Vietnam: Night Bussing
Hanoi, Image by Long Nguyen
Hi Chi Minh, Image by Thu Tran
Why a Bus?
Night bussing Vietnam is probably the easiest way to travel the entire island from north to south, or south to north.
Because of the island’s shape which mimics a jalapeno pepper, touring the island from top to bottom, or bottom to top is very accessible. It’s efficient. It’s a straight shot.
(Cover image by Jaromir Kavan)
In other words, if you’re interested in experiencing the diversity of the island, and getting exposure to the different cultures that make up Vietnam, the night bus is an ideal way of experiencing it.
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How To Night Bus, Where to Start
It’s common to start in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh. There are numerous departure points and departure begins at 6:30 AM and continues until midnight.
The buses change depending on when and if you get off. They stop at points along the country including rest and refreshment stops. And if you decide to disembark you then simply do your thing in the town for a few days, do all of the visitations, and then reboard the bus. You’re able to get on at the new place’s departure point, usually just a bus stop, and continue traveling along the way.
Some of the buses have fully reclined beds within them, like bunk bed sets, and some have more typical bus seats that lie out horizontally from a seated position. For the stretches that you know will be throughout the night, the bed options are preferable. Whereas when you’re traveling hours during the daytime, the seated recliners are better.
There are a handful of buses that are reliable in terms of comfort and service for traveling the night.
The Sinh Tourist: Established in 1993, the buses are comfortable and have reclining seats, they have Wi-fi, and charging ports as well. The bus company is also a tour company.
Mai Linh Express: the buses have reclining seats and routes include the major cities destinations.
Phuong Trang: This is the bus that we traveled with most. This is the one I also hear is used most by locals themselves.
Where to Stay? Concon House Hanoi or B&B (*Via Lonely Planet)
If you start in Hanoi and are on the backpacker route, there are a plentitude of informal guesthouses or B&Bs that you can easily happen upon post-arrival in the city. Many of them will help you organize day trips or transportation to destinations, as well as offer informal meals.
If you’re adventuring with more of a penchant for comfort, try Concon House. Concon House gives a candlelit ambiance combined with deep wood in the designs throughout. Located in the old quarter, the hotel is reminiscent of this time and serves breakfast as well.
Night bus, Image by Oliver
My Intel
We started out in the northern area of Hanoi and made our way down to Ho Chi Minh or Saigon. In between we stopped in various places, a few we couldn’t stop at due to it being the monsoon season.
Another cool thing about the night bus is that you can get a taste of many places simply, it’s kind of a great combination of both catered to and independent travel.
Where to Stop Along the Way
La Vague in Nha Trang
One of the most vacation-esque spots is along the stretch of beach of this coastal town. It has Vietnamese snack food on the beaches for days and feels quintessentially a fishing village with flair. The vibrant thing about this city is that it’s large enough to have an industrial feel but at the same time, it has a local village angle to it, the duality of these enriches the experience of Vietnamese culture there, and makes for an immaculate place to relax. La Vague offers a top-tier option for combined repose and activity if you plop down in Nha Trang for a few nights.
Nha Trang also holds spa culture as a priority to its place. It’s known for having mud baths with therapeutic properties for skin replenishment and well-being. Many of the hotels there also encompass spas and exceptional massage. If you’re night bussing, immersing in the outdoor mineral mud pools and hot springs is a great way to decompress from the travel.
Nha Trang beach, Image by Ngan Bui
Image by Ngan Bui
*Safety tip
Note that if you’re tall, the seats of the night bus might not be catered to your utmost comfort. Seek the bed options rather than the chair recliners.
While traveling the bus, keep your valuable belongings concentrated so that on pit stops you won’t need to lug everything of yours on and off.
Bottom line
If you’re outbound for adventure travel, the night bus of Vietnam is a win. It delivers the option to explore a near entirety of Vietnam in a short timeframe with efficiency and ease. Though not for everyone, it’s the surest way to see the scope of the country effectively. Stopping at a few places to relax combines with the bus adventure to make a great immersion into Vietnam.
Nha Trang Bay, Image by Arvydas Arnasius
