Vietnam is a long and narrow country that is very well connected by road and by air. In this article, I will help you to look at how to get around in Vietnam, all transportation options (airplane, train, bus, motorbike) and my favorite way to get around in a short distance in each city.
In general, most visitors will fly into Vietnam, then get a taxi, hotel’s shuttle, Grab, or public buses to get to their hotel. Taking public buses is the cheapest option but also takes more time. The more comfortable way to get to the city center is using a reputable taxi company, ask for shuttle services from your hotel, or Grab. Grab is available at most airports in Vietnam.
To get around within a city, you can walk, cycle, use Grab, taxi, private transfer, or motorbike rentals. To travel to another city, you can use trains, sleeper buses, or domestic flights.
For getting around the city easily, I recommend installing the Grab App, which is similar to Uber in the western countries. You can order the motorbike ride or a car from Grab right after you land at the airport. You can pay by cash or card. And you can order food from Grab if you don’t feel like eating out.
Fly into Vietnam
Most visitors will fly into Vietnam to one of the three biggest international airports. They are:
- Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi (North Vietnam),
- Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City (South Vietnam),
- Da Nang airport in Da Nang (Central Vietnam)
From one of these cities, you can easily find the way to another part of Vietnam by domestic flights, trains, and overnight buses. You can also consider renting a motorbike from either north or south of Vietnam and travel to the other side of the country.
Many travelers bought a motorbike in Hanoi and travel along the country to Ho Chi Minh City and sell the motorbike there before heading to another country.
You might be wondering where you should start your holiday in Vietnam: North, South, or Central Vietnam. In my opinion, you should fly into Hanoi in North Vietnam if you want to start your holiday with the country’s most beautiful landscape, scenic drives, and lots of cultural attractions.
From Hanoi, you can explore the old quarter, and take day trips or overnight trips to nearby cities such as Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, Sapa, and Ha Giang.
You should first fly into Ho Chi Minh city if you want to start from a modern, westernized city with a vibrant nightlife scene and lots of shopping malls. From Saigon, you can take day trips to Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong delta. Other beaches and cities nearby are Mui Ne, Vung Tau, Nha Trang, and Da lat.
For those who prioritize their trip in the ancient town of Hoi An and the beautiful beaches in central Vietnam, a direct flight into Da Nang is recommended!
Getting around major cities by airplane
Most major tourist destinations in Vietnam have an airport. So, you can easily take flights from big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to places like Hue, Da Nang, Da Lat, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, and Can Tho.
The flights within cities in Vietnam are less than 2 hours, so you’ll save lots of time traveling compared to other transport options. If you book airplanes in advance, you can sometimes get cheaper prices compared to the train tickets.
You can just also show up at the airport and buy tickets. We actually did it once. We just got the taxi to Noi Bai airport, checked the earliest flights to Ho Chi Minh City, and bought tickets at the counter. It was 3 million VND for a ticket. Still recommend booking in advance to have the best deals though.
Getting around within city by Grab
If you are traveling a short distance, taking Grab (either motorbike ride or car ride) is one of the best ways to get around. It is actually my favorite way to get around as I’m not a confident driver.
You just simply goto Google Store or Apple Store, find the app and install it. You can put your card information in there if you want to pay by card. You can also pay by cash, which is great if you don’t want to put a card on the app.
Be aware of fake Grab drivers. They wear the uniform, and approach you saying that they are Grab drivers and offer to take you to your destination. They can charge you more than the price in the App. So, always order the ride from its official App for the right price and safety.
Grab Bikes are an excellent way to get around for solo travelers. Grab Cars are better options for families, couples, and groups of friends. In some remote areas, Grab bikes do not exist but you can use Grab cars. Grab cars also great for rainy days or very hot days.
When I was traveling solo in popular cities such as Da Nang or Nha Trang, many Grab drivers offered to become my private driver for a day. They will take me to popular tourist destinations and only charge the same price as in Grab. No extra fee for waiting time. I think it is a way that local people do their business in these cities. You can give them some extra tips at the end.
