Q&A Vietnam Transportation and Communication
Below would be the most frequent questions about Transportation and Communication in Vietnam. Leave us comment if you need more else or share it to your friend if you find them useful.
Q1: WE WANT TO TRAVEL TO A PLACE, BUT ALL BUSES AND TRAINS TO THERE ARE BOOKED. ANY ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION?
A1: Busses you can find on the internet are fully booked. But that doesn’t mean, that there are non. Asked your accommodation. They always can arrange one (they did for us a couple of times when we couldn’t find one on the internet).
Or go to Bus-Stops/shops of bus companies. There you can get some tickets. They arrange buses not listed on the internet..
Q2: DO YOU KNOW IF THERE IS FREE WIFI INSIDE THE AIRPORT OR SHOULD I BUY SIM CARD AND WHAT NETWORK THAT WORKS WELL IN VIETNAM?
A2: There is free WiFi at the airport.
If you’re going to be traveling all over Vietnam, definitely go with a Viettel sim. I’ve traveled the country and always had service with them, whereas others with me have used various other providers and been without service for long periods of time. All of them work fine in the main cities though. I wouldn’t recommend getting a SIM in the airport though, as they charge you a lot more for the SIM card, and offer less (and more expensive) plans.
You can use the Grab taxi app to get to your friends house, otherwise there is a bus into Hanoi which runs until around midnight…
Q3: WE WANT TO BRING OUR MOTORBIKES WITH US.
I HAVE READ ON SOME OFFICE WEBSITES, BUT IT IS A LITTLE CONFUSING.
SOME SAY YOU HAVE TO BRING YOUR MODE OF TRANSPORTATION ONE DAY EARLIER THAN THE DEPARTURE AND PAY FOR A “MOTORBIKE TICKET”.
A3: I looked into it very thoroughly and decided that it was a better idea to take a night bus with my bike underneath.
I paid 400k from Qui Nhon to Da nang. Not cheap, but saved me from a 7 hour hung over ride that I was not looking forward to. No problems with my bike either, worth it if you ask me..
Q4: WHERE SHOULD I BUY TRAIN TICKETS?
A4: Trains are best purchased at the station it’s quite easy make sure you have passport I have seen websites say fully booked but there are not. Enjoy take off a day at a time ..
Q5: BUSES TIPS?
A5: To save money for the tours, wait until you get here and visit 2-3 agencies to get the Best price.
You can book the open bus where you stay, most hotels and hostels know the service. The rout starts in Hanoi and goes alll the way to Ho Chi Minh city. It stops in the biggest cities so you can take it and get off wherever you want. you have to decide the stops before you buy it… that’s how they calculate the price. I selected 5 stops and paid 45 usd..
Q6: WHAT DO YOU RECOMMAND AS THE CHEAPEST TRANSPORTATION FOR A SOLO BACKPACKER ?
A6: The cheapest way would be to buy a motorcycle from a backpacker and sell it for the same price at the end of your trip. You’d only pay for fuel and oil changes if you buy a good bike. But it’s hard to find a proper bike and you’ll likely have lots of problems along the way. So I’d say the buses are probably the next best option. They’re really affordable…
Q7: HOW MUCH WILLL WE NEED ON A SLIGHT BUDGET FOR A MONTH IN VIETNAM?
A7: For some reason I’ve seen people name really high prices on these types of questions, but in my experience you can easily live off €300 per month per person here if you stay in hostels and eat normal priced food and drinks.
However, the biggest expense will be the activities you do, as every tourist attraction costs money, anywhere from 100,000-500,000VND (€4-20) each. So if you’re planning to do lots of things and see lots of places then you’d need quite a bit more.
I’d say $600-800 per person should easily last you the whole month and you could do anything you want and spend as much as you like…
Q8: WHAT ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AROUND UNKNOWN PLACES AND PLACES TO STAY?
A8: Motorcycle, searching google maps for nha nghi or asking around. we didn’t have any problem at all.
There’s a place to stay in literally every village in Vietnam..
Q9: WHAT TYPE OF SCOOTER SHOULD WE BUY IF WE’RE GOING TO STAY A LONG TIME IN VIETNAM?
A9: Go for a semi-automatic if you want it to be reliable. It sounds way more scary then an automatic, but actually semi-automatics are very easy to ride too, suitable for inexperienced people and they are far more reliable then any automatic scooters…
Q10: WHAT’S THE BEST OPTION FOR A PREPAID SIM CARD THAT GIVES ME THE MOST DATA AND BEST RECEPTION FOR THIS TIME?
