What's public transportation in Vietnam like?

Show all answers

MojaveDan

There is hardly anything similar to North American public transportation in Vietnam, and you will find that out the moment you step onto the streets there.

My wife and I regularly use the bus to get around when weâ€™re in HCMC. If you know what youâ€™re doing, the bus is the best means of transportation in HCMC with exception of having your own motorbike. Keep in mind that Iâ€™m rating specifically transportation in HCMC and not the rest of the country or world.

Believe it or not, busses can get from one end of HCMC to another faster than a car. HCMC is almost always jammed with traffic, but busses can slip through like butter on pancakes. Generally speaking, the traffic laws in Vietnam are influenced by the size of your vehicle. Cars have the right of way over a motorbike, busses have the right of way over cars and so on. You also canâ€™t beat the cost.

One bus ride is about twenty-five cents and a monthly pass can bring that cost down to less than a dime a ride. If you add the afternoon rains and flooding, that dime you will spend become even more of a bargain. This advisement is only for transportation within HCMC, but not for long distance through Vietnam.

If you plan to travel outside of HCMC, you can use a combination of air, rail, tour bus and taxi transportation.

Pacific Air is the Southwest Airlines of Vietnam. Cheap, no frills, but will get you from where youâ€™re at to where you want to be in Vietnam in 2 hours or less and usually for $100 or less. Vietnam Airlines is not that much more expensive if you desire to have a meal while flying.

If you chose to go by rail, I would highly recommend the 5-Star Express from HCMC to Nha Trang. It will take about 5 hours to get there, but it will be the best five hours you will spend traveling through some of the most beautiful country you may ever see in your life. If you have two days to kill, then take the regular train from Nha Trang to Ha Noi. Cost for both train tickets can be less than $50 for modest accomodations.

For long distance bus travel, DO NOT use the regular busses. More tourists die from bus accidents than any other form of transportation in Vietnam combined. They might be dirt cheap, but theyâ€™re always overcrowded and very dangerous. Spend the extra money to take a nice, plush, air conditioned tour bus instead. Enjoy the creature comforts of having your own seat that you don't have to share and get to where you're going in relative safety.

The taxi company with the green decals, I believe it is Vinasun, is the taxi of choice if you intend to visit several locations in Vietnam. They are a nationwide company with fares that are consistent throughout Vietnam. You can get a monthly coupon book, which can be used anywhere in Vietnam and save about 10% off the regular fares.

If you can speak Vietnamese, then you might have your hand at letting a xe om (motorbike taxi) get your around town. It can be the thrill of a lifetime buzzing through a Vietnamese city on the back of a motorbike. These rides are not metered, and you will be taken for a rich and dumb tourist if you donâ€™t know how to bargain with these folks.

I hope all of this helps you have a great trip!

Traveler

inter city its cabs and motor bikes. Motor bikes are the way to go as traffic can be bad and the motor bike can move more freely.
There is a bus system in most cities. a real experience.

Longer distances are usually traveled by bus or air. Jet star air has some great air fares like $29 dollars from Danang to Ho Chi Minh.
overnight busses are really cheap but can be really uncomfortable.

This is pretty much like it is every where else in the world. Don't sweat it. you'll be fine. I travel by myself all the time and have no problems.

Lam

There is public bus in city and between city. There is train also. And there is air travel method too.

But the best in city is Xeom, which is a motorbike which is quick and cheap way to travel inside city. Cars/taxi is available but traffic is tough to beat.

It is fun on xeom but are life takers too so travel using it only if you feel comfy.

Hoang A

Transportation

Transportation in Vietnam may not rate as the best in the world. But, easy for you can get flight to come in and you can get by quite easily in the cities. Taxis are by far the most convenient mode of transportation and not expensive. If you want to try and be a little different, then the cyclo (three wheels) or pedicab is an interesting and enjoyable way to explore a city. These are available at all street corners and can be the best way to see a city rather than whizzing around in a taxi. Alternatively, you can also go by the motorbike taxis. A must do is to take the boat tours which are available for many destinations. To getting the high land of vietnam, you can take a night or day train, with luxury cabin (air conditionâ€¦) the train will make you fell comfortable. From Vietnam, if you want to go to some country near vietnam (China, Lao, Cambodia, Thai lan), flight or train is best choice.
If you want travel to Vietnam, You can apply Vietnam Visa online at https://secure.vietnam-visa.com/apply.html

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: