Public and tourist transport in Vietnam is well developed, allowing you to independently get to any place in the country, comfortably and inexpensively travel around cities and resorts.

If you don’t know some of the nuances, it’s very easy to overpay even for the simplest trips, because tourists here are often perceived as rich people, from whom you definitely need to take more money than from the locals.

We will tell you about all types of transport in Vietnam for tourists and how to use them.

Aircraft

Air traffic in Vietnam is well developed, including budget carriers (low-cost airlines). The largest state airline is Vietnam Airlines. This is an excellent company with excellent service, but also high compared to others operating in the country. Flights within the country can be made much cheaper on "budget airlines":

• Jetstar;
• VietJetAir or VietJetAirAsia;
• AirAsia;
• VASCO;
• Bamboo Airways.

From Russia to Vietnam you can get on Vietnam Airlines, Aeroflot, Nordwind Airlines, Orenburg Airlines, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad Airlines, Turkish Airlines, China Southern and many others.

The route network is not very large, but it covers all the main tourist destinations: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Phu Quoc Island and Con Dao, Dalat, Hue, Hai Phong.

Some resorts cannot be reached directly by plane; you will have to fly to the nearest airport and then travel by land by train or bus:

• Sapa. Fly to Hanoi airport and then take a bus or train;
• Halong. Fly to Hanoi airport and then take a bus or train;
• Mui Ne and Fantiet. Fly to Ho Chi Minh City airport, and then take a taxi, bus with a transfer in Ho Chi Minh City, or train;
• Hoi An. Fly to Da Nang airport and then take a taxi or city bus;
• Catba Island. Fly to Haiphong airport and then take a bus or ferry;
• Vung Tau. Fly to Ho Chi Minh City airport and then take a bus.

Trains

The railway network in Vietnam is not very well developed. There is a railway line connecting north and south ( Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City ) and passing through all the major cities and resorts in the center of the country: Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hue, and Vinh . From Hanoi, there are branches to Lao Cai (for reaching Sapa ) and Hai Phong (for reaching Cat Ba Island or Ha Long Bay). From Hanoi, the railway also goes to China and even further to Russia and Europe, as far as London.

However, traveling by train is one of the most comfortable ways to travel around the country. Train tickets are cheaper than plane tickets, but almost twice as expensive as bus tickets for the same destinations. During the Vietnamese New Year Tet, which is January and February, train fares increase up to 4 times.

Train tickets in Vietnam can be purchased at train stations (cheapest), online (slightly more expensive), or in tourist areas at travel agencies (with a large markup).

For tourists, the most relevant option is to buy online, since it is best to buy tickets for long-distance trains in advance. Unfortunately, it is not yet possible for tourists to buy official electronic tickets on the railways website, since payment only works for plastic cards of Vietnamese banks, but you can try your card.

Intercity and international buses

The bus network is very well developed, and this is the most "popular" and inexpensive form of transport for moving between cities. It is also great for tourists, especially since there are even special tourist buses. There are, among other things, international flights to Laos, Cambodia and China.

Buses are about half the price of trains, but they're also less comfortable. Fortunately, long-distance journeys between cities in Vietnam are covered by special "sleeping buses," equipped with reclining seats specifically for long journeys of up to a day. For example, journeys to Laos or Cambodia take more than a day. These buses allow you to travel completely reclining. They typically have three rows of these "reclining seats" on two levels (lower and upper).

If possible, we recommend taking the upper rows, they are more comfortable. Some buses have a toilet on board, and those that do not make frequent stops along the way for toilet visits and food.

There are buses of small private companies and large state carriers. They depart and arrive from bus stations, and sometimes use their offices as departure and arrival points, it all depends on the direction and company. Tickets can be bought at bus stations, in company offices and in travel agencies on the street or in hotels. Moreover, if you buy tickets in travel agencies or hotels, the cost is a little higher, but it includes delivery from your hotel to the departure point, which is much more convenient.

Water transport

Water transportation isn't very common in Vietnam, but in some places it's indispensable. For example, you might miss out on Cat Ba Island or a tour of the Mekong Delta in the south. Boat tours in Halong Bay are also very popular.

However, using boats and ferries independently, that is, as a separate form of transport, is not very convenient for tourists in Vietnam.

It is usually easier and cheaper to use ready-made solutions in the form of excursions or a comprehensive bus+ferry transfer to get somewhere.

If you decide to use it yourself, you will have to solve the problems of first getting to the right pier, sorting out the schedule (where everything is only in Vietnamese), and then somehow getting from the arrival pier to the right place.

Tourist transfers

At popular Vietnamese resorts, travel agencies and hotels offer package tour transfers, making this one of the most convenient and affordable ways to get to your destination. Tourists are picked up right from their hotel doors. Sometimes, these can even be one-way excursion transfers. For example, you can travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh (Cambodia) by boat and bus in two days, visiting several interesting places with a guide.