A10: Go to a Viettel store or some bigger store with electronic, take your passport with you and buy Viettel SIM card. 70k for a card and 70k for 4GB LTE package. After the package is finished you can still use internet at lower speed. Reception is very good…
Q11: XR 150 BIKE?
A11: XR 150s cost over $1,000 USD more than wins or scooters. It’s very cheap to fix nearly everything on a win or scooter (I don’t spend more than $1 to $10 USD for major fixes.
An xr 150 is an awesome bike, but doesn’t make sense to buy if you only need a bike for a month.
Plus they are so cheap to buy it’s cheaper than renting if you sell it for nearly nothing…
Q12: HONDA 150CC?
A12: Honda 150cc it’s the best idea we have had thus far. Such a smooth ride when going through the mountains and rain on cruddy construction ridden roads, you don’t feel any bumps..
Q13: QUESTION ABOUT HONDA WIN: WHY PEOPLE LIKE IT (WHAT THE REASON)
A13: Manual gearbox
Easy to buy/sell afterwards
Easy to get fixed all around vietnam
Power is enough for Vietnamese roads
Low price..
Q14: I WILL TRAVEL VIETNAM AND WOULD LIKE TO DO IT ON A MOTORBIKE BUT HAVE ONLY DRIVEN A SCOOTER SO FAR SO I HAVE NO IDEA OF A REAL MOTOR BIKE.
HOW ARE THE ROADS, WOULD A SCOOTER BE ENOUGH TO TRAVEL THROUGH WHOLE VIETNAM?
A14: The route are really OK. Scooter is OK too but you take a good one 120cc and recent year. They are a lot of mountain especially if you drived ho chi minh road. you will have to find a place for your bag.
You can learn motorbike in Vietnam but avoid the big city. It’s very dangerous and more over if you never drives one before.
Be very careful – if you dont have experience and more importantly if you don’t have a bike license you could be breaking the law
A scooter (fully automatic bike) of 100cc or higher will get you around no worries, but we would suggest considering a semi-automatic.
We are riding semi-automatic Honda Waves and they have been awesome so far, perfect for in the cities as they are almost impossible stall so no stress when you have to stop suddenly in traffic and then get moving again. Then when you make it out into the mountains you can control when you want to drop down gears which obviously you can’t do with an automatic.
Regardless of which type you choose, we would say just make sure you buy a genuine main brand like Honda or Yamaha, so you can just run it into one of their service departments at the dealerships for any work and know they’ll have the parts and experience needed to do the work you want…
Q15: IS THERE OTHER WAY OF CHEAP TRANSPORTATION EXCEPT FOR MOTORBIKE YOU CAN RECOMMEND TO TRAVEL SOUTH TO NORTH?
A15: From cheapest: bus, train.
We do have open bus where you can buy ticket for short distance (100-200km) on the spot, very little waiting time…
Q16: ROAD FROM NORTH TO SOUTH AND VICE VERSA?
A16: There are 2 road to travel North-South and vice versa.
Nation road number 1 (QL 1 aka AH17) which goes along the seaside. This one is at good condition but crowded with bikes, trucks and buses.
The other is Nation road number 14 (QL 14 or the historical Ho Chi Minh road). Road quality is ok. This road goes along the moutain with alot of turning and hill so you can expect heavy load on the bike for the whole trip. Less traffic and less stop as well as fuel station…
Q17: TIPS FOR DRIVING FROM NORTH TO SOUTH?
A17: Stick to mainroad (QL= national road, TL= province road). Avoid HL. Prepare your mind for huge road damage even on mainroad. Trucks and cars here usually do not switch to low beam during night time so avoid riding at night as much as possible…
Q18: DRIVING LICENSE IN VIETNAM?
A18: In case your nations are in Vienna Convention on Road Traffic: You can ride a bike in Vietnam if you have both your national driving license and international driving license ..
Q19: MAIN TRANSPORTATION IN VIETNAM?
A19: Train, bus, van, taxi, ferry, car, motor bike…
Q20: HOW MUCH DOES TRANSPORTATION COST IN VIET NAM
A20: It’s cheap. Bus, train, plane tickets can be booked online. There are also other luxury types like sleeper luxury bus, vain,…
But road in remote area are not in good condition…
Q21: WHAT ARE ALTERNATIVES FOR TAXI?
