Traveling in Vietnam: What's the Best Transport Options?

Traveling—whether domestically or abroad—feels incomplete without exploring every corner of the destination. The same goes for visiting Vietnam, the ‘Land of the Blue Dragon,’ known for its fascinating and affordable attractions. That's why many Indonesian travelers choose this country as their destination.

Just like other countries Vietnam offers various transportation options to choose from while exploring the country. Each mode of transportation comes with its own benefits and drawbacks. Check out the various transportation options available in Vietnam here!

Buses

Similar to Indonesia, locals in Vietnam still prefer using buses as public transportation, especially in Danang, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City. Not only affordable, these buses cover up to 150 routes, making it easy to navigate around the cities.

However, before taking a bus, it's best to check the routes using navigation apps or the internet to avoid getting on the wrong bus. You can search for the bus number that matches your destination to make it easier. Additionally, you need to know how to stop the buses.

You can wave your hand at the bus you want to board, or the bus driver may not stop for you. Besides, most buses in Vietnam don't announce their next stop, so you need to inform the bus driver where you'd like to get off.

Ticket Price: The estimated bus fare is around 7,000 – 9,000 VND per person for a one-way trip, payable in coins or cash.

Taxis

Vietnam also offers taxis as a public transportation option for tourists exploring the country. Some local taxi options include Hanoi Taxi, Taxi Group, Vinasun Taxi, Mai Linh Taxi and others. The fare price is usually calculated by the travel distance.

To prevent unexpected situations, it's best to ask the hotel staff about the estimated taxi fare for the route you will be taking. To make communication easier, write down the address of your destination and show it to the taxi driver.

In addition to local taxi options, several online taxi services are also available, including Be, Gojek and Grab. If you choose online taxi services, you can compare the fare prices across different options, especially during rush hours. That way, you can easily identify which option is more expensive or affordable.

Taxi Fare: The average fare for local taxis in Vietnam is approximately 15,000 VND per kilometer. 

Motorcycle and Car Rental

Did you know? In Vietnam, motorcycles are still a common sight on the streets. That's why, when traveling in Vietnam, you can rent a motorcycle to explore the country. By using a motorcycle, you can reach the areas that buses and taxis cannot access. 

Don't worry, you won't have trouble finding motorcycle rental spots, as many are available, especially in busy areas. However, if you choose to ride a motorcycle, locally known as ‘xe may’,be prepared to face all kinds of weather conditions.

Besides motorcycles, you can also rent a car, which is easy to find because many rental services are available. However, car rentals are less popular among tourists due to the heavy traffic in Vietnam. Even so, car rentals can still be an alternative if you're visiting Vietnam with your family.

Motorcycle and Car Rental Price: Motorcycle rentals range from 100,000 - 250,000 VND per hour, while car rentals range from 500,000 - 10,000,000 VND per day.

Trains

Need another transportation option? You can take the train, which makes traveling between cities in Vietnam more convenient. Train tickets can be purchased online via Vietnam Railways website or via travel agents and hotels.

The trains come in various types, ranging from SE 1 to SE 4. Each train type offers compartment facilities, divided into four-bed and six-bed options. Furthermore, they're equipped with soft sleeper berths and hard sleeper berths. A soft sleeper berth is usually more convenient because it is equipped with reading lights, soft mattress, blankets, and others.

Ticket Price: The estimated price for trains in Vietnam is about 25,000 or 35,000 VND per ticket.

Those are the transportation options you can choose from while traveling in Vietnam. Among these options, which one will you take when exploring Vietnam? To keep your journey safe, don't forget to equip yourself with Travel Insurance Online from MSIG Indonesia. 

With this insurance, you can travel safely and comfortably, knowing that your journey is protected. MSIG Indonesia provides protection from travel inconveniences, medical expenses, accidents and others. So, protect your trip with travel insurance, now!