Getting Around Vietnam: Travel and Transportation Tips

There are plenty of methods of transport you can use for getting around Vietnam. And, some of them are very unique to the country making them fantastic to experience while travelling.

Nonetheless, it’s important to know how to get around a country before visiting to ensure you don’t find yourself stuck somewhere. So, take note of my advice and previous experience from travelling Vietnam solo for 6 weeks.

Finally, I’ve added in some personal experiences and other things to note about visiting Vietnam.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Moreover, you can read my full affiliate disclosure here.

Is Vietnam Worth Visiting?

Vietnam is an incredible country in South East Asia and is absolutely worth a visit. The country is rich in history and it’s an incredible experience travelling through the entirety of it.

Besides, it’s been one of the best places I’ve visited, and I would love to travel Vietnam again. From stunning landscapes to bustling cities, old and new, there is so much to see while visiting.

I truly believe that everyone needs to visit Vietnam at least once. Moreover, it’s a great place to visit for first-time and experienced travellers.

Check out a couple of recommended tours below for some ideas on things you can do whilst visiting.

Is Vietnam Cheap to Travel?

Yes, Vietnam is a very cheap country to travel! For the most part, you can get away with a budget of $30-$50 AUD per day, which is an excellent backpacker’s budget.

Besides, travelling in between cities and even the use of transport is still very cheap. Moreover, I was very impressed by my 8-hour bus rides which would only set me back around $25 AUD.

Not to mention, food and accommodation are also very cheap, so you can get away with spending very little and have an incredible experience!

The Best Advice for Getting around Vietnam

There is a huge range of ways to get around Vietnam, each of course with its pros or cons. Nonetheless, I recommend integrating a few of these transport methods into your time in Vietnam to experience it all!

Walking

One of the most obvious ways of getting around is by foot. And, I recommend this when you’re staying in a city as typically most of the attractions and tourist activities are reasonably close by and within walking distance.

Besides, this is a great way to save money and means you get to wander the city or town and do some exploring. Not to mention, this is one of my favourite ways to see sights as I would stumble upon hidden gems and had the opportunity to see the lives of the locals.

I found it pretty easy to Navigate Hanoi and was easily able to walk from my hostel to the train street, tattoo appointment, Hoan Kiem Lake, beer street and Hang Da market.

Tip: When it comes time to cross the street, follow the way of the locals and walk steadily and at a slow pace to cross the road. You will be impressed to watch the bikes slowly swerve around you. Besides, there are almost no pedestrian crossings within the country, so feeling confident in your ability to cross the road is a must!

Motorbike or Scooter

One of the most popular and convenient ways for getting around Vietnam is via motorbike or scooter. And, this might be one of my favourite methods of transport.

Moreover, you can decide whether you hire a rider or hire a bike to ride by yourself. Not to mention, you can use these scooters to travel from city to city or just use it as a way of travelling around town.

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend riding a scooter for extremely long journeys as there are a lot of trucks around and it can get quite dangerous. However, if you’re an experienced rider, you won’t have an issue with this.

Furthermore, if you would like to hire a rider, I recommend using the Grab app. Do not get a lift from someone on the side of the road as they may potentially scam you or take you somewhere else.

Tip: If it’s your first time riding, practice in a wide open space with little traffic. Do not ride in the cities in the beginning and spend a lot of time getting comfortable with bikes. Additionally, do not hire old and dodgy bikes and be sure to take plenty of photos of the scooter before leaving the shop.

Grab (Taxi)

Another fantastic way to get around Vietnam is the use of Grab Taxis. Moreover, this is the Vietnamese version of Uber and is a safe way to get around.

I find that these taxis are best for short distances like transiting to and from the airport. Nonetheless, keep in mind that traffic can be a little wild and it may not be the quickest method of transport.

Obviously, this will be one of the more expensive ways to travel as you are making use of a private vehicle. Nonetheless, they are still quite cheap and useful for short trips.

Minivan

I jumped into many minivans during my time in Vietnam, and sometimes these were only used to take me to the bus depot where I would board a bigger bus. Most of the time, I barely knew what was happening as we would get shuffled off the minivan and make our way to a larger bus.

Nonetheless, these are a quick and easy way to get around and are usually reasonably comfortable.

Public Bus

Jump on board the public bus and take a seat next to a local for the ultimate Vietnamese travel experience. Moreover, this is great for travelling short distances throughout the city.

