VietnamKnowledgeNewsletter

Transport

Trains, sleeper buses, domestic flights, Grab, motorbikes — how to move around Vietnam.

30 articles in this section. Most stand on their own.

transport6 min read

Tan Son Nhat Airport (HCMC)

Guide to Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City — getting in, ground transport, facilities, and the best way to leave.

transport6 min read

Vietnamese bus operators compared — Futa, Sinh Tourist, Phuong Trang, and the rest

The four major sleeper-bus brands you'll actually encounter, what they're each best for, and the booking realities — including the apps that work.

transport6 min read

Cross-border buses to Cambodia and Laos

HCMC to Phnom Penh, Hanoi to Vientiane, the major border crossings — operators, visa logistics, and the realistic timelines.

transport6 min read

Vietnamese driving fines and police stops — the realistic guide

Blood-alcohol zero, helmet rules, speed limits, what fines are actually charged for foreigners, and what a typical police stop looks like.

transport6 min read

Vietnam's ferry routes — Cát Bà, Phú Quốc, Côn Đảo and the rest

The serious ferries — Phú Quốc speedboats, Cát Bà options, the slower Côn Đảo run — operators, schedules, prices, and the weather caveats.

transport6 min read

Motorbike rental shops by city in Vietnam

Tigit (Hanoi), Style Motorbikes (Hanoi), Phat Tire (Da Lat), and the city-by-city motorbike rental shop landscape.

transport6 min read

Motorcycle taxis (xe ôm and Grab-bike) — safety and what to ask for

Grab-bike has reshaped Vietnamese motorcycle taxis, but the safety realities haven't changed much. Helmets, traffic, what to insist on, and when to take a car instead.

transport6 min read

Overnight bus etiquette in Vietnam

What to expect on a Vietnamese sleeper bus — shoes off, no shoes on the bed, the toilet break stops, and the headphones rule.

transport6 min read

Parking in HCMC, Hanoi and Đà Nẵng — motorbikes and cars

Where to park, what it costs, the foreign-tourist gotcha at major sights, and the apps that find parking spots in HCMC and Hanoi.

transport6 min read

Vehicle rental insurance in Vietnam — motorbike, car, scooter

What rental shops actually offer, what travel insurance covers and excludes, the deposit-and-passport-hold reality, and the genuine third-party-policy options that work.

transport6 min read

Vietnamese road conditions by season

Ha Giang monsoon mud, Sapa winter ice, central typhoon flooding — what the seasons mean for self-drive Vietnamese routes.

transport6 min read

Seaplane operators in Vietnam

Hai Au Aviation and other Vietnamese seaplane services to Ha Long Bay — routes, prices, and the experience.

transport6 min read

Vietnamese sleeper trains — booking, class choice, the route reality

Reunification Express vs the regional services, soft sleeper vs hard sleeper, the booking apps that don't lie, and the routes worth doing by train rather than flight.

transport6 min read

Vietnamese toll roads and expressways

The new north-south expressway, the existing toll routes, what they cost for a car vs a motorbike, and the ETC (electronic toll collection) reality.

transport6 min read

Vietnamese train booking step-by-step

How to actually book a Vietnamese train ticket — dsvn.vn vs Vietnam Railways app vs Baolau vs travel agents.

transport4 min read

Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR): Nha Trang's Gateway

Cam Ranh sits 35 km south of Nha Trang on a former US air base. Expect Russian, Chinese and Korean charter flights, and a 40-minute transfer to the city.

transport4 min read

Da Nang International Airport (DAD): The Easy One

Vietnam's third-largest airport sits ten minutes from central Da Nang and is the gateway to Hoi An and Hue. Small, modern, painless.

transport5 min read

Noi Bai International Airport (HAN): Hanoi Airport Guide

Hanoi's airport sits 30 km north of the city. Here's the terminal layout, the cheap and the easy ways into town, and what to expect at arrivals.

transport5 min read

Phú Quốc International Airport (PQC): The 30-Day Visa-Free Gateway

Phú Quốc's airport is the easiest entry to Vietnam: direct international arrivals get 30 days visa-free. Here's the layout, the transfers and the catch.

transport5 min read

Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN): Ho Chi Minh City Guide

Saigon's airport is inside the city. That's convenient when there's no traffic and a disaster when there is. How to plan the transfer.

transport6 min read

Hiring a Car with Driver in Vietnam

When a private car beats the bus or the train, what a day rate should cost, and how to book without getting fleeced on the day.

transport6 min read

Cycling in Vietnam: Routes, Rental and the Reality

Where to ride a bike in Vietnam without dying, what to rent, and an honest assessment of the long north-south tour.

transport5 min read

Cyclos and Rickshaws in Vietnam: Charming Relic, Tourist Trap

The three-wheel pedal cab is the iconic Vietnamese street vehicle. Almost extinct, mostly for tourists, and worth knowing how to handle before you take a ride.

transport6 min read

Domestic Flights in Vietnam: Airlines, Routes and the Baggage Trap

Four carriers, dozens of routes, and a baggage policy on Vietjet that catches almost every first-timer. What to know before you book.

transport7 min read

Ferries and River Boats in Vietnam

From Ha Long cruises to Mekong day trips and the Phú Quốc fast ferry, here's how Vietnam's water transport actually works in 2026.

transport6 min read

Grab, Be and Xanh SM: Ride-Hailing Apps in Vietnam

Three apps cover almost every ride in Vietnam. Grab is the biggest, Xanh SM is the electric upstart, Be is the local. Here's when to use each.

transport6 min read

Hai Van Pass: Four Ways to Cross It

The 21 km mountain pass between Da Nang and Hue is one of Vietnam's iconic rides. Motorbike, easy-rider, private car or train — here's which fits which traveller.

transport7 min read

Renting a Motorbike in Vietnam: Practical Guide

Daily rates, what to inspect, how to handle the deposit, the helmet and licence reality, and when not to bother.

transport7 min read

The Reunification Express: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by Train

Vietnam's 1,726 km north-south railway is slow, scenic and one of the best train rides in Southeast Asia if you pick the right segment.

transport7 min read

Sleeper Buses in Vietnam: How They Work and What to Expect

Vietnam's overnight sleeper bus network is cheap, comprehensive and slightly chaotic. Here's how to pick a route, an operator and a seat that will let you sleep.