Getting around major tourist destinations by trains
Traveling by train is a slow way to get around Vietnam. It is safer than taking long-distance buses and it has toilets on trains. There are always train options, connecting most major tourist destinations in Vietnam.
You’ll find train stations in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Sapa (Lao Cai), Ninh Binh, Phong Nha (Dong Hoi), Da Nang, Hue, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon (Dieu Tri). Most train stations are conveniently located in the city center, but there are several train stations located 30-40 km from the city center. You’ll need to use taxis and other transportations to get to your destinations from these stations.
The train tickets are easily purchased at the train station or online on the official website. I usually just check the schedule and availability online, then show up at the train station to buy tickets onsite. I feel safer purchasing tickets that way.
The trains often have hard/soft seats and berth cabins. I recommend booking a four-berth cabin and the bottom beds for a comfortable ride, especially if it’s a long ride.
If you happen to be in Hue or Da Nang, I recommend taking the central heritage train ride (HD1, HD2, HD3, HD4). These are said to be the most scenic train ride in Vietnam, passing through Hai Van Pass, and offering breathtaking views of the sea, and the mountains.
These heritage train rides are run daily with two trains each direction. The best view is after Lang Co Station if you are traveling from Hue to Da Nang. You can see white sandy Lang Co Beach and its bridge. The best seats for Da Nang- Hue train are 32, 40, 41, 49, and for Hue – Da Nang trains are 8, 16, 17, 25.
Sometimes, taking trains is not the best option. For example, you can easily find cheap flights from Hue to Hanoi, and if you book in advance you can find airline tickets cheaper than train tickets. You’ll also save a lot of time as the flight is only under 1 hour, and the train ride takes 12 hours.
Getting around major cities by sleeper/ overnight buses
Taking sleeper buses or overnight buses are common ways to get around major cities and tourist destinations in Vietnam. You can save some money on hotels if you travel on an overnight bus.
Some popular bus routes are Hanoi – Sapa, Hanoi- Ha Giang, Hanoi – Ninh Binh, Hanoi – HaLong Bay, Hanoi – Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh – Da Lat, Ho Chi Minh – Mui Ne, Ho Chi Minh – Nha Trang.
Most buses pick up and drop off at the main station or their office. The bus company often has mini vans to pick you up at your hotel and transfer to their station.
Some travelers feel good taking sleeper buses in Vietnam, but some feel dangerous. The drivers will most of the time stop at many places to pick up more people/ parcels. If you take overnight buses, you can avoid some traffic during daytime.
Remember to choose a reputable company for your safety. The drivers usually don’t speak English; and there will be a stop along the way, where you can take some breaks to go to the toilets and have the meals. Remember your bus’s plate number when you get off.
Getting around Vietnam by limousine Bus, Minivans
Limousine buses often have fewer seats compared to Sleeper buses. They also often drop you off at your hotel instead of at the bus station like most sleeper buses. The limousine buses are more expensive compared to sleeper buses but also more comfortable.
Both Sleeper buses and limousine buses will sometimes pick you up from your hotel or nearest pick up points to you. They also Sometimes drop you off at your hotel or at the bus station. There are also options such as small minivans to transfer you between the main bus station and your hotel. So, always double check, pick up/ drop off points, transfer options before going.
Here are some examples of how sleeper buses, limousines in Vietnam operated:
Ho Chi Minh- Mui Ne: I booked a 9-seat limousine bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne. I stayed in district 2, and the driver asked me to go to their nearest pickup point in district 2. Then in Mui Ne, they dropped me at my hotel.
Mui Ne – Da Lat: I also booked a sleeper bus from Mui Ne to Da Lat. They picked me up on the road near my hotel and dropped everyone off at the bus station in Da lat. From here, I need a taxi to get to my hotel.
Da Lat – Nha Trang: When traveling from Da Lat to Nha Trang by limousine bus, the driver picks me up at my hotel in Da Lat and drops me off at my hotel in Nha Trang.
