Vietnam is a fairly easy country to navigate and get around while backpacking! They have sleeper trains, sleeper buses, small van transfers, scooter rentals, taxis, Grabcars and Grab Scooters in Vietnam. There are also established backpacking routes in Vietnam, with plenty of transport options running along these routes. Transport in Vietnam is generally pretty easy to book through hostels or online through websites like 12GOAsia. Below is my full guide on getting around and transport options in Vietnam as a backpacker. This includes everything from planning your route to the sleeper buses and tips for renting scooters in Vietnam!
Planning your Vietnam Route
As Vietnam is a long country, most people travel south to north or north to south, following similar routes. While you don’t necessarily need to plan your route in advance, knowing where you want to go and in what order can help you avoid backtracking. Most backpackers will start their travels in either Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi due to the ease and cost of international flights into these cities. You can also fly into Da Nang from overseas, but this is a less ideal place to start as you’ll end up backtracking if you want to visit both north and south Vietnam.
You can also get to Vietnam via overland transport from either Laos or Cambodia. There are direct buses between Phnom Penh, Kampot, and Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City, which are popular methods of transport to get to Vietnam. You can get direct buses from Laos to Hanoi from Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane.
Below is a map of the most common backpacker route, which you can travel either North to South or South to North:
Planning your route around the weather
The weather is one of the most important things to consider when planning a backpacking trip around Vietnam. Due to how long Vietnam is, it has many different climates and different peak seasons depending on whether you are in the south, north or central regions. You should pay attention to the different seasons to have the best trip. Travelling in the wrong season can mean you visit a beach destination and it rains the whole time, or you travel somewhere cold when you don’t have adequate clothing to keep you warm.
Southern Vietnam
The southern region of Vietnam includes Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, The Mekong Delta (Can Tho), Dalat, Mui Ne, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc. These destinations are tropical, so they experience wet and dry seasons. Wet Season is May to November (with the heaviest rain in September and October). Dry season is from December to April and is the peak season of travel to this region as it is when you are guaranteed the best weather. This is particularly important if you plan on visiting beach destinations like Mui Ne, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc. One exception to this climate is Dalat, which is located at an altitude in the mountains, so it can get fairly cold. The city is known as experiencing “an eternal spring”, with temperatures often sitting between 18-24 degrees Celsius year-round.
Central Vietnam
Similar to Southern Vietnam, Central Vietnam is also considered a tropical climate with a wet and a dry season, but they have slightly different peak travel months. Central Vietnam includes Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang, Quy Nhon and Phong Nha. Wet Season is September to January (the rainiest months are October and November). The dry Season is from February to August, which is also the peak season for travel. Again, this is particularly important to consider when visiting destinations with beaches like Quy Nhon, Hoi An and Da Nang.
North Vietnam
North Vietnam has a completely different climate from the other parts of Vietnam, as it is not considered tropical; instead, it experiences all four seasons throughout the year. Northern Vietnam includes destinations such as Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Giang, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay and Cat Ba Island. Winter months are from December to January, and Summer is from June to August. The most popular times to travel are in the spring and autumn months, as the temperatures are mild, so you can enjoy good weather for sightseeing and activities. The least popular times to travel to the north are summer and winter. In summer, the temperatures in Hanoi sit above 30 degrees Celsius, which many travellers find too hot and uncomfortable for sightseeing.
In winter, expect temperatures of around 15 degrees Celsius (during the day) in Hanoi and colder at night. While this is okay for exploring the city, it can impact your ability to do certain activities like swimming. The Ha Giang Loop and Sapa Trekking are activities that many people recommend not doing in winter. Sapa and Ha Giang are located at altitudes close to the China border and can get snow in winter. You need to have adequate winter clothes (such as thermals) and when you visit certain activities may be restricted due to weather conditions or views can be obstructed by fog and cloud cover.
Where to book trains, buses and ferries in Vietnam
Booking trains, buses and van transfers in Vietnam is fairly easy, and you can do this in many ways. You can book transport at the bus and train terminals in Vietnam. However, there is a risk with this if you are booking a same-day ticket, that they may be sold out and the bus is full. The other thing to consider is that in smaller cities in Vietnam, staff working at the terminals may not speak much English, which can make booking tickets in person a little tricky.
The other place you can usually book transport in Vietnam is from hostels. This can sometimes be super beneficial as they may include a free pickup or transfer to the bus terminal for booking with them instead of online. Another place you can book transfers is from a travel agency or tour company. The main risk with this is that they survive off commission, so often prices will be marked up and more expensive than booking directly.
