Transportation
Schedules and fares are subject to change.
Airport to City Access
Train, bus, taxi, and other options to the city center
From the main airports — Noi Bai (Hanoi) and Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) — options are metered taxis (use Mai Linh/Vinasun), Grab (pickup zones may differ), airport buses and hotel transfers. Agree the fare or use the app to avoid overcharging. Grab is usually the easiest for visitors.
- Airports
- Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat
- Options
- Taxi, Grab, bus
- Tip
- Grab avoids overcharging
- Follow signs to the official taxi/Grab pickup areas
Public Transportation
Metro, bus, tram, and how to use them
City buses are cheap but can be confusing for visitors. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have new metro lines that are handy on their routes. In practice, most travellers get around cities with Grab (car or motorbike) rather than public transport. Traffic is dense, so allow extra time.
- Buses
- Cheap, can confuse visitors
- Metro
- New lines in HN and HCMC
- In practice
- Most use Grab
- Grab motorbike is fast and cheap for short city hops
IC Cards & Travel Passes
Discount passes and rechargeable transit cards
There is no nationwide transit card. The new metro lines in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City use their own tickets or cards bought at the station. For buses and most travel, tourists simply pay cash or use Grab, so a stored-value card is rarely needed for a short trip.
- National card
- None
- Metro
- Own tickets at stations
- Tourists
- Cash or Grab
- Buy metro tickets at the station counter or machine
Car Rental & Driving
License requirements and traffic rules
Self-drive is not recommended for most visitors: traffic is chaotic, and you legally need a Vietnamese licence or a recognised international permit. Hiring a car with a driver is common and affordable. Renting a motorbike is popular but risky and often not covered by insurance without the correct licence.
- Self-drive
- Not recommended
- Better
- Car with driver
- Motorbike
- Risky; licence + insurance
- Vietnam drives on the right; roads are busy and unpredictable
Intercity Travel
Long-distance buses, trains, and ferries
The Reunification Express railway runs the length of the country (Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City), scenic but slow; sleeper trains are popular for overnight legs. Sleeper buses (and regular coaches) are cheap and widespread. For long distances, budget flights are usually faster and often not much dearer.
- Train
- Reunification Express (scenic)
- Bus
- Sleeper buses, cheap
- Long distance
- Budget flights faster
- Book sleeper trains/buses ahead in peak season
Domestic Flights
Budget airlines and booking tips
Vietnam has a good domestic network with Vietnam Airlines, VietJet and Bamboo Airways linking Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and islands like Phu Quoc. Budget fares are cheap if booked ahead, but low-cost carriers charge extra for bags and seats and can run late. Allow buffer time for connections.
- Airlines
- Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, Bamboo
- Fares
- Cheap if booked early
- Note
- Extra fees; delays possible
- Flying saves a lot of time over the long north–south route
Transportation Tips
Advice for safe and efficient travel
Use Grab to avoid haggling over fares. To cross busy roads, walk slowly and steadily so motorbikes can flow around you — do not stop suddenly. Always wear a helmet on motorbikes. Book sleeper trains and popular routes ahead in peak season, and keep small cash for buses and quick rides.
- Rides
- Grab to fix fares
- Crossing
- Walk slow and steady
- Motorbike
- Always wear a helmet
- Do not stop or dart when crossing; let the bikes read your path