Getting Around Vietnam: Transfers, Trains, Buses and Domestic Flights

One important note upfront: car hire for foreign visitors is not practical in Vietnam. Renting a self-drive car requires a Vietnamese driving licence — international licences are not accepted for self-drive. Hiring a car with a driver is a reasonable option for day trips and short transfers, but independent self-drive is not available to most foreign travellers.

Vietnam is a long, thin country — 1,650 km from north to south. Getting between cities requires planning. The main options are airport transfers, the Reunification Express train, tourist buses, domestic flights, and the Grab app within cities. For booking your international flight into Vietnam, see our flights to Vietnam guide.

Airport Transfers

Arriving at an international airport with no pre-arranged transfer means dealing with taxi touts and negotiating fares after a long flight. Fixed-price transfers from the main airports are available through Kiwitaxi — book the price upfront, and a named driver meets you at arrivals.

Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) is 30 km north of central Hanoi. Journey time to the Old Quarter is 45–60 minutes depending on traffic. Grab works from the designated pickup area.

Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) is inside Ho Chi Minh City, around 7 km from District 1, but traffic can stretch this to 30–60 minutes. Grab is well-established and reliable here.

Da Nang International Airport (DAD) is central — about 3 km from the city. The most common booking is onward transfer to Hoi An (30 km, around 45 minutes).

Pre-book with Kiwitaxi for confirmed pricing from all three airports before you travel.

Domestic flights

The fastest and most practical option for long distances (Hanoi to HCMC, for example). Vietnam has three low-cost carriers (VietJet, Bamboo Airways, Pacific Airlines) plus Vietnam Airlines operating the full domestic network.

Main routes: Hanoi (HAN) ↔ Da Nang (DAD) ↔ Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) are the backbone, with secondary routes to Phu Quoc (PQC), Nha Trang (CXR), Da Lat (DLI), Hue (HUI), Con Dao (VCS), Can Tho (VCA), and others.

Prices: ₫300,000–2,500,000 ($12–100) depending on route, airline, and booking lead time. Book 2–4 weeks ahead for the best fares. VietJet’s promotional fares can be extremely cheap but fill quickly.

Baggage: Budget airlines charge for checked luggage. A 20kg hold bag typically adds ₫150,000–300,000 ($6–12). Check when booking.

Reunification Express (train)

The Hanoi–HCMC train (SE trains — SE1 to SE8) takes 30–34 hours for the full north-south journey. Most travellers use it for specific legs rather than the full journey.

Best legs:

• Hanoi → Hue (12–13 hours overnight — practical as a sleeper)
• Hue → Da Nang (2.5 hours — scenic coastal section through the Hai Van Pass tunnel)
• Da Nang → Nha Trang (9–10 hours)
• Hue → Dong Hoi (for Phong Nha — 2 hours, scenic)

Classes: Soft sleeper (4-berth or 6-berth compartments) is the standard for overnight journeys. Hard seat for short daylight legs. Book at baolau.com (English), 12go.asia, or dsvn.vn (Vietnamese Railways).

Booking: The soft sleeper berths on Hanoi–Hue fill up weeks in advance in peak season. Book early.

Tourist buses (open-ticket buses)

A network of tourist-oriented buses connects all major backpacker stops. The main operators — Phuong Trang (Futa Bus), Hung Thanh, The Sinh Tourist — run scheduled services on popular routes.

Open-ticket buses allow flexible scheduling. Buy a ticket at any hostel or travel desk for a specific leg, or buy an open route ticket (Hanoi to HCMC) and book each leg as you go.

Overnight sleeper buses: Lie-flat bunk buses on the main routes. Efficient for long distances (overnight bus saves a night of accommodation). The Hanoi–Phong Nha, Hue–Hoi An, and Nha Trang–Da Lat routes use this format. On the busy Hanoi–Sapa route, pre-book a reserved sleeper berth rather than buying through a hostel desk — you get a confirmed seat assignment and Old Quarter pickup.

Note: Tourist buses are not the same as public intercity buses. They’re more comfortable, go directly between backpacker areas, and have fixed departure times. Public buses are cheaper but use bus stations, not tourist guesthouses.

Grab (ride-hailing)

The standard within-city transport across Vietnam. Available in all major cities (Hanoi, HCMC, Da Nang, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Can Tho, Phu Quoc, and more). Transparent pricing, no haggling, and generally reliable.

Download Grab (available on iOS and Android) before arriving. A Vietnamese SIM card (₫100,000–200,000 / $4–8 from any mobile shop) is needed for the app to work on local data — or use an Airalo eSIM for Vietnam if you want data running before you land.

Services: GrabCar (4-seat car), GrabBike (motorbike), GrabFood (food delivery). GrabBike is the fastest option in heavy traffic.

Motorbike rental

Essential for rural areas (Ha Giang Loop, Mai Chau valley, Mu Cang Chai terraces, Phong Nha cycling routes, Con Dao, and general coastal exploration).

Semi-automatic: ₫100,000–180,000 ($4–7.20) per day. The Honda Wave copies are standard. Manageable for riders with basic experience.

Manual gearbox: Required for Ha Giang mountain roads. ₫150,000–200,000 ($6–8) per day.

International licence: Technically required for motorbike use in Vietnam. In practice, enforcement is variable — many travellers rent and ride without a licence and never encounter an issue, but an accident without a valid licence voids travel insurance. Worth having.

Car with Driver

As noted above, self-drive is not available to foreign visitors. For day trips and short intercity transfers, a private car with driver (₫1,000,000–2,500,000 / $40–100 for a full day) is affordable for groups of 3–4 and is the standard way to reach sites outside city limits — Hue’s Imperial Tombs, the Marble Mountains from Da Nang, or rural areas around Ninh Binh. Hotels and guesthouses can arrange this directly. For airport-specific transfers with fixed pricing, Kiwitaxi is the cleaner option.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to travel between cities in Vietnam? Domestic flights are fastest (VietJet, Bamboo, Vietnam Airlines) — Hanoi to HCMC takes 2 hours versus 30+ hours by train. The Reunification Express train is scenic and comfortable for segments like Hanoi–Da Nang or HCMC–Nha Trang. Overnight buses are the cheapest option.

Is the train good in Vietnam? The Reunification Express connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is a classic Vietnam experience. The Hanoi–Hue–Da Nang segments are particularly scenic. SE train classes (SE1–SE8) have soft-seat and soft-sleeper options. Book at least a week ahead for popular routes in peak season.

Is Vietnam good for motorbike travel? Vietnam has a strong tradition of motorbike travel, particularly the Ho Chi Minh Trail route and the Ha Giang Loop. Renting is easy, roads are generally good between cities, and traffic is lighter outside Hanoi and HCMC. An international driving licence endorsed for motorbikes is required; ensure your travel insurance covers motorcycle riding.

Can foreigners rent a car and self-drive in Vietnam? No. Self-drive car hire is not available to foreign visitors — a Vietnamese driving licence is required. Hiring a car with a driver is a practical alternative for day trips and intercity transfers, typically costing ₫1,000,000–2,500,000 ($40–100) for a full day.

How does the Grab app work in Vietnam? Grab is Vietnam’s dominant ride-hailing app, available in all major cities. It covers both motorbike (GrabBike) and car (GrabCar) trips. Prices are shown upfront with no haggling, and you can pay by cash or linked card. Download before arriving and register with a working phone number.