Access and Transportation

BY AIR Travelling to Vietnam by air is quite easy as many airlines offer direct or indirect flights and more and more airports in Vietnam are open to international destinations. The major international airports are:

Noi Bai in Hanoi, around 45 minutes far from the city center (about 45km)
Cat Bi in Hai Phong city
Van Don in Halong
Danang airport is 4km far from the city center
Cam Ranh airport is around 40 minutes from Nha Trang city center (about 30km)
Tan Son Nhat is just 20 minutes far from the Ho Chi Minh center (about 6km)

BY LAND You can also travel to Vietnam by land, with the bus being the best means of transport to travel from Cambodia or Laos for example. Vietnam has land borders with China, Laos and Cambodia. Land borders China/Vietnam: The land border between Vietnam and China is 1449,566 km long, of which 383,914 km are along rivers and streams, contiguous between 7 provinces of Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Ha Giang and Cao Bang. Lang Son and Quang Ninh of Vietnam with Yunnan province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China. You can combine tourism in the northern mountainous provinces, explore the system of Vietnam-China border landmarks and visit these border gates. Obligation visa before going through Vietnam immigration and customs. There are major border gates include :

A Pa Chai (Dien Bien) – by land
Mong Cai (Quang Ninh) – by land: located at the northeast end of the country, this land border is accessible by road.
Huu Nghi (Lang Son) – by land: located 18 km from Lang Son city.
Dong Dang (Lang Son) – railway
Lao Cai (Muong Khuong, Lao Cai) – by land or railway: accessible by train from Hanoi, the route goes via the Ha Khau bridge.
Thanh Thuy, Xin Man (Ha Giang)
Ta Lung (Cao Bang)

Land borders Laos /Vietnam: Obligation visa at all land borders

Tay Trang (Dien Bien): over 30 km far from Dien Bien Phu city on the route to Savannakhet, Lao
Keo Nua (Ha Tinh): 80 kilometers far from the Vinh city on the route to Vientiane, Laos’ capital city
Cha Lo (Quang Binh): in Dan Hoa province, accessible via the road 12A from Ba Don - Quang Binh province
Lao Bao and La Lay (Quang Tri)
Na Meo (Thanh Hoa)
Nam Can (Nghe An)
Po Y (Kon Tum)

Land borders Cambodia /Vietnam: Obligation visa at all land borders Moc Bai + Sa Mat (Tay Ninh): at 70km from Ho Chi Minh. This land border is accessible by bus and taxi and is located on the route between Ho Chi Minh and Phnom Penh, capital city of Cambodia

Sa Mat, Le Thanh (Gia Lai), 75 kilometers far from the Tay Ninh city
Tinh Bien (An Giang), at 25 kilometers far from Chau Doc city
Vinh Xuong (An Giang): Enables access directly to the Cambodian seaboard
Hoa Lu (Binh Phuoc)
Dinh Ba (Dong Thap), over 100 kilometers far from Cao Lanh city
Ha Tien (Kien Giang)

TRANSPORT IN VIETNAM

PLANE

Flying is the fastest and most convenient way to travel long distances in Vietnam. Moreover, airline tickets purchased in Vietnam are acceptable cheap, whether you want to take a domestic flight within the country or an international flight to neighboring countries. The local airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, Vietjet Air, Vietravel Airlines, Pacific Airlines for your reference.

BUS

Taking the bus is the cheapest way to travel around major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh etc. The tickets usually cost around 6,000 to 9,000 Vietnamese dong ($0.26-$0.40). The bus network is fairly well developed in big cities and is also a good way to get out of the inner city to visit some villages or other sites located in the suburbs and beyond. The inconvenience is that long distance buses usually depart from bus stations located some kilometers from the city center, so it is necessary to take a taxi to first reach the bus station. The bus is also a good means of transport to travel from one city to another and discover other outlying regions of the country. Many private companies offer bus services. Most of the time, buses are minivans, but you can also take night buses (buses with bunk beds) for longer trips. Those night buses are generally a very good alternative to the train which is often substantially more expensive. You can buy tickets and ask for information at travel agencies and hotels in order to choose the bus service that matches your requirements (time of departure/arrival, place of departure/arrival, price etc). Please bear in mind, that even though the bus network is quite well developed, roads are often in bad condition and buses have to go slowly sometimes and stop often to pick up and drop off passengers. Transfer times are usually counted in hours and not in kilometers.

MOTO-TAXI

Moto-taxis (Traditional Xe Ôm or Grab motorbike) are everywhere! On any street corner, parked on sidewalks, moto-taxi drivers will enthusiastically offer you their services wherever you want to go. Moto-taxis are a good alternative to a car taxi as they are more able to infiltrate the dense traffic of cities such as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh and can save a lot of travel time. Besides, travel by motorbike taxi is fun and a great way to get up close and personal with the sights and sounds of Vietnam. Please be aware that you should fix the price before the departure. Don’t hesitate to bargain. Caution: The driver must provide you with a helmet for the ride as helmets have been compulsory. If you are overly concerned about comfort and safety, moto-taxis aren’t really made for you, however, if you are in a hurry and a bit intrepid, moto-taxis will be one of your best friends.

MOTORBIKES

Motorbikes are the main means of transport in Vietnam but even though most locals drive them, the law clearly forbids any foreigners without a valid Vietnamese license from driving a motorbike (international licenses do not apply in Vietnam). Indeed, traffic is really dense and the risk of accidents is real. Besides, most travel insurance policies do not cover travelers for motorbike accidents. However, if you really want to move around and drive like the Vietnamese do, you won’t have any problem finding an agency or a hotel that rents motorbikes (automatic or semi-automatic) with helmets to foreigners.

BIKES

If you want a means of transport more peaceful you can also rent a bicycle. However, be aware that as for motorbikes, biking in the dense traffic of city centers may be a bit scary and potentially dangerous. This is why we recommend you to wear a helmet and limit your bike riding to the countryside and suburbs, and outside of rush hours. One thing is for sure, riding a bike in the countryside and through villages will definitely be appreciated by the local people somewhat bemused to see foreigners making such an effort. Expect lots of smiles and happy hellos, even the occasional invite to stop and share a cup of tea.

TRAIN

The train is a convenient means of transport in Vietnam. Transfers are secure and quite comfortable if you choose the “soft seat” or “soft bunk” classes. However, the railway network still has to be improved and travel times remain quite long (even really long). Thankfully, besides local trains for two ways short distance such as Quang Binh to Hue, or Hue to Da Nang, or Nghe An (Vinh city) to Quy Nhon, some railway services have been created, like the one between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), called the Super Express (SE). We recommend you to preferably choose trains registered as SE rather than those registered popular Reunification Train (TN), if you want to reduce time for moving.

CAR

Renting a car is forbidden for foreigners to drive (apart from expatriates with a Vietnamese license); however it is possible to rent a car with a driver if you want to travel alone or with your family.

Access and Transportation

Recent Posts

Things to do in Hoi An

You need a trip to Vietnam to try “the best street food in the world”

6 Must try local dishes in Nha Trang

All Categories

Company

Explore

Newsletter

I agree to all terms and policies

Access and Transportation

Recent Posts

Things to do in Hoi An

You need a trip to Vietnam to try “the best street food in the world”

6 Must try local dishes in Nha Trang

All Categories

Tags

Company

Explore

Newsletter

I agree to all terms and policies