Sleeper Buses in Vietnam: Everything You Need to Know

Sleeper buses in Vietnam have become one of the most popular ways to travel the South East Asian country. Besides, they are a fantastic and comfortable way to travel for multiple hours at a time.

Unsurprisingly enough, there is actually a fair bit to know before jumping aboard a sleeper bus, and I wish I had access to a guide like this before I rode one of the buses.

Furthermore, I go into depth on what sleeper buses are, how to book one, tips and my own personal experience. Be sure to take my advice and make use of it to ensure your trip on a sleeper bus runs smoothly!

Everything You Need to Know about Sleeper Buses in Vietnam

What Is a Sleeper Bus?

A sleeper bus is a unique and popular way to travel in Vietnam. Moreover, the bus doesn’t have typical upright seats like a regular bus, the seats are in a lying down position. And, there are usually about 36 seats available on a sleeper bus.

Moreover, sleeper buses are used for an obvious reason – sleeping. The idea is that passengers jump on board the bus for an overnight trip, which usually runs for about 8 hours and can sleep whilst travelling.

It’s a clever idea, and many people (tourists and locals alike) enjoy travelling through the country using this method of transport.

What Is the Layout of the Bus?

I know what you’re thinking, you’re wanting to get the best seat on the bus, and I don’t blame you! Everyone wants to be comfortable on a long journey, so being in a good spot is important.

There are roughly 36 seats, and each seat has its own capsule-like space. Moreover, you will sit inside a small space, with a lounged back seat, and a small tv screen (on some buses) and either be sat in an aisle or next to a window.

Moreover, these are the seating arrangements:

Top Bunk: The top bunk is just over a metre higher than the bottom bunk. Nonetheless, you will have a ladder to use to climb to the seat.

Bottom Bunk: The bottom bunk is level with the floor and is easily accessible. However, I advise that you keep all of your personal items away from the walking aisle to avoid tripping anyone or having anything stolen.

Middle Aisle: There is one middle aisle, and it’s easy to get in and out of as you have two different rows that you can walk down. However, this isn’t my favourite spot on the bus.

Window Aisle: There are two window aisles, and anywhere along the window is my favourite spot to be. Besides, you get to enjoy nice views and watch the landscape change as you move to the next city.

Finally, I think that the best spot to be is on the bottom bunk, next to a window and in the middle of the bus. However, most of the time, you aren’t able to choose your seat when getting on the bus. And, you may be moved by the driver. Frustrating, I know, but there isn’t much you can do about it.

Where Can I Book a Sleeper Bus?

The platform that I recommend for booking sleeper buses in Vietnam is 12go Asia!. Simply put in your starting and finishing locations and then you will be offered a range of options to choose from.

Keep in mind, 12go Asia! is just a booking platform, and all of the buses are run by different companies.

How Much Do Sleeper Buses in Vietnam Cost?

Obviously, the price can fluctuate a reasonable amount due to availability, length of ride and other variables. However, as a general rule of thumb, it will cost around 380,000 VND ($23 AUD) for an 8-hour ride.

Nonetheless, there are multiple bus companies, and you may find even better deals. Additionally, booking a couple of days in advance is usually a good idea to secure yourself a seat.

Finally, this is still a cheap way to travel and is very convenient for most users.

Tips for Travelling on a Sleeper Bus

After taking a handful of these bus journeys from my time in Vietnam, there are some do’s and dont’s that I discovered along the way. Therefore, be sure to take note of these and apply them to your journey.

Arrive early at the bus stop: One of the worst things you could do is miss out on your bus ride. So, plan ahead and ensure you will be at the correct bus location with plenty of time to spare. These buses run on strange schedules and can be all over the place.
Take your shoes off before walking down the aisles of the bus: Enter the bus with your footwear on, and then take them off on the step before walking down the aisles. Do not take your shoes off and stand barefoot outside, the driver will not be happy! Moreover, you will be provided with a plastic bag to store your footwear.
Take a jacket or jumper with you: On long nights of travel, the air conditioning becomes extremely cold. So, plan ahead and pack the comfort of a jumper to ensure you stay warm! (Even if it’s warm outside)
Make use of the bathroom breaks: Even if you aren’t necessarily needing to go, I recommend jumping out to go quickly as there may not be another bathroom stop.
Your main luggage goes in the area outside the bus: Pack large luggage in the area below and be sure to remember where you place it! Additionally, take your valuables with you on the bus.
Make use of the seatbelt: Buckle yourself in! The drivers take wild turns really fast, and you may fall out of your seat!
Neck pillows provide a lot of comfort: Neck pillows do the obvious of supporting your neck and ensuring that you have a more comfortable journey.
Avoid travelling through the night: Obviously, most of these buses run through the night, but I advise against travelling at night. If you can, book a day trip as you will get to see more out the windows and arrive at your destination during daylight hours.

Frequent Stops

Another thing to remember while travelling on sleeper buses is the frequent stopping of the vehicles. Moreover, if you thought it was going to be all smooth sailing to the final destination, it’s unlikely to be the case.

This in turn means you will be unlikely to get much sleep. Yep, a little bit contradicting that it’s called a sleeper bus.

Not to mention, there will be many locals jumping on and off the bus at random points along the road. Pay no mind to it as this is just a regular transport routine and is all part of the experience.

Finally, when getting out of your seat, take a moment to look around and be careful where you stand. While you crashed out, a local may have jumped on board and laid down next to your seat. Therefore, take plenty of care when moving around the bus.

My Vietnam Sleeper Bus Review

I rode a few sleeper buses while in Vietnam and the experience was different each time. For the most part, I think they are a really clever idea, but the execution isn’t always ideal.

Like anything, there are different classes of sleeper buses. So, you might discover a VIP Sleeper bus is much more comfortable than the standard regular class. I rode on both and can say that I felt much more comfortable on the VIP bus, but it comes at a heftier price.

The frequent stopping, drivers taking wild turns, limited bathroom access and strange drop-off locations definitely taint the experience. You never really know what you’re going to get and it can be a little unsettling.

My least favourite part was arriving in Da Lat at about 4 AM when I was told that I would arrive at 7 AM. The streets were dark, there was no one around and I had to hike my way to my accommodation in the middle of the night.

It was extremely unsettling and I didn’t feel very comfortable carrying all my belongings while navigating a new city in the dark. Therefore, I wouldn’t take a night journey again, but I would ride the buses throughout the day.

All in all, I think it’s still a great experience and worth a try. I mean, everything is worth a try at least once, right? Besides, if you don’t end up enjoying the ride, you will only have missed out on one night’s worth of sleep, so you can get back on track pretty quickly.

Ladies, or solo travellers, try to avoid the night schedule as it doesn’t feel like a comfortable way to travel with many other people speaking of similar experiences.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, sleeper buses in Vietnam are an excellent and comfortable way to travel on a budget. Besides, they are a much more comfortable way to travel than a typical bus or train ride.

Nonetheless, there are many aspects as to what makes a comfortable journey, which is why I’ve done my best to give you as much information as possible so that you can be ultimately prepared!

I recommend taking note of my advice and putting it to use for your journey. Besides, it will make your experience a little more comfortable and much more smooth sailing.

Finally, if you would like to learn more about Vietnam, feel free to check out this section of my blog. I am constantly updating this area with fresh content from Vietnam.