A21: Grab, Go-Viet, Be, MyGo
You can book your ride online, may not need cash and know your drivers, fee in advance..
Q22: COST OF RENTING A MOTORBIKE IN VIET NAM?
A22: $7-15/day. This price applied if you rent a bike for 1-4days, if you rent a bike for more than 1 month, the price maybe reduced…
Q23: MOTORBIKE SITUATION IN VIET NAM?
A23: You will see thousand of motorbike riding in chaos in big cities, wrong direction, on the sidewalk,.. so be careful…
Q24: WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN I RENT A MOTORBIKE?
A24: You should check the current situation of the bike, and take pictures in front of the dealers…
Q25: WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN I RIDE A BIKE?
A25: You must wear helmet, ride slowly and carefully. The traffic is quite scared for one who is not familiar…
Q26: WHAT BIKE SHOULD I RENT IN NORTHERN VIETNAM?
A26: Because there are a lot of mountains in Northern Vietnam, so you should rent motorbikes with big engines, not recommend automatic bikes…
Q27: WHAT SHOULD I PREPARE ALONG WITH THE MOTORBIKES?
A27: You should bring your motorbike tool, prepare your knowledge about repairing a bike, and a Google map with a “motorbike mode” in its navigation feature…
Q28: WHERE TO RENT OR BUY A MOTORBIKE IN VIETNAM?
A28: You can buy or rent a motorbike in big cities. Outside of the shop may have the “Motor bike for rent” sentece or “Xe máy cho thuê” ..
Q29: REVIEW HONDA MOTORCYCLE FOR SALE/RENT IN VIETNAM?
A29: – Favorite brand in Vietnam
– They are so reliable according to travellers (Honda Win, Honda Gs Neotech)
– A lot of copies from China (In the registration paper should be indicated mark)
– The price is based on age and use
– Appoximately 500% for sale
– Honda Blade, Honda Wave, Honda Future is reliable for travelling (semi-automatic)
– Honda Win (manual)..
Q30: REVIEW SUZUKI BIKE FOR SALE/RENT IN VIET NAM?
A30: – Widespread brand
– Suzuki GS 125cc is a good choice
– Same price as Honda..
Q31: REVIEW MINSK BIKE FOR SALE/RENT IN VIET NAM?
A31: – Very old and classic bike
– Suitable for low budget travellers
– More easily correctable fault, but not too reliable
– 100-400$..
Q32: REVIEW YAMAHA BIKES FOR SALE/RENT IN VIET NAM?
A32: – Mio and Nuovo models are most popular
– Widespread brand
– Strong types of motorbike..
Q33: IF A HAVE AN ACCIDENT??
A33: – If you need your travel insurance, a international driving license is a must
– If you don’t have your travel insurance, international driving license – you pay all the costs..
Q34: CAN I RENT A BIKE WITHOUT A DRIVING LICENSE?
A34: Yes, most of the time, the owners don’t care much about your driving license..
Q35: IF I WANT TO BUY A MOTORBIKE?
A35: Try to look beyond the big tourist centers or certificated partners..
Q36: WHAT PAPER SHOUD I GET WHEN I BUY/RENT A MOTORBIKE?
A36: You need to get registration paper..
Q37: BUSES IN VIETNAM?
A37: There are different types of Buses in Vietnam: Minibuses, city buses, long-distance, night buses..
Q38: HOW TO BOOK AND BUY BUS TICKETS ONLINE VIETNAM?
A38: You can buy online on Baolau.com or 12go.asia..
Q39: PROCEDURE TO BUY BUS TICKET ONLINE?
A39: After buying the ticket, you will recieve your e-ticket by email, ready to print or carry in your mobile phone or tablet and present at the ticket counter of the station before boarding the bus..
Q40: REVIEW VIETNAMESE TRAINS?
A40: – Vietnam railways are the state-owned operator of the railway system
– A relatively cheap anf safe option of transport in VietNam
– Mostly clean but not too fast, some are not very comfortable..
Q41: WHAT IS THE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT VIENAMESE TRAIN?
A41: – High-quality and comfortable train with sleeper cabs (4-6) marked as SE1, SE2, SE3, SE4
– Air con coached with comfortable seats (Điều hòa – Air-conditioned soft seats)
– You can buy snacks and also food in the trains (coffee, beer, water, snack,..)..