The majority of travellers will book their tickets online. There are many reliable websites for booking transport in Vietnam, but the most popular is 12GOAsia. You can type in any two locations in Vietnam, which gives you multiple transport options and times and lets you book tickets. Unless it specifically says “self-transfer” (I’ve seen very few of these), all tickets are combined tickets, so connections are guaranteed. That means that if you have to catch two buses to get somewhere in Vietnam, if the first bus is running late, the second bus will wait or they will arrange an alternative method of transport. If you book it as two separate tickets or as a self-transfer, you risk getting stranded overnight in a random town if you miss your second bus.
Domestic flights in Vietnam
There are a few domestic and international airports around Vietnam, so it is possible to fly between destinations. The following destinations have airports: Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc Island, Da Nang, Hanoi, Can Tho, Dalat, Nha Trang, Hue, Quy Nhon and Phong Nha. All other destinations will only be accessible via bus, train or ferry. While these cities have airports, many airports in Vietnam are located far out of the city (like Dalat and Phong Nha), so you have to arrange for extra transport from the airport to the city, which can be costly.
You can get some affordable flights as well with budget carriers within Vietnam. I’ve seen one-way flights from as low as 550k VND Vietnamese Dong ($22 USD). Flying in Vietnam will also save a lot of time in many cases; what might be a 16-hour night sleeper bus may only be a 2-hour flight. In my mind, though, flights are only worth it if you’re flying from one side of Vietnam to the other and skipping all the little destinations in between. For example, Hanoi to Da Nang or Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City.
Personally, I’m not a fan of flying as a method of transport in Vietnam; here’s why:
- Environmental impact. Short-haul flights are the worst offenders for carbon emissions.
- Luggage. Sometimes, you pay more to check a bag than you did for the flight itself
- Having to get to and from the airport. Airports are often further out of town (as compared to bus terminals and train stations), so you have the extra price and time factor of getting to and from the airports.
- Time wasted at the airport. You always have to get to the airport at least 30 minutes (sometimes more) before a flight, which adds more time to your journey. Buses and trains, you usually only have to be there 10 minutes before.
- Frequency and choice of time. Quite often, for the more affordable flights, you’ll leave either early in the morning or late at night. With buses and trains, the prices are usually much of the same regardless of what time you choose. Then, you can choose the time of day that works best for you.
Sleeper buses in Vietnam
Sleeper buses are by far the most popular method of transport in Vietnam, as they are available on many travel routes, even sometimes on shorter journeys. In Vietnam, sleeper buses refer to any bus where the seats recline at least 70% of the way back (so further than economy airline seats recline). You can book a sleeper bus for a day or a night journey, and they are available on the majority of travel routes in Vietnam. Shorter routes like Cat Ba Island, Halong Bay, or Ninh Binh from Hanoi are a few examples of routes where there are no sleeper buses.
Many different sleeper bus companies operate throughout Vietnam along different routes, with their pickup locations and amenities differing. Some sleeper buses depart from bus terminals, whereas others leave from travel agencies. Some provide a blanket and a bottle of water and may have a toilet on board. Regardless of whether they have a toilet on board, you will usually make at least one rest stop/ bathroom break every 4 hours or less. Some sleeper buses don’t allow snacks to be eaten on board (you can only eat them at rest stops when you are off the bus). If you are bringing snacks on board, hide them in your bag and eat them (quietly) once the bus has taken off. All sleeper buses will have air-conditioning, but you can shut off the vents facing you if it’s too cold.
VIP buses versus standard sleeper buses
There are two main categories of sleeper buses: standard sleepers and VIP sleepers. Sometimes, these are called by different names, depending on the company, but you can always tell by the photos.
VIP Sleeper Bus
Standard Sleeper Bus
Standard sleepers are always the cheaper option of the two and will recline around 80% of the way back. Sometimes they have privacy curtains, but often they won’t have any curtains. Similarly, some will have TV screens and charger ports, but often these don’t work. Some will provide a small blanket and pillow (often for night buses) or a bottle of water but don’t expect these all the time.
VIP sleepers include beds that lay completely flat and always have privacy curtains. They always include a blanket and pillow and majority of the time, the charging ports and screens will work. Depending on the company, they sometimes provide small bottles of water and a little snack pack.
