GETTING AROUND VIETNAM:
MEANS OF LOCOMOTION
Travel by plane
The plane is certainly the most practical and fastest means of transport for long journeys within the country to allow you to arrive at your destination very quickly.
Today, in addition to Vietnam Airlines (the national company), many airlines such as Bamboo Airways, Vietjet Air or Jetstar Pacific, are present in almost all major cities and famous tourist sites, from north to south.
Travel by train
In Vietnam, the train is a safe and cheap means of transport. In addition, traveling by train is also one of the best options to enjoy the beauty of the country and an exceptional landscape (Rice fields, small Vietnamese villages, mountain ranges, buffaloes and much more). Things you will miss if you travel by plane!
Travel by train is not necessarily as fast as by bus, and sometimes costs more than the plane. The downside is that the journeys are long, the trains are often dilapidated, so comfort is not guaranteed, and tranquility even less, although the national rail system has been constantly improved in recent years. We understand better why the Vietnamese train was baptized TGV, the “Train à Grande Vibration”!
That being said, making part of the journeys by train is an interesting, even moving experience. It’s a unique, even romantic experience, which will take you on a journey through the ages because this means of transport dates back to the time of the French colony, a hundred years ago.
Travel by bus or mini-bus
Three types of buses meet the different needs of visitors to Vietnam: interprovincial, local and tourist coaches.
- The first lines offer flexible and inexpensive services, aimed at those who wish to go from city to city. Apart from classic buses, with seats, many private companies have individual berths for more or less long distances. These are the “Sleeping Buses”. Others have more expensive options, these are the “Limousine Bus“. These top-of-the-range classes are equipped with WiFi, electrical outlets, reclining seats, not to mention air conditioning and sometimes toilets.
- As far as local buses are concerned, they make it possible to travel within cities or to cover short distances to the suburbs. They are not very comfortable, often crowded with local inhabitants and it is not uncommon to travel with a menagerie (ducks, hens, etc.)
- As for tourist buses, especially in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (ex-Saigon), they are intended for visitors who want to see a lot of sites in a short time. The “Double-decker Buses or Hop On Hop Off“, for example, allow you to visit a maximum of famous sites in a minimum of time. It is practical for those who do not know the city visited well.
Traveling by private car
The private car is, it must be said, the fastest (and safest) means of transport to reach the various destinations. But according to local law, foreign travelers are not allowed to drive in Vietnam. It is therefore preferable to go through an agency to rent a car with driver. You will travel in new vehicles (the competition is strong, and the companies generally offer very good services) and with good drivers because the traffic remains disorderly and anarchic for a foreigner.
Take a taxi, a moto-taxi (Grab, Be or Gojek app)
The taxi is a good choice to move quietly in Vietnamese cities. Although more expensive than other local means of transport. Today, you can even use an application like Grab or Be which is an alternative to traditional taxis because you know the price of the race in advance. No need to check the meter!
Motorbike taxis are also plentiful and very cheap. They will allow you to move more easily in Vietnamese traffic jams. As with taxis, applications such as Grab moto, Be moto or Gojek will allow you to move around knowing the price of the race in advance. Otherwise you will have to negotiate with the driver before the race to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Ride a bike or pedicab
For short distances, traveling with non-motorized means of transport, which are very ecological, is a real pleasure. Cycling is particularly popular in the countryside. It brings you great pleasure to be able to ride freely and at your leisure, allowing you to get away from city centers and off the beaten track to fully immerse yourself in the heart of picturesque and calm countryside regions. In cities like Hue or Hoi An, cycling is very pleasant. So let yourself be tempted and get on the freedom!
The slowest but also the most ecological means of transport (no engine, no smoke, no noise) is the pedicab. The pedicab ride is a real pleasure in small towns like Huê, Hoi An or even in the old quarter of Hanoi. This scenic means of transport is the ideal mode of travel to visit historic centers and experience local life at a slow pace. We strongly encourage you to test it at least once during your stay.
Take a boat cruise
Vietnam being a country with many rivers and maritime fronts (3,260 km of coastline), navigation is often very practical.
In the north, excursions in small boats to Ninh Binh orTam Coc in “terrestrial Halong Bay” are highly valued. In Halong Bay in the gulf ofTonkin, ua large choice of cruises is available to you. On board very comfortable junks or sumptuous boats, you can spend the night in well-appointed rooms overlooking the sea. This experience, made up of unforgettable moments, remains one of the activities not to be missed.
In the South the Mekong Delta (famous for its networks of canals, its arroyos, its various branches of the Mekong and its banks), a beautiful boat trip in its waterways allows you to discover in depth a fascinating vegetation and to approach as close as possible to the local population.
Moreover, the particularity of this region lies in the fact that the rowers (and yes, they are often women) often navigate standing up, whereas in Ninh Binh or Tam Coc, the rowers use their feet to row. So many unique experiences not to be missed during a trip to Vietnam!
You can even do “Basket boat” in the center of Vietnam. It is one of the unusual attractions in Hoi An.
Have fun driving yourself
The scooter and the motorcycle are the most popular means of transport used mainly by Vietnamese. Indeed, there are about 45 million motorcycles circulating through Vietnam and this is an integral part of Vietnamese life.
Many travelers appreciate this mode of transport because it allows them to live a unique experience immersed in local traffic. However, you must have an international driving license and your passport to rent one of these two-wheelers and it is strongly recommended to have travel insurance.
Many means of transport are therefore available to you.
for a unique trip to Vietnam