Q42: DOES VIETNAM HAVE RAILWAY CONENCTED NORTH TO SOUTH?
A42: Yes!
https://north-vietnam.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/vietnam-train-map.jpg..
Q43: HOW TO BOOK AND BUY TRAIN TICKETS FOR VIETNAM?
A43: – You can buy though Baolau.com and 12go.asia
– Tickets can also be purchased directly at the station (but some trains are oftern sold out)
https://north-vietnam.com/vietnam-train-schedule-timetable-fares/..
Q44: WHAT SHOULD I AVOID WHEN BUYING TRAIN TICKETS?
A44: – Do not buy train tickets outside the station from the dealers…
Q45: TYPES OF SEATS AND BERTHS IN VIETNAMESE TRAINS?
A45: – Hard seat – Hard wooden seats with air con in the cabin
– Soft seat – Sof and comfortable seats with air con in the cabin
– Hard sleeper – Hard bed in the cabin, pillow + cover, shared with 3 or 5 other people
– Soft sleeper – Soft bed in the cabin, pillow + cover, shared with 3 or 5 other people
– 4 berth cabin – 4 persons share 1 cabin
– 2-4 or 6 berths cabin – Soft sleeper (Deluxe, VIP,…)..
Q46: BIG TAXI COMPANIES IN VIETNAM?
A46: Mai Linh, Vinasun, Taxi group, ABC are recommended..
Q47: PRICE FOR TAXI?
A47: 10,000 – 17,000 VND/km..
Q48: WHAT SHOULD I KEEP IN MIND WHEN TAKING A TAXI?
A48: – It can be difficult to find a taxi in a small town, in moutain areas it is practically impossible
– It’s a bit of expensive option for travelling
– Ask the driver for a meter, insist on the meter, watch the meter as you move, beware of scam.
– Take a variety of banknotes, drivers can say they do not have change
– Take a mobile phone with map and GPS navigation, the driver can take you to different place..
Q49: TRAVELING IN VIETNAM ON A BICYCLE IS FEASIBLE?
A49: – Useful in areas of lowlands plains and rice fields
– It can be dangerous in mountainous areas
– The cost is $5/day..
Q50: CAN WE RIDE A BIKE IN CITIES?
A50: – On theory, you can ride a bikes everywhere! But I not recommend riding them in big cities due to the chaotic traffic..
Q51: WHAT ARE THE BIG AIRLLINES IN VIETNAM?
A51: Vietnam airlines, Vietjet air, JestarPacific, Bamboo airway..
Q52: WHERE CAN I TRAVEL IN VIENAM BY PLANE?
A52: You can travel many places, check it out:
https://north-vietnam.com/international-domestic-airports-vietnam/..
Q53: REVIEW ABOUT TRAVELING IN VIETNAM BY FERRY/BOAT?
A53: – Mainly used for transfer to some of the islands in Vietnam
– Seperate chapter include boat trips at Ha Long Bay and Mekong River in Vietnam..
Q54: CAR RENTING PRICE?
A54: >= 30$/day depending on the types of car..
Q55: WHAT DO I NEED TO RENT A CAR IN VIETNAM?
A55: You need to have a Vietnamese driving licence (you need to have a business visa or work permit in Vietnam to get this)..
Q56: WHAT IS THE ALLOWED CARRY-ON BAGGAGE IN THE TRAIN?
A56: Carry-on baggage is 20kg in all the trains..
Q57: CYCLO IN VIETNAM?
A57: The cyclo is a bicycle rickshaw. This cheap mode of transport is steadily dying out, but is still found in some Vietnamese cities.
Groups of cyclo drivers always hang out near major hotels and markets. Bargaining is imperative; settle on a fare before going anywhere. Approximate fares are between 12,000d and 25,0000d for a short ride, between 25,000d and 40,000d for a longer or night ride.
However, do consider that there are some dodgy cyclo operators out there (HCMC has several) who target tourists by outrageously overcharging and there have been reports of threats of violence.
Cyclo tours organised by tour operators and some hotels are sanitised rides around cities…
Q58: PRICE OF CYCLO IN VIETNAM?
A58: Groups of cyclo drivers always hang out near major hotels and markets. Bargaining is imperative; settle on a fare before going anywhere. Approximate fares are between 12,000d and 25,0000d for a short ride, between 25,000d and 40,000d for a longer or night ride…
Q59: MOTORBIKE (XE OM) TAXI IN VIETNAM?