Tips for taking sleeper buses and trains in Vietnam
- Pack your daypack with anything you think you might need for the journey. Your larger luggage item will go in a luggage storage area (often under the bus), so assume you won’t have access to it when you arrive at your destination. Popular things to pack in your day-pack include: warm clothes, a sarong, water, snacks, noise-cancelling headphones/ Airpods, ear plugs, eye mask, any medications you need, a book or kindle.
- Wear layers, including warm clothes. Most sleeper buses and trains are freezing, but occasionally, you get one where the temperature is set warmer (probably because the A/C isn’t working properly). Wear layers that you can strip off if you get hot. Jumpers, warm socks, pants and scarves/sarongs are great for keeping warm. Sarongs can also be used as blankets, eye masks, or to hide valuables.
- Wear sandals or shoes you can easily slip on/off. You have to remove your shoes and place them in a plastic bag to enter buses in Vietnam. Every time there’s a snack/ toilet stop, you’ll either have to put your shoes back on or use the plastic shoes they provide (usually in a basket on the floor, next to the door of the bus, ready for you when you get off). It’s so much easier bringing your own slip-on sandals, so you don’t have to wear shoes other random people have worn.
- Charge your devices beforehand. While a lot of sleeper buses and trains advertise chargers on board, quite often, they are broken. Assume you won’t have access to charging points, and make sure you’ve charged your devices fully beforehand or you have a portable charger with you.
- Keep your valuables out of sight. While night transport in Vietnam is very safe, and most people have no issues, there are still stories of theft on night transport. I keep all my valuables (phone, passport, money) in my small bag and wear it under my jumper. I sometimes use a carabiner to physically attach it to my chest while sleeping. If you’ve got bigger valuables like laptops, iPads or drones, I would place them in one backpack at your feet or side and cover it in a blanket/jacket so it’s not visible or easily accessible.
- Set an alarm for just before your arrival time. This is so important if you’re a heavy sleeper or wearing earplugs. Often, sleeper buses may be travelling a much longer route than the ticket you’ve booked, so your end destination may not be where the bus is terminating. If you sleep through your stop, the bus driver may not realise and wake you up, so you’ll end up in a random town or city somewhere.
Sleeper trains in Vietnam
Sleeper trains are an alternative to sleeper buses in Vietnam, but they tend to be a bit more expensive and a less popular method of transport. These trains run from Ho Chi Minh City all the way to Hanoi, with stations near Mui Ne, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hue, and Phong Nha. However, many of the train stations in Vietnam are located further out of the city or in a neighbouring town, so it will cost extra to get onward transport from the train station. You can travel either way on these routes via sleeper train, either during the day or at night.
Different classes of trains in Vietnam
There are a few different classes of sleeper train in Vietnam, ranging from first class to third class. Regardless of which class you go with, you will have access to the restaurant carriage to purchase food and drinks and have 24/7 access to a toilet. Generally backpackers will travel second class sleeper A/C for overnight journey and second class A/C seat only for day journeys.
However, paying more for a first class sleeper cabin is a great option if you want a better night sleep and have the budget. The one thing to note is with all the sleeper beds, they don’t face the same direction that the train is travelling. That means when it’s moving, it can make you feel like you’ll roll out of the bed. This is unlike Thai Sleeper Trains, where the bunk beds are situated the same way as the train is heading, so you get a better night’s sleep. You can see photos comparing the two below:
Vietnam Sleeper Trains
Thai Sleeper Trains
First Class
First class is recommended for overnight journeys as it’s the most comfortable but also the most expensive. Depending on your route, there may be different options in first class, such as cabin, first class 2 berth and first class 4 berth. Regardless of which option you go with, you’re guaranteed A/C and a bed that lies flat with linens and pillows.
The main difference is how many people are in the room; a cabin is a private room, two berths means you will share with another person (usually two single beds), and four berths means there will be four people in the room (this will be bunk beds, so you may be unlucky and get a top bunk). You’ll also have luggage storage in the room with you under the bed and often there are charging points in the room. You’ll have access to both a squat toilet and a western toilet, which tend to be cleaner than in other classes.
Second Class
The second class has a sleeper option and a seat option. The sleeper option is similar to first class in that you have A/C, luggage storage, linens, pillows and a flatbed in a room. However, you will often have 6-8 people in a room in bunk beds, which can be pretty cramped. Second class seats on the other hand are much more affordable, but they are generally a soft seat that barely reclines (very similar to an airplane seat).
