Before you plan your trip in Vietnam you’ll need to know exactly how to travel though the country. Vietnam is extremely large, but connected by trains, planes, and buses in every way imaginable. There is of course pros and cons to all forms of transportation here. We’ve found the largest factors are cost, travel time, and comfort. Are you ready to experience a wild ride and travel Vietnam by bus, or would you rather take quick domestic flights in Vietnam? How about the train, motorbike or even a ferry? After many visits to this amazing country we’ve used all forms of transportation in Vietnam, and are here to help you plan your own travels!

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Planning the Best Route for Your Trip

Before you can decide on how to travel in Vietnam you have to work out the best route that fits your holiday. Some things to consider is the cooler weather in the north compared to the warmer south. Do you prefer the large cities or small towns?

Are you looking for something relaxing, or an adventure vacation? All of these things should be considered when researching transportation in Vietnam. Below are some of our own personal favorite travel routes!

How to Travel in Vietnam Using Domestic Flights

Most likely your time in Vietnam will start by flying into a major international hub such as Saigon or Hanoi. With the country being over 2,000 miles long there are many domestic flights in Vietnam.

So depending how long your trip is it might be worth it to travel by plane between destinations. For example, Saigon to Da Nang in Central Vietnam is only one hour and twenty minutes by flight. Compare this to a 20 hour bus or 18 hours on multiple Vietnam trains, and it’s obvious what’s more convenient!

Vietnamese Airlines

An important thing to look at before booking your flight is if it’s actually direct. If you use an airline that isn’t Vietnamese they might be offing a good deal. Yet, you’ll be shocked when your simple one hour flight turns into a complete travel day!

Often the budget airlines will have you transfer in Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. While taking domestic flights in Vietnam we’ve used Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air almost exclusively, but there are several companies to choose from.

Airport Codes for Popular Vietnam Destinations

HAN – Hanoi

– Hanoi HUI – Hue

– Hue DAD – Da Nang

– Da Nang DLI – Da Lat

– Da Lat CXR – Nha Trang

– Nha Trang SGN – Saigon

PQC – Phu Quoc

Pros of Domestic Flights in Vietnam

Short Travel Days: What might take you a whole day on the Vietnam trains will now only take a couple hours or less. Flying from North to South is also just over two hours compared to 35 hours worth of bus rides!

Cost: While flights will cost more than a bus they can often be similar price to the train. This will give you much shorter travel time, and can save you money if you plan the flights in advance.

Cons of Domestic Flights in Vietnam

Added Costs: The airports are outside the city center and you will have to pay the additional cost of a taxi to reach your final destination.

Environmental Impact: Over the last year we’ve been hearing more about travelers lowering their carbon footprint. Reducing the amount of flights you take is one of the simplest ways to do this.

How to Travel in Vietnam by Bus

The bus is a massively popular here, and known as the cheapest way to get around. However, just because it’s used heavily and is less expensive doesn’t mean it’s the best mode of transportation in Vietnam. When traveling you should always consider the safety, cleanliness, and comfort that comes along with the price.

Our First Overnight Bus in Vietnam

Our first night bus adventure was back in 2014 from Hanoi to Hue. Starting our journey at 9pm at night, we loaded on a bus and were transferred half an hour to a new location. From there we unloaded and got on the official “sleeper bus.” This style bus in Vietnam are large, and consists of three rows of two layered bunkbeds.

This means if you’re a tall person it’s going to be slightly uncomfortable. You’ll have to squeeze your feet into the small boxes and lay back on the sleeper seat. Also, there were no toilets on board and we only had a restroom when the driver needed to stop. In the middle of the night we were let off on the side of the road to go along with 30+ other people on the bus!

Bathroom situation aside, bright disco lights flashed the entire night and loud Vietnamese pop music blasted through the speakers. This is in addition to being on the infamous highway one which is a mess of honking horns, stop and go movements, and fast driving. That was mixed with the slew of locals who were picked up along the trip, and slept in the aisle below as there were no seats available.

Needless to say, after this 14 hour bus ride from hell we weren’t a fan of the long overnight rides. We have since stuck to shorter distance buses (four hours or less), and have been taking advantage of other forms of transportation in Vietnam that we’ll get into next.

Pros of Traveling Vietnam by Bus

Cost: Hands down this will be the cheapest option you’ll find to travel through Vietnam.

Flexibility: There are endless bus companies in Vietnam so you won’t have any problem finding daily routes to everywhere.

Routes: All places on the popular Vietnam tourist route are connected by the bus system. It might take you awhile, but eventually you’ll get where you’re going.