A59: The xe om (zay-ohm) is a motorbike taxi. Xe means motorbike, om means hug (or hold), so you get the picture. Getting around by xe om is easy, as long as you don’t have a lot of luggage.
Fares are around 15,000d for a short hop, or from 20,000d in HCMC or Hanoi. Negotiate the price beforehand. There are plenty of xe om drivers hanging around street corners, hotels and bus stations. They will find you before you find them…..
Q60: HOW TO BOOK AND BUY BUS TICKETS IN VIETNAM?
A60: You can book bus tickets in Vietnam easily online. You can find various booking websites where you can buy bus tickets for Vietnam. Search and book your bus tickets for various bus companies for Vietnam in these trusted companies – Baolau or 12go.asia. These 2 companies are the biggest booking leaders and search engines in Vietnam, where you can book various bus/train/ferry tickets and flights in Asia.
..
Q61: DO BUSES IN VIETNAM HAVE TOILETS
A61: • Some tourist modern buses may have toilets, but most smaller local buses in Vietnam do not have toilets. Buses often stop on the toilet and food in the case of a longer journey…
Q62: IS AN BUS E-TICKET IN YOUR SMARTPHONE ACCEPTABLE?
A62: Most bus companies in Vietnam accept an e-ticket on your mobile phone, however it is recommended to print your e-ticket (voucher) from your email. Read carefully the instructions on Baolau and 12go.asia..
Q63: ARE THERE DELAYS WHEN TRAVELING BY BUS IN VIETNAM?
A63: Yes, there may be delays when traveling by bus in Vietnam. It is also recommended to arrive at the bus station in advance, about 1 hour is a good idea. Buses in Vietnam also often stop and take more passengers…
Q64: IS TRAVELING BY BUS IN VIETNAM SAFE
A64: What to say, there are some bus accidents, some bus drivers drive very fast. Everywhere in the world are bus accidents. It also depends where and when you will be traveling by bus in Vietnam. Eg. in the monsoon season can be dangerous to travel by bus in various mountain areas of northern Vietnam…
Q65: ARE SLEEPER BUSES IN VIETNAM COMFORTABLE?
A65: It depends which bus you take and how tall are you, if you are about 180 cm tall and more, you may have a problem with comfort in a sleeper overnight bus in Vietnam. But there are also very comfortable and new, modern vans, minivans or minibuses – these buses and vans are better for comfort. It is also good to know that some bus drivers (especially in van, minibus) in Vietnam are driving very fast…
Q66: WHEN TO COME TO THE BUS STATION?
A66: Recommended – come to the bus station or place of departure about 1 hour before departure of bus…
Q67: FROM VIETNAM TO CAMBODIA AND LAOS, HOW TO GET THERE BY BUS?
A67: • From Vietnam to Cambodia and Laos is not possible to travel by train. You can travel by plane or bus. There are some international buses from Vietnam to Cambodia and Laos.
• The most popular international bus routes are: Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and Hanoi to Luang Prabang (Laos). Note: The most comfortable way how to get there is to travel by plane, there are various direct flights to Laos and Cambodia (You can search and book flights on Baolau, 12go.asia)…
Q68: WHAT TO WATCH OUT IN TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION IN VIET NAM?
A68: – traffic in Hanoi is terrible chaos
– it is dangerous, but drivers in Hanoi drive rather slowly
– most bus drivers drive like suicides
– traffic regulations are not respected
– bus transportation in mountainous areas is very slow
– ride on a motorcycle slowly
..
Q69: WHERE TO BOOK AND BUY TICKETS FOR THE TRAIN AND BUS+FLIGHTS?
A69: – you can buy tickets directly on train and bus stations
– I recommend to book and buy train/bus/ferry tickets+flights on Baolau or 12go.asia
– buy online ticket and keep it in your mobile phone or tablet
– if you book tickets online
– you will save your time and money
– do not buy tickets in the front of train station from the dealers ..
Q70: WHY YOU SHOULD BOOK TICKETS FOR VIETNAM ONLINE?
A70: – because you will save your time and money
– sometimes it is not easy to communicate with people in Vietnam, they do not speak English very well
..
Q71: HOW TO CALL IN VIETNAM AND USE THE INTERNET?
A71: – buy a tourist prepaid SIM card, it’s cheap (you can buy almost everywhere)
– Skype and Viber for international phone calls
– Internet is almost everywhere, hostel, restaurant, coffee house… (except small street restaurants)
– different data packages for mobile Internet in tourist SIM cards
– I do not recommend make a payment transaction or money transfer on unsecure Wi-Fi network
..