Generally, luggage storage spaces at the end of compartments fill up so fast that most people end up with luggage on their laps or blocking the hallway. Seats usually have armrests and small tray tables you can use to eat on, but no charging points. There will also be A/C in the cabin and toilets, although, often there are only squat toilets which are not the cleanest. The journey in the seated area is pretty uncomfortable for sleeping as the lights stay on, it’s often loud, and you’ll be pretty much sitting upright.
Third Class
Third class is the cheapest ticket often and is seldom used by tourists unless it’s a short journey and you’re on a really tight budget. This class involves hard seats (like wooden park benches) and no A/C. It’s incredibly cramped, and there will usually be more people on the train than there are seats. There’s virtually no luggage storage, and the toilets are pretty grim.
Regular buses and van transfers in Vietnam
For shorter journeys on routes that sleeper buses don’t service, you can catch a standard bus or a small van transfer. Routes where standard buses or van transfers are common include Hanoi to Ninh Binh, Halong Bay and Cat Ba. These buses or vans can differ greatly in quality, amenities, comfort and price. Now, I’m not going to sugarcoat it: these van transfers and standard buses are not very comfortable. The A/C is generally pretty poor, and everyone’s luggage is squeezed around the seats, making it even more cramped. Luckily, they’re only really used on shorter journeys, where you’re on the bus for less than 3 hours.
Rideshare apps in Vietnam
There is no Uber in Vietnam, but Grab is essentially the same thing. Grab is super user-friendly and easy to use. However, you will need a sim card to set up Grab, as they need to text you to verify your number. Unlike Uber, Grab has a car and a scooter option where you can jump on the back with a local driver. Grab is all over Vietnam, but some places won’t have drivers, so you must rely on Taxis as a method of transport.
You can easily use Grab in the following cities: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hue, Ninh Binh, Dalat, Hoi An and Da Nang. There are also some drivers in cities like Can Tho, Mui Ne, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang, Phong Nha and Sapa, but there are very few drivers, so getting a Grab may not always be possible. In every other place in Vietnam, you must rely on other methods of transport such as taxis, renting a motorbike or getting around on foot.
Like Uber, Grab is fairly safe and will show you driver reviews and keep track of your journey. There is an option to report a driver or make an emergency call should anything happen. I prefer to use Grab instead of taxis as there is a record of the driver and journey, which deters the driver from doing anything untoward. There is also a Grab Food option using the same app, which is the same as Uber Eats (perfect for hungover bed days).
Is Grab Scooter safe, though?
I feel so much safer being on the back of a Grab scooter than driving a scooter or jumping on the back of another traveller’s scooter. For one, the drivers are locals who grew up driving scooters in the traffic conditions of Vietnam. They drive around in scooters daily and are great drivers. Every Grab Scooter has a spare helmet for guests. You can track your journey through the app, send it to family or friends, rate the driver, and report any issues like Uber.
It does feel a bit strange at first having to sit so close to a literal stranger, and straddling the back of a scooter in a short skirt can be awkward. But you will be fine once you get over the initial culture shock. Scooters are much more affordable and faster if you’re travelling solo as they can filter through traffic where cars get stuck in a traffic jam. You can even travel with your backpack to get from the bus station to your hostel. Keep in mind that depending on the scooter size, you may have to wear it on your back, which will weigh you down a bit.
Taxis in Vietnam
I will always try to use Grab, where I can do the ease of booking and the safety. If you are somewhere without Grab or can’t get a driver, a taxi will be your next bet. Taxis in Vietnam come in different colours depending on the city you’re in; they can colours such as green, yellow or white with stripes. You can easily spot them as they will say “taxi” on the side and have a sign on the roof. In any tourist area, there will generally be many taxis hanging around and driving past. Standard taxis will fit four passengers, but there are larger taxis in bigger cities, but they can be harder to find. Taxis do not have set prices or a meter, so you will have to haggle the price of the journey before you get in.
Tips for using Taxis in Vietnam:
- Always haggle! Their initial price will always be much higher than the standard going rate for the journey. Feel free to walk away if they won’t lower the price. A few times, I told drivers, “It’s only 20 minutes. I’ll just walk,” they chased me and offered me a much lower price, which I accepted.
- If you’re in a city that has Grab but can’t get a driver, use the price on Grab as a bargaining tool to ask them to lower the price. While they usually won’t match the Grab price, you shouldn’t be paying double or triple what rideshare apps are recommending as the suggested price.
