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When you travel to Vietnam you must forget your habits. The rules are not the same, and you have to adapt to a perpetual movement that looks like a chaotic mess but that works and is actually more organized than it seems. Some things you should keep in mind about transportation in Vietnam is that priority on the right does not exist and that traffic lights are not often observed. Also, keep in mind that the state of the roads does not allow such high speeds on the highways. A good rule of thumb is to multiply by 3 the duration it would take to cover a distance in Western countries to get an estimate of the duration of the journey in Vietnam. And sometimes you can still be a little shaken!
When strolling around, step carefully and pay attention where you are walking: along the side of the road, be careful of motorbikes that can graze you, electric wires can dangle above you, and potholes can be found in the most unexpected places. When crossing the road, walk with a careful but determined step, it is the scooters who will avoid you. Take advantage of an experienced pedestrian and follow him/her to pass to the other side of the road. To be sure you are being seen, raise an arm over your head and wave your wrist as you walk.
Aside from walking, discover the other modes of transportation in Vietnam available to you during your holiday:
Walking can be tiring when temperatures are high and when the tumult of motorcycles becomes heavy. One of the best ways to get around town is by taxi as it is affordable and you will have no trouble finding an available one. Make sure that the driver uses the meter to avoid being overcharged. The typical meter fee starts at around 12,000 to 15,000 dong for the first 2 kilometres and 7,000 to 9,000 dong for the following kilometres. For visits to more distant sites, it is also possible to agree with the driver on an hourly or half-day price for example.
The best known and most reliable taxi companies in Vietnam are: Vina Taxi (yellow), Mai Linh Taxi (green), Vinassun (white with green letters), Hoang Long Taxi (green and yellow), and Taxi Group (white and blue).
Motorbike taxis or "xe om" (pronounced "say-om") are also present everywhere. At crossroads and along the sidewalks, the drivers offer to take you wherever you want to go. Xe om are a good alternative to conventional taxis since they are better able to infiltrate heavy city traffic. However, we recommend agreeing on the price before starting the journey. Note that the driver is normally required to lend you a helmet since it has been made compulsory in 2007.
If you are a little intrepid and/or in a hurry, you will find that the xe om is your best friend and definitely one of the most efficient modes of transportation in Vietnam! Hang on tight!
The bus is the cheapest way to get around cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang. The bus network is fairly well developed in these major cities, allowing you to get out of the hustle and bustle to visit villages and other sites located on the outskirts. The ticket price is normally around 7,000 dong.
The downside is that buses to sites outside of the main cities tend to leave from bus stations that are located on the outskirts. It is therefore sometimes necessary to take a taxi to get to the starting station. The bus is also a good way to travel from one city to another and discover Vietnam differently. Many private companies offer this service. Most often these are minibuses, but there is also the option of night buses (with bunks). They are generally a very good alternative to the more expensive train.
Again it is important to point out that despite a rather developed bus network, the road conditions often present difficulties making the journey relatively slow. The journeys are counted in hours and not in kilometres. Nevertheless, it is one of the cheaper modes of transportation in Vietnam, and a nice way to see the country if you have time.
Although scooters are the most used means of transportation by locals, driving and renting a scooter is officially prohibited for foreigners. Indeed, the traffic is so dense that the risk of an accident is real. Insurance companies generally do not provide reimbursements in the event of an accident if the driver does not have a Vietnamese license. However, if you absolutely want to drive alongside the locals, you will very easily find an agency or a hotel that will rent you a scooter (automatic, semi-automatic) equipped with a helmet.
Car rental is also prohibited for foreigners (except expatriates), however, it is always possible to rent one with a driver if you prefer to travel privately. Private car with a driver is probably one of the best options for transportation in Vietnam if you want to move around at your own pace, taking it easy with stops at your highlights along the way and choosing which route you take.
Vietnam is not a country where you can find the tuk-tuk culture seen in other Asian countries like Thailand and Sri Lanka. So to speak, you will not find them anywhere except with a few who handle the transportation of goods. On the other hand, you will very often encounter pedicabs, a more common method of transportation in Vietnam. These pedicabs are perfect for visiting the city centre at a leisurely pace so you can take in all the sights and sounds. Again, we recommend agreeing on a final price with the driver before starting the journey. It is common to negotiate on an hourly rate. One of the must-try experiences when you travel to Vietnam!
Cycling is a nice way to get around villages, or to the beach. The best places to cycle in Vietnam are in the city of Hoi An and at the Mekong Delta where it is pleasant to cross small bridges, local gardens, and to meet children who will run alongside you. On the other hand, it is better to avoid cycling if you are in a large city and places where traffic is dense. Things can get dangerous and accidents can happen easily.
As for mountain bikes, you will find them mostly in the north, and around Hanoi, with their helmets of course. The hilly reliefs of the region offer many possibilities for a mountain biking in Vietnam..
The train is a rather practical means of transportation in Vietnam. The landscapes that pass by are often the most picturesque and the journeys are safe and comfortable enough if one chooses the comfort “soft berth”. Nevertheless, the rail network still needs to be developed and the journeys remain long (even very long) compared to the distances covered. Express connections are however set up, like that connecting Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City: it is called the "Reunification Express". We recommend choosing trains registered SE as opposed to those registered TN if you want to save time. Also, don’t forget to take a jumper or sweater for the ride as the air conditioning can be excessively strong.
The plane is the best way to achieve long distances in a short time. In addition, flights to Vietnam remain rather affordable, whether for domestic or international flights. Domestic lines such as the low-cost airlines VietJet and JetStar, whose services are perfectly adequate, are constantly developing and connecting the cities of the country, and even the cities of neighbouring countries. Be careful however because these companies have very frequent delays lasting hours (especially JetStar).
For domestic flights, the maximum weight of checked baggage is typically 20kg in economy class and 30kg in Business Class. Hand baggage must not exceed 7kg. For any excess baggage, passengers will have to pay approximately $ 2 per additional kilo, depending on airline policy. The airport tax in Vietnam for domestic flights (2 USD) and for international flights (14 USD) are both included in the air ticket and therefore do not need to be paid locally upon check-in.
Upon your arrival in Vietnam, (if you have applied for a visa on arrival) you will have to go to the counter reserved for obtaining visas located before customs passage. At this counter, you will need to present your passport with the completed M3 form (with the identity photo pasted or stapled). After verification, your passport will be returned to you with the visa stamped inside in exchange for a payment corresponding to your visa.
A boat ride is absolutely one of the methods of transportation in Vietnam that you have to try! You are in a country surrounded by water, a cruise in Vietnam is therefore an essential activity. During your visit to Halong Bay, a wide choice of traditional junks are available depending on your expectations in terms of comfort and service on board. This experience will leave you with an immeasurable memory because in general, in addition to cruising in an exceptional panorama, the services on board are of high quality and the crew are very attentive.
In the Mekong Delta, the best way to discover the life of the locals is along its rivers. Here, your means of transport will be a sampan (traditional boat), a wooden boat without a sail but just as charming, and one of the must-try experiences when you travel to Vietnam.
You also have the option for boat excursions in places like the Ninh Binh, (“Halong Bay on land”) where you navigate alongside karst cliffs. More modern boats (speed boats for example) are available on the coast and in the islands allowing for quick transfers to your beachside hotel.
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