Q72: WHERE CAN I BUY THE CHEAPEST FLIGHT TICKET TO VIETNAM?
A72: – before you book a flight ticket to Vietnam, go through more of these sites and comparators
– you can use: Skyscanner, Momondo, Cheapflights, Kayak, Matrix..
Q73: HOW TO MOVE AND TRANSPORT IN VIETNAM?
A73: – the best way is to use a motorbike, you’ll see a lot more
– use mobile application Google Maps or Maps.me
– Maps.me – there are not completely processed all cities (but you will find there Nha Nghi hostels)
– I recommend to use Google maps on your phone and print also some map of Vietnam..
Q74: SHOULD I HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL DRIVER’S LICENSE WHEN I RENT A MOTORBIKE?
A74: – from 2015 applies international driver’s license in Vietnam
– if you do not have international driver’s license and travel insurence you pay all costs for an accident
– some people rent a motorbike without driver’s license
– I recommend to have international driver’s license to avoid the problems
..
Q75: I’M AFRAID TO DRIVE ON A MOTORCYCLE, HOW DO I MOVE?
A75: – you can use mototaxi (Xe Om), the driver will take you to the desired location
– transportation with mototaxi will cost you more money than if you rent a motorbike
– ask for mototaxi on the spot, sometimes it seems there is nothing
– you can rent a bicycle or rent a private driver with a car in the travel agency..
Q76: POLICE STOPPED ME IN THE MOUNTAINS AND I COULD NOT CONTINUE
A76: – it can happen, unfortunately, some places are under the control of the police
– it could be in very remote areas of ethnic population ..
Q77: HOW MUCH SHOULD A TAXI FROM THE AIRPORT COST?
A77: A round-trip taxi from Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport should cost between 120,000 VND to 170,000 VND and last about from 30 to 50 minutes. An airport taxi from Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport is fixed at 330,000 VND may take you about 45 to 60 minutes depending on traffic…
Q78: WHICH TAXI SERVICES SHOULD I USE?
A78: Unfortunately taxi scams are a concern for travellers in Vietnam. Use only reputable taxi companies, such as Taxi Group in Hanoi (red and blue horizontal stripes), Vinasun in Ho Chi Minh City (white taxis) and Mai Linh in both cities (green taxis). Grab, Bee and GoViet are also available for booking rides in Vietnam if you have a Vietnamese SIM card..
Q79: WHAT ARE THE BEST AIRLINES TO TRAVEL WITH DOMESTICALLY?
A79: The official commercial airline, Vietnam Airlines, flies to 21 destinations across the country and is a reliable option. If you are on a budget, Vietjet, Jetstar and newcomer Bamboo Airways are affordable options but have a reputation for delays..
Q80: HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO RENT MOTORBIKES IN VIETNAM?
A80: While you’ll find rental shops in almost every city, travellers should take care if planning to travel by motorbike in Vietnam. Rental prices depend on the quality of the bike. On average, most bikes go from 6 to 12 USD/day. You may be asked to deposit your passport at the motorbike company or leave a monetary deposit if renting a vehicle for more than a week. Always wear your helmet on roads…
Q81: AIRLINES IN VIETNAM?
A81: Vietnam Airlines is the national carrier and has the most flights daily, while Vietjet and Jetstar both offer affordable deals for short hops around the country…
Q82: WHAT ABOUT TRAIN IN VIET NAM?
A82: Averaging about 40km an hour, Vietnam’s trains are an insightful and relaxing way to journey through the country.
The North and South are connected by a single, 2,600km-track network managed by Vietnam Railways.
The track snakes through the country from Ho Chi Minh City all the way to the Chinese border. Spring for the soft seats and four-berth cabins for a little extra comfort, or splurge on one of the private tourist sleeping cars that are now available for several key routes. The railroad line is undergoing renovations as much of the existing tracks date back to colonial times, so be sure to research before you go…
Q83: HOW TO BUY TRAIN TICKETS IN VIET NAM?
A83: You can buy your train tickets at counters in Vietnam’s train stations days or months in advance of your trip, depending on the route. Train tickets are also sold through many travel agencies and online through Vietnam’s official train ticketing website.
Children above 5 years old are charged the full ticket price.
All trains have western and squat toilets on both ends of every carriage.