Transfers can include travel via private minivans, scheduled buses, ferries, trains and planes for a small markup, but can actually end up being cheaper than travelling independently, as you won't have to spend money on individual taxi or minivan transfers to your departure point, transfers, etc.

Traction

Major cities in Vietnam have a city bus system. The most extensive networks are in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City , while in other cities they are limited to a dozen routes or less. Smaller towns have no buses at all. Sometimes city routes also serve suburban routes, such as bus #1 in Da Nang , which runs from Da Nang to Hoi An for just 17,000 VND (1428 rubles, see currency in Vietnam and exchange rates) . Citywide fares start at 4000 VND (16.32 rubles).

City buses run on established routes according to a schedule (they do not always adhere to it), stop at equipped bus stops, or places designated by signs indicating route numbers. The ticket is paid to the conductor in dongs, and a ticket is issued.

In large cities, it is best to install official applications to use them, for example, Tim Buyt in Hanoi, DanaBus in Da Nang.

Taxi and motorcycle taxi

Taxis in Vietnam are a very common form of transport, especially in large cities and tourist areas. A trip on the meter for short distances (1-2 kilometers) will cost on average from 25 dong (000 rubles). All official taxis have prices for the trip on the side door or glass, for example: boarding and the first 102 meters - 500 dong, then for each kilometer - 12000 dong.

All official taxis are equipped with meters, but tourists have problems using them: taxi drivers want to get the full amount of money from foreigners, and do not always agree to rides by meters, and instead offer a ride at a fixed price, which can be several times higher. It is better to refuse such offers, but if there is no way out, then at least bargain. Sometimes you come across "rigged" meters that work faster than they should.

One of the largest taxi companies in all of Vietnam is Mai Linh Taxi , and for many years it was considered one of the most reliable companies, never cheating. However, with clones under similar names and even counterfeit cars with similar logos now appearing, this is no guarantee.

Luckily, there is now a good alternative – ordering a taxi through the Grab app. This is an analogue of Uber for Asian countries, and Uber itself does not work in Vietnam.

It's best to install Grab at home and activate it using your phone or sign in with your Google account. After that, it's pretty much the same as Uber: enter your pickup and dropoff points on the map, choose the taxi type, get a quote, and place your order. Payment is made to the driver in cash at the end of the trip. Both regular car taxis and motorcycle taxis are available, which are half the price.

Renting or purchasing transport

Since 2014, it has been completely legal to drive a rented vehicle in Vietnam with an International Driving Permit (IDP) that meets the requirements of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. You can get such an IDP at the State Traffic Inspectorate (STSI). You do not need to retake the exam.

However, the price for renting a car in Vietnam remains quite high – from 50 dollars per day.

Experience shows that the best and cheapest option for getting around Vietnam is to rent or buy a motorcycle.

The rental price is from 8 to 15 dollars per day. You will see many motorbikes in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City when traveling around these cities. Motorbikes drive on the wrong side of the road, on sidewalks and under prohibitory signs, so be careful. If you do not want to drive a motorbike yourself, ask for this service from motorbike taxi drivers. They are usually located on street corners, near hotels and markets, bus stations. However, they will find you before you find them.

However, if you plan to use a motorcycle, watch the road carefully. In Vietnam, even small roads may be marked on maps as full-fledged roads, but they are difficult to pass. This is especially true for areas far from the center.

By bicycle

Bicycle is the easiest means of transportation in Vietnam. Many foreign tourists say that it is the only means of transport they can ride in Vietnam when they first visit the country. Looking at the beautiful girls in traditional Ao Dai costumes riding bicycles, you will not remain indifferent. In fact, Vietnam is a great place for bicycle lovers.

Rickshaw (Xích Lô)

This is one of the most popular modes of transportation in Vietnam among foreign tourists. You feel divinely relaxed as you sit in a small cart, with the driver pedaling behind you. You don't have to worry about traffic jams, gas, or a foul-smelling driver. Due to new traffic regulations, these simple vehicles, which have become a symbol of the country, were recently banned from some streets in Hanoi and Saigon.

Despite its low cost, this environmentally friendly form of transport is gradually dying out.

However, rickshaws can almost always be found near popular hotels or markets, and many of them can speak English, at least at a basic level. To make sure the driver understands where you are going, it is best to take a city map with you. It is better to agree on the price in advance before you set off. Otherwise, there is a chance that you will be cheated.

Bicycle rickshaw (Xe lôi)

This is not a very popular mode of transport today. This type of rickshaw differs from the traditional one in that the driver sits in the front. In fact, this type of transport is a modification of the Chinese classic cart. In the southern part of Vietnam, Xe lôi is more common than in the central and southern parts.