietnam offers tremendous opportunities for cycling, thanks to its stunning landscapes and peaceful countryside. While some accommodations provide complimentary bicycles, they may sometimes be good. However, you can easily rent a bike from many places. Here are some of The Best places to Cycle in Vietnam.
The Best Vietnam Booking Resources
- Everything you need to know to Plan your Trip to Vietnam (best things to do).
- For specials on the best hotels and other Vietnam Accommodations, visit Booking.com.
- Hostels and Budget rooms: Hostelworld
- Book a Vietnam Cooking Class with Cookly, a Small Group Street Food Tour in Hanoi or Street Food Tour in Saigon.
- Take out affordable Travel Insurance for Vietnam with SafetyWing.
- Compare transport options for Trains, Buses, Ferries, and Flights between 12Go, CheapOair, and Travelstart.
- Buses and Trains with Klook
- For a range of amazing Trips and Tours (and transfers), go to Klook, Viator, 12Go, GetYourGuide and G-Adventures.
- Cooking Classes with Cookly
- Altogether, Vietnam and Cambodia Tours and other fantastic Trips with GAdventures with endless options!
Tip: Vietnam and Cambodia, with their intertwined histories, are close, so it’s a compelling choice to visit both. After immersing yourself in the beauty of Vietnam, I highly recommend extending your travels to Cambodia. This will also allow you to experience the diverse, stunning destinations of Cambodia.
Travel from Vietnam to Cambodia
How to Get to Cambodia from Vietnam? There are a few transportation options available for travelling from Vietnam to Cambodia. You can get to Cambodia by Air, Road or Riverboat.
- By Air: Flying from Vietnam to Cambodia – Flights from Vietnam to Phnom Penh are cheaper than flying from Vietnam to Siem Reap. So, head first to charming Phnom Penh, then to Siem Reap.
- Mekong Delta: By travelling along the Mekong, you can experience the country’s landscapes and cultures guided by the Mekong River’s flow and at the same time, save the flight costs.
- By Road: You have choices – for transfers between Hoi An and Da Nang or Da Nang to Hoi An transfers. Including Da Nang: Private Transfer to Da Nang Hotels or Hoi An City. Check out Cambodia Travel Advice.