Luggage transport and freight forward service is available on Reunification Express Trains..
Q84: WHAT ABOUT BUSES IN VIET NAM?
A84: Open-tour buses are an increasingly popular service for budget travelers, especially in Vietnam’s southern and central regions. Buses run regularly and reliably between top destinations such as Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Mui Ne, and Ho Chi Minh City. Most open tour buses are sleeper buses, or have deep reclining chairs.
A simple Google search will bring up the most reputed open-tour bus companies.
We recommend booking one or two days ahead, unless you’re travelling on a Vietnamese holiday: then you’ll want to book seats at least two weeks in advance..
Q85: WHAT ABOUT BICYCLE IN VIET NAM?
A85: Whether you’re an avid cyclist or just enjoy a little pedal now and then, Vietnam will reawaken your love for this mode of transport. Although it’s possible to cycle in the cities, Vietnam’s small towns and beach destinations are perfect for two-wheeled excursions. Some of the country’s best guided tours are in fact bicycle tours. You’ll find these in the Mekong Delta and in Central Vietnam. In towns such as Hoi An and Hue, it’s possible to get to almost everywhere you want to go by bicycle (many of the locals do.) Rentals are usually about 20,000 to 30,000 VND per day (about 1$.) ..
Q86: WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF TRAVELING BY LOW-COST AIRLINES IN VIET NAM?
A86: Vietnam is constantly improving its tourism services, however there are still some agents and independent operators who flout the rules. When booking cruises on Halong Bay, always go with reputed companies. For tours around Vietnam, book with vetted travel agents as opposed to hole-in-the-wall establishments to avoid being scammed…
Q87: XE OM’ IN VIETNAM?
A87: Motorbike taxis, or Xe Om as the locals call it, is similar to GrabBike. But you need to negotiate a price before you get on one. Most drivers tend to overcharge tourists for even the shortest of journeys, especially the ones who drive up beside you offering their services. Another typical scam is to take you the long way round in an attempt to get more money from you. If you do want to use a Xe Om, it’s best to get a referral from a local.
Outside of the tourist areas, most drivers don’t speak English. The solution is to write the address or have a local talk to them. Drivers may take you to the wrong destination and still demand a high fare. Always agree on a fixed price beforehand.
Most motorcyclists in Vietnam are reckless and drive dangerously, and the Xe Oms are often the worst culprits. If you have an honest driver, they want to deliver the passenger as fast as they can. It’s not uncommon for foreign tourists to injure themselves in an accident with a motorbike taxi…
Q88: HOW MUCH IS VIETNAM’S AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX? DO I HAVE TO PAY IN CASH?
A88: Airport departure tax for domestic flight is $2 and for international departure tax is $14. The taxes are included in the air tickets, even low cost carriers like Air Asia often include the airport tax so you do not have to worry about paying extra. ..
Q89: WHAT IS CARRY-ON BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE FOR VIETNAM AIRLINES?
A89: According to Vietnam Airline’s policy, each Economy Class passenger can carry 1 piece of baggage on board, meanwhile, each Business Class passenger can carry two pieces. Each piece has a maximum weight of 7kg and the sum of three dimensions is required to not exceed 115cm (56 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm) or (22 x 14 x 9 inches). In case your hand baggage exceeds the required weights and dimensions, Vietnam Airlines has rights to refuse to carry your hand baggage and request the baggage to be transferred as checked baggage…
Q90: CAN WE BRING A LAPTOP ALONG WITH OUR HAND BAGGAGE IN VIETNAM AIRLINES?
A90: Yes, you can. In addition to free hand baggage allowance, Vietnam Airlines allows passengers to carry the following personal object on board without additional fees:
– A handbag, pocket book or lady’s purse, i.e.;
– An overcoat, wrap or blanket;
– An umbrella or walking stick (except one with metal-filled sharp pointed end);
– A laptop computer, a small camera and/or a binoculars;
– A reasonable amount of reading materials for in-flight reading only;
– Infant’s food for consumption in flight;
– Infant’s carrying basket or bassinet;
– A fully collapsible wheel chair;
– A pair of crutches and/or braces or other prosthetic device for the passenger’s use;..
Q91: FOR THE CONVENIENCE, I WANT TO BUY A VIETNAM SIMCARD. COULD YOU PLEASE SUGGEST ME WHERE TO BUY AND WHICH ONE SHOULD I CHOOSE?
