Motorbike or Sleeper Bus? Getting Around Vietnam Overland
An honest comparison of the four ways to cover Vietnamese distance — bus, train, plane and your own two wheels — and what each one really costs. Vietnam is 1,650 kilometres from top to bottom and narrow enough in the middle to cross in an hour. Almost every itinerary decision comes down to how you cover that length. There are four realistic options and they suit different trips; the mistake is committing to one for the whole journey. The sleeper bus Vietnamese sleeper buses have reclining berths rather than seats, arranged in two or three rows on two levels. They are cheap — Hanoi to Hue for the price of two restaurant meals — they run overnight so you save a hotel night, and they go almost everywhere including places the railway does not reach. They are also the least comfortable way to travel if you are over about 175 cm, since the berths are sized for the domestic market. Driving standards on the overnight runs are the worst on the road; horn use is constant; and the arrival time is frequently four in the morning at a depot some distance from where you actually want to be. Book cabin-style buses where they exist — several operators now run private-pod services on the main routes for perhaps forty percent more, and the difference in sleep is worth it. Take the lower deck, mid-coach, away from the toilet. Keep your valuables in the berth with you, not in the hold. The train Slower than the bus on paper and often faster in practice once you count depot transfers. Vastly more…
- Published
- 2026-06-19
- Author
- Betel Editorial