Cons of Traveling Vietnam by Bus

Length of Travel Day: The bus routes will typically take you the longest time to get to your destination.

Comfort and Safety: Keep your most important belongings at your feet, and don’t leave them on the bus when you get off. The buses are a notorious place to get your things stolen backpacking in Vietnam.

Bathroom Breaks: At connecting routes, or whenever the driver feels like stopping.

How to Travel in Vietnam by Train

The train is one of the most overlooked forms of transportation in Vietnam, and definitely has its advantages. On our most recent Vietnam trip we decided to try the train out for the first time. We had mixed experiences with it as some companies were much nicer than others. Unlike the bus or plane, the type of train ticket you book may determine your experience.

The different cabins range from single seats to luxury carts with just 2 beds in them. Another thing to remember is that trains are booked out in advance more so than flights or buses. We didn’t initially realize this and had to stay a couple extra days in Ninh Binh before heading South.

Pros of Using Vietnam Trains

Scenic Views: The trains in Vietnam provide some of the very best views out of any mode of transportation. The wide windows and routes along the ocean make for some beautiful rides, especially on stretches like Hai Van Pass.

Comfort: Depending on the type of ticket you book, we found the Vietnam trains much more comfortable than the bus. The sleepers cabins have actual beds so you can lay down and sprawl out on long rides.

Cons of Using Vietnam Trains

Sharing Cabins: The sleeper cabins we mentioned above often have 4-6 beds in them. It is possible to book entire carts out, but then you’re paying for each individual bed. Be prepared to make some friends if you’re not ready to cough up the extra dough!

Flexibility: Keep in mind again that the trains fill up fast. You’ll have to book these further in advance than the bus.

Length of Travel: Not much faster than the bus or driving a motorbike. Sometimes the train stations are also outside of the cities a bit as well.

How to Travel in Vietnam by Motorbike

When talking about the transportation in Vietnam it would be an injustice to not mention traveling the country by a motorbike. This one is most popular for adventure travelers, and comes with good and bad just like anything else. It does give you the most freedom and flexibility as you can stop and go when you please.

The most popular route taken this way by travelers is to buy a motorbike in the north or south, and drive the entire length of the country. When they get to their final destination (usually Saigon or Hanoi) they sell the bike before continuing on.

While we haven’t done the entire country by motorbike, we did do the popular Ha Giang Loop. This was an incredible 4 day 3 night ride through rural Northern Vietnam. It was easily one of our favorite experiences we’ve had in the country!

Pros of Driving Vietnam by Motorbike

Flexibility: You’ll never feel as free as driving a motorbike through the lush mountains of Vietnam! This is surely the most unique way to use transportation in Vietnam.

Cost: Assuming you get a good deal buying and selling your bike it will be super cheap to travel with. Gas prices are very inexpensive in Vietnam and rentals are cheap, too.

Scenic Views: If you thought Vietnam trains had good views it’s nothing compared to what you’ll get on the seat of a motorbike!

Cons of Driving Vietnam by Motorbike

Safety: Motorbike accidents are quite common in Vietnam, and this is definitely the most dangerous options to choose. Always wear a helmet!

Legality: You’ll need an international drivers license to operate a motorbike in Vietnam, and even then you might have some issues with local police. We’ve been forced to pay fines ourselves for doing absolutely nothing wrong.

Length: Even for the most experienced motorbike riders this is a long one. Our friends did it and took one month from north to south. Prepare for long days, and some towns where you won’t see a single person or restaurant.

General Ferry Information

The only time you will have to consider taking a ferry while traveling through Vietnam is visiting one of the islands. On our last trip to Asia we explored Cambodia before crossing the southern border, and catching a high speed ferry to Phu Quoc Island.

From Ho Chi Minh City the “budget option” is sold as an overnight sleeper bus then transfer to the boat. This is specifically one route we would recommend skipping, and instead looking into domestic flights in Vietnam. We booked our flight several days in advance, and paid just $20 USD one way to fly from Saigon to Phu Quoc Island. This was actually cheaper than the overnight bus and ferry would have cost!

Have any questions about how to travel in Vietnam? How about some of your favorite destinations, routes, or very own tips for transportation in Vietnam? Drop us a comment at the bottom of this post!

Safe Travels,

Brigitte & Jake

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Where to Stay in Vietnam

Make sure to check out all our individual posts below for hotel recommendations, and more info on the best places to visit in Vietnam. You can see the latest prices here for hotels!

*By booking through our website we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This allows us continue our travels and keep providing great content to our readers! You can also bookmark this link for all your future stays*

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Explore More of Vietnam with Us

Northern Vietnam

Central Vietnam

Southern Vietnam