Transport / Travel Options in Vietnam

Vietnam is a very well interconnected country, getting from one city to another is very easy. I could even say that it is one of the easiest countries you can travel throughout.

Let’s take it one at a time, and explain all the options you have to travel through Vietnam.

How and with what to travel through Vietnam

Airports

Vietnam has a lot of airports, very close to all the tourist cities that must be seen in this wonderful country. The country’s largest airports are located at the two extremes, one in Ho Chi Minh City in the south of the country and one in the north in Hanoi. These are also the main cities of entry and exit from the country.

In addition to these two main airports, in Vietnam, you will find a lot of smaller airports. These are served by local companies that will offer you quite advantageous prices.

For example, if you land in the north and want to visit Vietnam, you can take the plane to Hue in the middle of the country. Here you can visit both Hue and Hoi An, both cities that should not be missed. After that you can continue to Ho Chi Minh city which is in the south, thus enjoying almost everything that Vietnam has to offer.

Trains

Trains can be an alternative if you want to travel in comfort and if you do not like to fly. Although they arrive in almost all tourist cities, they are quite expensive and slow (you can find flights that are cheaper than the train and that arrive in one hour versus a few hours). Because of this, we chose not to use any train during our time in Vietnam.

Our Favourite method of Transport thought Vietnam: Buses

When it comes to buses, they are a wonder of Vietnam. They are of all types and sizes and take you wherever you want. Another great advantage of this type of transport in Vietnam is that there are a lot of companies, so the price you pay is extremely low.

I don’t think there is a city you can’t reach by bus. Because of this, the time you spend on the road can be quite long. Especially if you choose to go with the Open Bus that stops in every town to take people until it fills up.

If you want to better experience Vietnam, then this is the ideal transportation method for you. We enjoyed the wonderful scenery, we noticed how the view changes, the daily activities of the people (from south to north), we traveled with the locals, and it was an unforgettable experience.

On this trip, we also took two overnight buses (a journey of 14 hours and one of 9 hours). This option is quite advantageous because you save the money you normally spend on accommodation. In addition to the night ones, we also traveled with normal coaches (small and large).

Tips: ask for offers from several companies, prices can be very competitive. And you can find bus tickets that are at a more advantageous time for you and even at half price.

Private drivers / Taxi

If you want to have privacy and enjoy a higher degree of comfort, then you can choose to travel with the help of taxis and private drivers. This method is the most expensive and it is understandable why.

For example, I read in a blog about a person who traveled from Hue to Phong NHA (213 km away) by taxi. He paid $ 93 for a driver. We did the same trip by bus and gave $ 5 for both of us. And that’s just to get an idea of ​​how big the difference can be.

Scooter / motorcycle

You can also travel by scooter or motorcycle. You can rent them from the city and then explore the surroundings. They are pretty cheap so there won’t be a hole in your budget. In addition to the option, you can also opt for renting a motorcycle from Hanoi (or Ho Chi Minh city) and then leave it at the opposite end of the country. If you want you can buy a motorcycle and then sell it when you reach your final destination. We are quite excited about this option and we are seriously thinking that next time we visit Vietnam we will do it from north to south on motorcycles. How do you like this option?

We are waiting for your opinions and stories about transport in Vietnam. 😉