A91: Currently, there are many mobile network providers in Vietnam, however, for the best coverage, you are suggested to choose Viettel, Mobifone, or Vinafone network. The market share of these providers accounts for approximately 90% of Vietnam mobile market. In addition, they offer great coverage throughout the country.
Referring to places to buy Simcard, it is very easy to buy a simcard in Vietnam. From the moment you land in Vietnam, you can buy simcard everywhere, in stalls, stores, booths, or even if in and around the airport. You just need to take a few steps around your place, find the lines “Viettel”, “Mobifone”, or “Vinafone” and walk in the store to buy…
Q92: WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO BOOK CHEAP FLIGHTS TO VIETNAM?
A92: For those with a tight budget, the ideal season to fly to Vietnam should be March and April, or September and October. That is to say, the beginning and the end of tourism reason offer you the best deals. In these months, the flight fare could decrease by 5-10%, or even a drop of 30% compared to the price in the tourism season.
In other months, you could grasp reasonable ticket fares for the flights to Vietnam, but the price in the summer or on Tet Holiday is significantly more expensive.
Summer in Vietnam lasts from late May to late August, with various tourism activities in many places and attracts a considerable number of travellers . Tourists are certain to face more challenges to reserve and purchase desired flights ticket while the ticket fare, in general, is considerably higher than the normal season.
The same situation occurs during Christmas and Tet Holiday, but to more extreme degree because not only the tourists use airplane to travel, but also the overseas Vietnamese who come back to Vietnam to have get-togethers with their family, leading to over-booking on most international flights to Vietnam.
Conversely, travelling in between September – November, February – April is advantageous thanks to the seasonal deals and discounts from the airlines to encourage people to travel…
Q93: WHERE CAN I SEND A PACKAGE ABROAD FROM VIETNAM?
A93: There are several out-standing names with which you can such as DHL, GNN or EMS to fulfill your demand. In Hanoi, you can easily assess their services when walking around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi. You can also find some trustworthy domestic deliverers such as Hanoi Post office or Viettel Express with reasonable fees. In Ho Chi Minh City, you can drop into the post nearby Ben Thanh market to send out your package abroad or some representatives of these above international express posts along Dong Khoi Street. Thanh Tin Express in Hue and Babylon Express in Da Nang are also among the most popular suppliers of delivering services across Viet Nam…
Q94: WHAT SHOULD I NOTICE WHEN BUYING A AIRPLANE TICKET?
A94: You can buy air tickets directly from the airline or through agents, travel companies. The intermediary purchase price will usually be cheaper.
In addition, on the official website of the company often have promotions during a certain golden hour, if you have a lot of time online you can “hunt” yourself for a ticket with extremely “soft” price. . However, cheap tickets of this type often have limitations such as: the validity period of the ticket, the number of kg of items sent, the ticket cannot be returned once purchased or the amount returned will be lower than the normal ticket, …
Currently, the three most popular airlines in Vietnam are Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar and Vietjet. There are also many other brands with different strengths. Depending on the purpose, your needs that choose a company like that…
Q95: WHAT SHOULD I BRING AND NOT BRING WHEN FLY?
A95: Apart from luggage, there are a few important things you must carry with you, such as:
Identification paper
Enough money to pay taxes, airport fees and other payments at the destination, should not bring much
Phone can access wifi (note that some carriers do not allow backup charger)
Essential supplies
And not bring:
Weapons
Expensive jewelry
Unnecessary cards
Important documents but not necessary for the trip..
Q96: HOW TO CHECK-IN IN AIRPORT?
A96: Usually you will be checked in between 3 hours and 40 minutes before your flight takes off. At Departure, you find the airline counter where you booked. If your ticket has not specified the seat position you want to choose, you should go early.
Business Class or First Class has its own check-in counter. But sometimes, if there are no customers traveling in this class and there are many people waiting in other classes, the staff will be flexible to check in for other classes at this counter.
First, staff will check your flight ticket, identity card or passport / visa. If there is a consignment, you put it on the scale, the staff may also check your carry-on baggage is valid…
Q97: HOW TO TAKE BACK LUGGAGE IN AIRPORT?
A97: Your luggage is given on the carousel. The strollers around this area are arranged to help you carry things, feel free to use them.
Note, if you do not find your item, you must immediately notify the Department of loss / loss declaration or contact the airline you went to handle. Remember, if you leave this area without reporting it, you cannot come in again to appeal…