Before traveling to Vietnam, you should plan how to get around the country. Due to the diversity of landscapes, the means of transportation in Vietnam are various, from motorbikes to planes, trains, and buses/ coaches. Let’s find some popular ways to travel within the country.

Getting around Vietnam by plane

The plane is one of the popular means of transportation in Vietnam. With more than 20 airports from the North to the South, you can quickly transfer to your desired destination by plane. When traveling by plane, you can flexibly choose a variety of flight times and routes to suit your needs. Besides Vietnam Airlines, the largest airline in Vietnam, you can also select Bamboo Airways, Vietjet Air, and Pacific Airlines. 

Vietnam Airlines

Depending on your itinerary in Vietnam, you should book the plane ticket in advance to save the cost. If you would like us to book the plane ticket for you, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Getting around Vietnam by train

Besides planes, the train is also among the means of transportation in Vietnam that both domestic and international tourists choose. Along the journey on the train, you will catch up with stunning sceneries from immense grasslands to golden sand dunes, magnificent mountainsides, beautiful sea routes, etc. 

There are three types of seats on the train, including hard seats, soft seats, and beds at different prices. If you travel a short distance, you can choose a hard seat or a soft seat. Whereas, for a longer journey, it is better if you choose the bed to avoid fatigue. Each train cabin has four or six beds with pillows and blankets. Besides the normal cabin, there are many luxury cabin trains you can choose from, such as ET Pumpkin, Livitrans Train, The Vietage, etc. 

The Vietage Train

You can go directly to the railway station to book the train ticket. Otherwise, you can check the departure time from your location, choose your seat types, and buy the ticket here: https://dsvn.vn/#/. 

You can use the North-South railway system to travel around Vietnam. Below are some popular train routes in Vietnam you can refer to. 

• Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and vice versa
• Hanoi to Sapa, Hue, Da Nang
• Danang to Hue
• Hanoi to Quang Binh
• Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang

Thanks to the convenience, safety, and reasonable price, the train is indeed one of the most favorable means of transportation in Vietnam. Besides those above routes, there are many other destinations in Vietnam that you can use the train to reach. If you need more information, please do not hesitate to contact us!

By shuttle bus/ coach/ limousine

Shuttle buses or coaches are also popular means of transportation in Vietnam. If you are going to travel a short distance, a shuttle bus or coach is ideal. There are many types of buses/ coaches to choose from, such as sleeping buses, minibusses, limousines, etc. Let’s see some routes you can use the shuttle buses, coaches, or limousines below. 

From Hanoi to Sapa

Using the shuttle bus will take you about five to six hours to get to Sapa from Hanoi. Currently, there are many shuttle buses carrying tourists from Hanoi to Sapa with high-quality services. Interbus Lines, Sapa Express, and Sao Viet are some reliable shuttle bus brands that Handspan highly recommends. If you want to use a limousine, you can choose Green Lion Bus, Sapa Luxury Van Limousine, and ET Pumpkin.

Sapa Interbus Lines

Sapa Express

Green Lion Luxury

From Hanoi to Ninh Binh

 Buses/ minivans/ vans/ coaches are also common means of transportation to Ninh Binh from Hanoi. It takes about 2 - 2.5 hours, and tickets are from VND 130.000 - 300.000/ person/ way. Many comfortable modern vans/coaches are from Hanoi City and Noi Bai National Airport to Ninh Binh. 

From Hanoi to Cat Ba

If you travel by tourist bus, it will take about 3,5 hours to travel from Hanoi to Cat Ba. It is the fastest way for you to get there. Good Morning Cat Ba, Cat Ba Express, Daiichi Bus, Full Moon, and Cat Ba Discovery are some buses you can choose from. These buses depart daily with three or four turns a day. 

Cat Ba Express

From Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne

Coach is the most popular means of transport that many people choose to transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne. Before the trip, you should contact the bus company in advance to ensure your itinerary. Futa Bus (Phuong Trang Bus), Hanh Cafe, and Tam Hanh Bus are some reliable brands. 

Futa Bus Lines

By boat and ferry

Boats and ferries are common means of transportation in Vietnam taking tourists from the land to the islands. Below are some popular ferry/ boat routes you can try.

Hai Phong - Cat Ba Island

You can use a ferry or high-speed boat from Pha Binh ferry port to Cat Ba Island. While the ferry takes you about five hours to get to Cat Ba, using the high-speed boat, it only takes 45 minutes to reach Cai Vieng harbor. 

Halong - Cat Ba Island

Tuan Chau Island is 10 kilometers to the north of Cat Ba Island. From Tuan Chau, you can take a boat or ferry to Cat Ba. Every day, there are six turns from Tuan Chau to Cat Ba. They are at 7.15 a.m., 8.30 a.m., 10.30 a.m., 1.00 p.m., 2.30 p.m., and 4.00 p.m. You will stay in the boat for about 30 minutes to get to Cat Ba.

High speed boat from Tuan Chau to Cat Ba

Rach Gia/ Ha Tien to Phu Quoc

From Ha Tien to Phu Quoc, you can use a high-speed boat, which will take you 1 hour, or a ferry for about 3 hours. There are four turns by high-speed boat and two turns by ship from Ha Tien to Phu Quoc each day and vice versa. From Rach Gia to Phu Quoc, you can only use the high-speed boat, which takes you 1,5 hours.

Phu Quoc Express

By taxis

Taxis are typical means of transportation in Vietnam, especially in big cities and urban areas. You can use taxis to travel within a destination or nearby areas. Although it is pretty safe to use taxis to transfer to your desired destination, you should be careful with taxi scams. It is better if you choose to travel with reliable taxi companies like Mai Linh, Vinasun, Taxi Group, etc. 

Mai Linh Taxi

Besides planes, trains, shuttle buses, boats, and taxis, there are many other means of transportation in Vietnam that you can use, such as sampan, cruise, motorboat, cyclo, etc. Also,  you can hire a motorbike to travel on your own. However, we do not recommend this way if you travel to Vietnam for the first time and are not familiar with Vietnam’s transportation system.

Sampan boat in Hoi An

In conclusion, you have just known some common means of transportation in Vietnam. Hope that these pieces of information will be helpful for your trip to Vietnam.