Hoi An – Hue: I took a sleeper bus. The company has a small transfer minivan picked me up at my hotel in Hoi An old town to their office to get into the main bus. The bus dropped me off at Hue main bus station. From here I get a taxi to my hotel.
Hanoi – Ha Giang: When traveling from Hanoi to Ha Giang by sleeper bus, I had to book a Grab to go to their bus office, then the minivan took us to some meeting point to get into the main bus, and the main bus dropped me off at my hotel in Ha Giang.
Ha Giang – Hanoi: The sleeper bus stops at My Dinh bus station, not in the old quarter. Most tourists stay in the old quarter. Everyone tried to get another taxi to get to the old town, but it turns out that the bus company also offers free transfer to the hotel in the old quarter (not everyone knows this).
Getting around Vietnam by motorbike rentals
Driving a motorbike is one of the best ways to explore Vietnam both within short and long distance. It is especially suited for those who can drive a motorbike, have a valid driver license, and are confident driving.
If you are traveling a short distance, in one city, or within one region, it might be better to rent a motorbike. For exploring the whole country, you can consider buying a motorbike and sell it at the end of your journey. The motorbike is cheap to rent and buy.
The downside of traveling by motorbike is you cannot bring big suitcases with you. So pack light, and bring your backpacks maybe the best way to explore with motorbikes.
Be sure to choose a reputable company and shop to buy or rent a motorbike. Always do thorough inspection before having it. Take a lot of photos as evidence in case something happens.
The rule is alway drive on the right side and wear a helmet. Be mindful that the road in the mountainous area such as Ha Giang Loop or Hai Van Pass can be dangerous. So be sure you have experience driving in a similar condition to drive by yourself.
If you can’t drive, you can still experience motorbike seating in Vietnam by taking Grab bike or easy rider servers. Places like Ha Giang Loop are great for using easy riders where you sit back experienced drivers and enjoy the scenery.
Exploring the ancient town or countryside by Cycling
Cycling is a popular way to explore the countryside like Ninh Binh or the ancient town of Hoi An. This is a great way to explore Vietnam for active travelers. Many hotels and homestays offer free use of bikes for their guests. You can also find many shops to rent a bicycle. It is cheap to rent.
If you are in Hanoi, I recommend cycling around the west lake, or the countryside area. You can observe local lifes, see the rice fields, buffalos, on the way.
Exploring the city center by walking
Most city centers are easily explored on foot. You can get around by walking, but be sure to always bring a good pair of shoes with you.
In Hanoi, you can explore the old quarter with attractions like Hoan Kiem Lake, Ta Hien Beer street, Hoa Loa prison, and the night market.
Ho Chi Minh City is more spread out, but you have walkable areas such as Nguyen Hue Walking street, Bui Vien Walking street. Major sights like the war museum, Ben Thanh Market, and Independence palace are walking distance from each other.
In Da Nang, you can walk along Han River, on Bach Dang or Tran Hung Dao streets. You can also explore My Khe Beach on Beach. Hoi An ancient town is a very walkable town and you can safely explore on foot.
Hue, Nha Trang, Da Lat also have a small city center where you can easily get around on foot. Hue has walking streets on Vo Thi Sau, Pham Ngu Lao. Nha Trang has a Tran Phu beach area and a small downtown area that is walkable.
Road safety in Vietnam
Traffic in Vietnam can be very chaotic, especially for first-time visitors. Crossing the road or just sitting on a motorbike can be a challenge for many people, including a local like me. I’m still scared of crossing the road in the busy area.
If you need to cross the road, be sure to look for traffic in all directions, follow experienced locals, raise your hand to pay other drivers. If you drive a motorbike, be sure to follow the road rules, drive on the right side of the road and wear a helmet.
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There are many ways to travel around Vietnam including taking an airplane, sleeper/overnight buses, trains, motorbike, Grab, or even cycling. Depending on your budget and travel style, you can easily get around Vietnam by using many transportation options. The country, particularly the popular tourist destinations, are very well connected by road and by air.