🚋 How to Get Around Vietnam – Moving Gently from North to South

🚋 How to Get Around Vietnam – Moving Gently from North to South

You don’t really travel through Vietnam.
You move with it.

There’s a rhythm here — not loud, not rushed. It’s the kind of rhythm you feel on a train when the world slides by in slow motion. Or on a bus where you fall asleep to the hum of a countryside road and wake up somewhere softer.

If you're wondering how to get around Vietnam — not just efficiently, but gently — this is for you.

Let’s take it slow, one mode of movement at a time.

🛫 1. Domestic Flights – When Distance Matters
Vietnam is long. From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, it's over 1,700 km.

Sometimes, the best way to honor your time is to fly.

Airlines: VietJet Air, Bamboo Airways, Vietnam Airlines
Flight time: 1–2 hours between major cities
Cost: $30–$70 if booked early
Luggage: Low-cost airlines charge for checked baggage
💡 My quiet tip: Fly into one region, then take the rest of the journey by land. Let one leg be fast — and the rest be felt.

 
🚆 2. Trains – The Soulful Way to See Vietnam
There’s something poetic about the train.

You get on in Hanoi, and by the time you reach Hue, it’s like the country has whispered to you through windows.

Reunification Express runs north to south
Book soft seats or 4-berth sleeper cabins for comfort
Da Nang → Hue is one of the most scenic routes
You’ll see rice fields, coastline, misty mountains — all without having to do anything but sit and watch.

🧘‍♀️ Let the train teach you how to be still.
 
🚐 3. Buses – For Budget and Local Flavor
They’re not always the smoothest. But they’re real. And sometimes, real is enough.

Open-tour buses: Popular with backpackers (Sinh Tourist, Futa Bus)
Sleeper buses: Reclining beds, often overnight routes
Local buses: Cheap and chaotic — but memorable
💡 Tip: Bring snacks, a scarf, and your sense of humor. You might arrive a little late, but you'll arrive with stories.

 
🛵 4. Motorbike – For the Brave and Curious
It’s more than transportation. It’s a feeling.
The wind. The freedom. The strange quiet you find on empty roads.

If you're experienced and confident, consider:

- Renting a motorbike in Hoi An, Da Lat, or Ninh Binh
- Or… riding the legendary Hai Van Pass (Da Nang to Hue)
- Long-distance trips like Hanoi to Saigon (the full adventure)
🪨 Warning: Vietnamese traffic is alive. Don’t underestimate it. Only ride if you're sure. Your safety is worth more than any Instagram story.

🚲 5. Bicycles & Walking – For the Slowest (and Most Beautiful) Days
In places like Hoi An, Tam Coc, or Phu Quoc, a bicycle is all you need.
You’ll hear birds, pass lotus ponds, stop at a coffee stand just because it feels right.

Walking lets you notice things:
The smell of incense. A cat sleeping on a scooter seat. Someone waving at you for no reason at all.

🚶‍♂️ When you move slowly, the country moves with you.
 
🧭 6. How to Plan Your Route – Without Losing the Magic
Don’t plan every hour. Plan for the feeling.

🗺 Example Slow Route (2–3 weeks):
Start in Hanoi – explore the north (Sapa, Ninh Binh)
Take a train to Hue
Spend quiet days in Hoi An
Fly or bus to Da Lat (the mountains)
End in Ho Chi Minh City – where the buzz meets the beauty
Let your route have breath. Let it surprise you.

🌿 Movement Can Be Gentle Too
Not every journey needs to be efficient.
Some are meant to be meaningful.

Whether you glide by train, meander by bus, or walk through quiet alleys in Hội An — let how you move reflect how you want to feel.

Because in Vietnam, the road is not just what takes you somewhere.
Sometimes, it is the somewhere.

Next up:
📖 Staying Connected in Vietnam – SIMs, eSIMs, and Apps That Make Life Easy