How to travel in Vietnam is what people are asking. Vietnam is the country that many people want to visit. Vietnam is high on their list, and for good reason. There are many options for visiting, finding tour guides, and visiting the many exotic sites in Vietnam. Here is how to travel to Vietnam and how to travel in Vietnam.
Let’s get started!
Travel in Vietnam is simple, easy and safe. You can now travel to Vietnam by sailboat, in addition to plane. Travel within Vietnam includes air travel, train, bus (often overnight), Taxi and Grab (car, van and motorbike). The cost is very reasonable.
In this article, I will share my own experiences with you. And I will offer my advice based on that experience.
I have Lived in Vietnam Five Years
I have lived in Vietnam since 2017. I rented a gas motorbike for the first two years I lived here. I have owned an electric motorbike for the last three years. I have traveled by plane, train, bus, Grab and motorbike. I know something about traveling in Vietnam.
How to Get Around in Vietnam
By far, the easiest for those with a western budget, air travel is the simplest and easiest. Planes fly to most of the larger cities and offer the convenience of quick trips, clean and comfortable travel, and a modest expense.
Plane Travel in Vietnam
There are 33 airports in Vietnam, 10 of which are International. The most popular airport in Vietnam is Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. The code for Tan Son Nhat is SGN, which is derived from the city’s former name, Saigon. There are direct flights from cities such as London, Paris, Singapore and Tokyo among others. The largest airport in Vietnam is Danang, and the code is DAD. Hanoi is the capitol city and the airport in Hanoi is Noi Bai the code is HAN.
Here is more information about booking air travel in Vietnam.
Sailboat Travel to Vietnam
The marina in Nha Trang is officially open. Sailors can now travel to Vietnam by boat. Until recently there were no marinas. Further, Vietnamese fishermen have been fined for traveling with their own boats from place to place.
Sailboat visitors have previously (and may still) been required to submit travel plans in advance of their trip. Prior to that, sailors were required to have a Vietnamese pilot or captain aboard their vessel during travel and sometimes when at anchor!
Restrictions on foreigners are gradually relaxing. The opening of the marina at Nha Trang is evidence of that. That said, it is wise to advise the Vietnamese government of your plans well in advance of your travel and have all of your papers in order.
Please see this article for more information about Sailboat Travel to Vietnam.
Train Travel in Vietnam
The trains run on a regular schedule, are generally clean and somewhat comfortable. (You can choose between soft and hard surfaces.) Train travel is better suited to shorter distances and affords an excellent view of the countryside while traveling.
Ticket prices are published on their website. They also have a published phone number. You can purchase with international bank card online or over the phone. I recommend that you look at the website and call them.
Please see this page for more information about Train Travel in Vietnam.
Bus Travel in Vietnam
There are buses going nearly everywhere in Vietnam. It’s easy to get a city bus between cities. The cost is very reasonable and the trip is comfortable. I recommend an overnight trip for any long distances. The seats are not beds, but they are permanently reclined.
Some of the city buses are not very clean and some of them are. The overnight trips have much better service and are clean and safe. I have taken the bus to Kon Tum and to Nghi An. I had no problems with either route.
Please see this page for more information about bus travel in Vietnam.
Car Travel in Vietnam
Traveling by car in Vietnam is very comfortable and easy. They have several taxi companies and Grab. The taxi company will vary depending upon what city you are in. (Uber entered Vietnam for a month or two and gave up.) There are several cab companies: Mai Linh Taxi, VinaSun Taxi, G7 Taxi, Vina taxi and Taxi Group. I’m sure there are others. Grab is nearly everywhere.
Fares are posted for you to see on the meter. While most drivers are fair and honest, you could also have the destination in Google Maps. If the route doesn’t seem obvious you can show them the app. I haven’t had any problems with Taxis, tho I usually use Grab.
See this page for more information about car travel in Vietnam.
Can I Rent a Car in Vietnam?
Yes, but take my advice. Don’t.
There are rental car companies here. Avis and another I don’t remember. If you drive here you will need a Vietnamese license, Vietnamese insurance and this can take months.
Cars, trucks, motorbikes and bicycles, even a family of five(!) pull out into the intersection to see if they can make it across. If you don’t know the system, and you don’t know Vietnamese, and you don’t have medical insurance valid in Vietnam, and you don’t have a Vietnamese driver’s license.
See this page for more information about why you should not rent a car in Vietnam and what to do instead.
Traveling by Car in Vietnam
Grab is like Uber, only green. They have Grab Cars, Vans and Motorbikes with an App. The app is simple, easy and efficient. They also deliver food and almost anything else. Like Uber, the Grab App handles the translation, the money (you can add your International bank card as your preferred method of payment), confirms your current locations and will route your destination.
I use Grab all the time, even with my own motorbike. It’s very convenient. The city is so different and alive. Every time I go someplace, I’m tempted to look at the scenery. Don’t! If you want to look at the city, take a Grab bike. This will be an adventure to remember. There has only been one time when I couldn’t find a driver. The link to download the Grab App is here.
Traveling by Motorbike in Vietnam
There are many places that offer to rent motorbikes. “Cho thuê” is “For rent” and “Xe máy” is motorbike. Don’t try to pronounce this. Listen to Google Translate (which is pretty good at some things) pronounce it for you.
One of the biggest mistakes I made when coming to Vietnam was not listening to the words first. As a result, I gave Vietnamese words an American pronunciation. Wrong! Even now, I mispronounce words that I learned early on.
Can I Rent a Motorbike in Vietnam?
Yes and no. It’s illegal to drive a motorbike over 50cc without a Vietnamese Driver License. On the other hand, it will take you months to find and take a driving test (which is making a figure eight on a small closed track) and a written test (all in Vietnamese).
If you rent a motorbike anyway. Follow the herd. Stay on the downstream side of traffic. Native drivers have a much better feel for the traffic negotiation. Be patient, even though you are on the main street, you may have to brake to let the driver (or bicycle) in front of you go first.
Please see this page for more information about motorbike travel in Vietnam.
What are those Three Wheeled Bicycles?
Those are called cyclos and they are a former mode of transportation in Vietnam. They are now mostly a tourist attraction. They are a very smooth, easy way to get around a busy city in a relaxing way. The drivers are friendly and the cost is very reasonable.
Please see this page for more information about cyclo travel in Vietnam.
Conclusions
I hope this was helpful for you. There’s lots to see and do in Vietnam and it’s easy to get around and travel in Vietnam. I have done most types of traveling in Vietnam myself and if you follow my recommendations, you should have a pleasant trip. If you have questions, please ask, I will be happy to find the answers for you. Thanks for reading.