Upon getting on the bus, you will need to pay the driver in cash to purchase a ticket. Keep in mind, the driver may speak very little or no English, so expect communication to be low.

Finally, this is one of the cheapest ways to travel and the bus fares are very low! Great for those on a tight budget.

Sleeper Bus

Sleeper buses are truly one of a kind. And, this type of transportation is an actual backpacker’s heaven when travelling a country with long distances like Vietnam.

Sleeper buses tend to run throughout the night and are an affordable and comfortable way to get between cities. Imagine laying down on a bus and enjoying a nap while transiting to your next location. Pretty sweet hey?

Besides, tickets on these buses are reasonably cheap and an excellent way to travel.

If you would like to learn more about the sleeper bus experience in Vietnam, I recommend reading my post below for everything you need to know.

Train

There are different ways that you can ride the train, and there are also different classes. However, I’d heard from other travellers, that the first class was almost similar to the last class. But, this can vary from train to train.

For the most part, the train system in Vietnam is slow but reliable and I have thoroughly enjoyed my train ride experiences. Firstly, you will need to purchase a seat online through the booking website and then you will get to select a seat.

However, good luck trying to find your seat as it can be difficult to figure out the layout of the carriages. Try to show your ticket to one of the staff and they should be able to direct you where to go.

Additionally, you will need to carry all your luggage with you and then put your bags on top of the overhead storage. Ensure these are placed correctly as the rails aren’t very big and risk falling.

Nonetheless, the trains are a great way to get around and the views over rice fields and landscapes are insanely beautiful! This was one of my favourite ways to travel Vietnam.

Finally, if you would like to purchase a train ticket, please visit this website here for more details and booking info.

Tip: If you are travelling for a while on the train, I recommend taking some sanitation wipes with you. It is likely that when you arrive at your seat, it will be dirty with old food, takeaway and other findings. There were multiple times in which I had to get rid of gross rubbish to clear my space.

Plane

Last but not least, you have the option to fly. However, this is typically only a good idea if you are only staying for minimal time and don’t mind missing out on the good stuff in between the big cities.

Planes are a convenient and fast way to travel, but it is also the most costly. Additionally, keep in mind that flight times may change as few passengers have booked seats. It’s quite common for flights to get cancelled and can be a little frustrating transiting to and from the airport.

Nonetheless, planes make for a quick journey to get from one major city to the next. I would advise taking flights if you want to go from Hanoi to Saigon or stop over at Da Nang in between.

Booking Platforms

For the most part, I booked my tickets for buses and trains from the website 12goAsia!. Moreover, this is the best platform to find typical pricing and to book tickets.

Additionally, be sure to use this website if you need to book train tickets. It’s Vietnams offical train website and displays all of the journeys within the country.

In terms of booking a taxi, you will need to download and set up the Grab app. I advise having this ready before you get to Vietnam so that you can make use of it the moment you get to the airport.

Not to mention, Grab can be used in most other South East Asian countries, so it’s an extremely useful service and app!

So What Is the Best Way to Travel around Vietnam?

Well, the best transport for getting around Vietnam depends on where you’re going and how long you’re travelling. As a solo female traveller, I find it best to travel during the day, so my opinion may be slightly different than those travelling with a friend or partner.

To be honest, I think it’s nice to use a mix of all the transport methods but this is what I typically like to do. In terms of exploring cities and going to attractions, I would either hire a scooter and ride by myself or I’d walk around if the locations are in close proximity.

Moreover, in terms of travelling to the next town or city, I would make use of sleeper buses and trains. I think these are convenient and comfortable ways to travel. And, I prefer to travel during the daytime for longer distances as I felt a lot safer.

Finally, I didn’t take any planes within Vietnam, only upon arrival and exit of the country. Nonetheless, planes are great if you only have a short amount of time in the country.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, these are just some of the best methods for getting around Vietnam. Besides, I think that it’s a good idea to use a mix of all of them for the best experience. It’s nice to change it up and try a little bit of everything.

Furthermore, there are a range of options which means you have plenty of ways to transport from location to location. All in all, Vietnam is reasonably easy to travel around, and I didn’t have an issue going from one place to the next.

If you would like to read more of my posts from Vietnam, then I highly recommend checking out this section of my blog. I constantly update it with fresh content for all the latest and greatest travel information.

Happy reading!