If you intend to journey by bus or prepare in Vietnam, some issues can be a bit totally different to what you might be used to for those who’re from a Western nation.
Tickets could not at all times be bought on-line and the extent of consolation can fluctuate rather a lot relying in your chosen transportation possibility.
That stated, Vietnam has a nice bus community and the Reunification Express railway that runs from Hanoi to Saigon allows you to simply cowl a whole lot of distance.
Here’s how you can plan your bus or prepare journeys and join the dots in your Vietnam itinerary.
How to e book buses in Vietnam
Firstly, perceive that bus and minivan providers in Vietnam are run by tons of of various firms. This means timetables are usually not at all times full and never each bus might be booked on-line.
However, an increasing number of bus routes can now be booked simply on-line, resembling by the platform 12Go Asia.
Another frequent means is to e book transportation by way of your resort or hostel reception or at any of the small ticket brokers that you simply’ll inevitably discover anyplace that vacationers go.
It may be very typical to search out small native journey companies throughout Vietnam, so many vacationers merely get their tickets from these outlets. These companies typically allow you to get tickets for providers that aren’t out there on-line. However, they could typically additionally cost a bigger fee.
Some websites have made reserving on-line simpler in recent times, resembling 12Go Asia and Baolau.com, which settle for worldwide cost strategies.
Do needless to say typically on these platforms the bookings are usually not instantaneous. They typically must manually affirm with the operator. Booking on-line is due to this fact greatest executed at the very least a couple of hours upfront. If you e book at night time, you won’t get affirmation till morning.
While bus journey in Vietnam is just not too difficult, native buses might be gradual and most night time buses have awkward bunk beds with not a lot leg area. I’ll share extra particulars beneath on what precisely to anticipate.
Sometimes it’s value spending a bit extra on a 1st class prepare ticket or ‘VIP’ bus service for a bit extra consolation you probably have the finances.
How to e book trains in Vietnam
The trains in Vietnam do have a central reserving system lately. In reality, now you can e book trains solely on-line.
Trains are slower and considerably costlier than buses however, for those who ask me, they’re additionally far more snug. I’ve caught much more sleep on night time trains than on any of the buses.
They’re additionally a cool method to journey!
After reserving your ticket you’ll be despatched a PDF doc with a QR code and your carriage and seat quantity. You can merely present this in your cellphone to the attendant. Every carriage has its personal attendant, so there’s at all times somebody that can assist you discover your seat.
It’s greatest to e book trains at the very least one or two days forward of time, as they do replenish fairly shortly.
There aren’t any hop-on-hop-off tickets for the prepare. If you’re going south to north or the opposite means round, you’ll have to purchase particular person tickets for every a part of your journey.
What about night time trains & buses?
Because Vietnam is a big nation (it’s taller than West Coast USA) and since key vacationer websites are unfold across the north, heart, and south, many vacationers select to journey overland at night time, saving a while and doubtlessly cash not spent on lodging.
I feel touring at night time in Vietnam is usually value it. It’s quite common for backpackers in Vietnam to journey in a single day, making use of night time buses in addition to the Reunification Express working from Hanoi to Saigon which gives a variety of sleeper carriages.
The benefits are that you simply’ll spend fewer waking hours in transit and that you simply get to avoid wasting an evening’s lodging. But not all night time journey can be that snug.
Normal night time buses: Vietnamese night time buses sometimes have three rows of bunk beds stacked two ranges excessive. The beds have a plastic casing round them which is kind of restrictive particularly in case you are tall. There are normally no bogs, so the bus has to take common bathroom breaks that interrupt the journey. At the again, there’s normally a big flat mattress area that may accommodate about 4 folks. At first these could appear to be prized spots, however the lack of boundaries will make you progress continuously and should result in involuntary spooning of some unwashed stranger.
What I’m saying right here is that the common night time buses aren’t all that nice. But… they’ll get you there.
VIP/luxurious night time buses: Unless you’re touring on a decent finances, you’ll want to preserve a watch out for any upgraded ‘VIP’ buses, which function between just some locations. I took one in every of these from Hanoi to Ha Giang, for instance. For simply $8 extra I obtained myself a personal cabin with a comfortable therapeutic massage mattress, USB chargers, snacks, A/C, and extra. I believed this was completely value it.
Night trains: There is a selection of assorted courses of seats and beds on the Reunification Express. The 2nd class berths have 6 beds in them. They’re fairly cramped and there’s not sufficient room to take a seat upright. They additionally might need folks sleeping on stretchers within the hallway outdoors and I’ve additionally seen sure six-legged bugs crawling across the 2nd class carriages (sorry… I believed it’s best to know). The 1st class (smooth sleeper) carriages have 4 beds and are much more snug and clear. 2nd class might be wonderful for a finances backpacker, however the 1st class improve is value it for those who can spare only a bit of additional dong.
Hop-on-hop-off bus tickets
There are a number of operators promoting hop-on-hop-off bus passes for Vietnam. This means you’ll be able to journey the total size of the nation (between Hanoi and Saigon) on one ticket whereas going in a single course, i.e. north or southbound.
Sounds handy, proper? Well, they may not at all times be value it.
My journey buddies in Vietnam who used these tickets obtained fairly pissed off with the restrictions, as you’re decreased to utilizing just one bus firm and timetable. They had been unable to change to trains or minivans for explicit legs of the journey the place these would have been extra handy. So, hop-on-hop-off tickets can scale back your flexibility rather a lot.
I’ve at all times chosen to e book my transportation one step at a time. Even if the hop-on-hop-off ticket is barely cheaper general, it’s not so nice to must lock your self in. In my opinion, this makes them not likely value it.
Motorbiking in Vietnam
Although I like touring Vietnam by bus and prepare, arguably the easiest way to discover Vietnam is by motorcycle! The feeling of freedom you’ll get is superb. You’ll additionally have the ability to go off the same old journey circuit, getting you a lot nearer to the true nation of Vietnam.
Many take into account Vietnam among the many greatest motorbiking international locations in Southeast Asia. If you’ll be able to journey a motorcycle or scooter and wish to know extra, you’ll want to take a look at our in-depth information to motorbiking Vietnam.
Some hyperlinks could also be affiliate hyperlinks, that means I could earn fee from services or products I like to recommend. For extra, see web site insurance policies.
Posted APR 19, 2023