- Make sure you agree on the price before you get in the car or put your luggage in the boot!
- Use Google Translate to communicate the address. Don’t be afraid to show them on a map or point out a nearby landmark like a pagoda. So many hostels and hotels have similar names, so it is not uncommon to get accidentally dropped at the wrong address.
Renting a scooter in Vietnam
Renting a scooter to get around Vietnam is by far one of the most convenient and cost-effective methods of transport. Many hostels will assist with scooter rentals on-site or recommend reliable rental companies. Otherwise, you can google scooter rental companies and choose the most reliable based on reviews. Some companies have bad reputations for scamming travellers, renting faulty scooters, or claiming tourists damaged scooters when the scratches were actually pre-existing. Make sure you do your research to avoid being scammed! Renting scooters up-front for a few days is usually more cost-effective than renting daily. You can rent a scooter everywhere for around 150k VND Vietnamese Dong ($6 USD) per day.
Scooters are pretty dangerous, and many (and I mean a lot) of travellers have accidents. Every second backpacker in South East Asia has a scooter accident story. It is THAT common. While most of the time, people end up with minor cuts, grazes and gravel rash and a bit of a bruised ego, I met many people with serious scooter accident stories. Broken legs, fractured collarbones, and people having to return home and cut their trip short to recover from serious injuries. Also, not to be morbid, backpackers do die in scooter accidents. When I was in Canggu, another traveller died on the back of a motorbike as a drunk tourist hit her. It was tragic and shook many people in the backpacking/ex-pat community in Canggu- a stern reminder of the dangers of scooters.
A warning about scooters in South East Asia!
You need an international driver’s license to ride a scooter in Asia. I’ve heard that it’s super easy to apply for one in most travellers’ home countries and relatively inexpensive. However, most travellers either aren’t aware of this or don’t bother to get one before they leave home. The scooter companies will still rent a scooter to you regardless of whether you have a proper license. Driving without an international license, you can be fined a fair bit of money or face prison if you refuse to pay.
Even worse, if you are in a severe accident and were driving without an international license at the time, it is highly likely your travel insurance will not pay for your medical expenses. Most travel insurers have a clause stating they will not pay for medical bills that result from you committing an illegal activity. As driving without an international license (while commonplace) is technically illegal, insurance companies will not cover you for scooter accidents.
If you want to rent a scooter in Vietnam, my recommendations would be:
- Take a scooter lesson when you arrive to learn about road rules and safety from a local. I did one for less than $5 USD, which made me more confident.
- Get an international license from your home country before you travel. It’s cheap and easy in most countries so that you won’t be fined excess money in Vietnam.
- Don’t drive drunk. You’d think it would be common sense, but there’s something about the scene in many parts of South East Asia where it’s normalised. By all means, drive your scooter during the day sober. At night, jump in a grab. They are literally so cheap.
- Make sure you always lock your scooter and keep the key somewhere safe. You’d be surprised how often someone is tearing apart the dorm looking for a scooter key.
- Take photos and videos of the scooter’s condition before you rent it. Otherwise, you will be charged for scratches or dents already on the vehicle.
- Be mindful of using your phone or any passengers’ phones while driving. Phone grabbing from other vehicles is not uncommon and can cause serious accidents. For directions, get the back passenger to discretely use their phone from their lap or have Google map directions playing in your AirPods, so you don’t need your phone out.
Walking around Vietnam
Vietnam is very much geared towards tourism, and there are tourists everywhere! Walking around feels extremely safe, even as a solo female traveller at night. Given that scooters are king, you often won’t find locals or even ex-pats walking many longer distances. It can also be a bit trickier walking in Vietnam. There are many places where there aren’t any footpaths, so you have to walk on the side of the road. If there is a footpath, I can guarantee you it will be used as scooter parking, so not really easy to use. Walking on the side of the road is normal, and traffic will move around you.
The only other thing that is important to be wary of is dogs. In many parts of Southeast Asia, dogs are not kept as pets so much; they are fed and used to guard an area. Sometimes, dogs can bark or growl at you for just walking past a place. Sometimes, they might even chase you or try and nip/ bite you. It’s not super common in Vietnam, but it did happen to me a few times in Indonesia and Cambodia. Just be super-mindful of stray dogs and their body language; giving them a wide berth is always better.
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