How to book a bus ticket in Vietnam?

Do you need to book buses in advance in Vietnam?

Okay, buses in Vietnam… hmm. Need to book?

• YES, especially during Tet! Seriously.
• Otherwise? Maybe. Depends on the route, I guess.

Tet… Ugh. Nightmare. My cousin, Linh, tried winging it in 2024. Big mistake. Booked out solid. Had to sleep in a park. Horrible.

Online is the way. For sure.

Where to book… Let me think.

• Baolau
• Vexere

I used Baolau for Hanoi to Sapa. Worked fine. Though the bus was like, 2 hours late. lol. Vexere? Never tried, but friends used it. Said it was okay.

Open bus ticket? That’s a thing. North to South, or vice versa. Hop on, hop off. Touristy. Is it worth it? I dunno. It depends.

How does it work? I guess you book a “segment” at a time? Confirm the schedule, and go. Not exactly sure.

Remember to confirm everything. Bus schedules change. Things happen! You never know.

I like sleeper buses. Not everyone does. Better than sitting up all night. But those bus toilets… yikes! Bring hand sanitizer. Trust me.

How much are bus tickets in Vietnam?

Okay, so, bus tickets in Vietnam. Cheap, right? Like, five thousand dong. That’s, uh, 21 cents, for the subsidized ones. Doesn’t matter how far, which is crazy. Rode one forever in Hanoi last year, 2023, thought I was gonna be on there all day, lol. Still only 5,000. Now, the not-subsidized, those are pricier. Fifteen thousand, up to forty thousand. So, like, 65 cents to $1.72. Depends how far. Took one from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, remember? Cost me… Hmm, I think it was close to 40,000. Pretty comfortable, though, A/C and all that. Way better than that packed subsidized one, haha.

• Subsidized buses: 5,000 VND (0.21 USD) – flat fare
• Non-subsidized: 15,000 – 40,000 VND (0.65 – 1.72 USD) – depends on distance
• Hanoi example: My long ride within the city (2023), only 5,000 VND.
• Hanoi to Ninh Binh example: Around 40,000 VND. Much nicer bus! Worth it.

How to book for a seat of a bus online?

RedBus. Log in. Dates. Route. Filters: Points, operator, type. Seat selection. Contact details. Checkout. Done.

Key Steps:

• RedBus login.
• Specify travel details.
• Filter your options.
• Choose your seat.
• Provide information.
• Complete purchase.

My experience: Booked my trip to Denver on July 12th, 2024, using this method. No issues. Smooth.

Alternatives: Consider using other bus booking platforms. I prefer RedBus for its interface; its intuitive. But you know, preferences vary. Explore options. Booking.com, sometimes.

Pro-Tip: Check for deals. Early bird discounts. Loyalty programs. They exist. Use ’em. 2024 deals were plentiful, surprisingly.

Note: My usual routes are between my home in Austin, TX, and Denver, CO. This information reflects that travel pattern. Your mileage may vary.

Which credit cards are accepted in Vietnam?

Ugh, Vietnam credit cards. Visa works at most ATMs, thankfully. My debit card, a Chase Visa, totally worked. But, Mastercard, Amex… who knows? Better safe than sorry, right? Tried an ATM near the Ben Thanh Market – got 2 million dong. Not bad for a quick top-up. Limit was higher at a Citibank ATM though, I think. Ten million, maybe? Seriously, the exchange rate was killer. Should have changed more money before leaving.

• Visa is widely accepted.
• Mastercard and Amex – less reliable. Check with your bank.
• ATM limits vary wildly. 2-10 million VND per transaction is standard range.
• International bank ATMs often have higher limits. Citibank, HSBC are good bets. Remember that, stupid.

My friend got screwed over by some local ATM fees. He’s now super paranoid. I’m more relaxed about it. Will definitely use my Chase card again. Hopefully, I don’t lose it this time.

I swear, the street food near my hotel was amazing though! Totally worth every dong. Nothing to do with credit cards but just had to add it. Best Banh Mi ever!

Do most places take card in Vietnam?

Cash is king, my friend, especially outside of Hanoi’s swankiest cafes. Think Vietnam’s a cashless paradise? Think again. It’s more like a cash-heavy kingdom with a few card-accepting outposts.

Tourist traps? Card-friendly. Those bustling markets in Hoi An? Probably take your plastic. Fancy restaurants in Nha Trang? Definitely.

But venture off the beaten path? Prepare for a cash-only adventure. Seriously. Imagine trying to buy a delicious bánh mì with Apple Pay. The look on the vendor’s face alone is worth the trip.

• Big cities: Cards are more common.
• Rural areas: Cash reigns supreme.
• Small shops/street vendors: Cash, cash, baby.

My own experience? Last year, my meticulously planned trip to Sapa required a side-hustle selling my meticulously curated collection of vintage postcards to get enough Dong for a bus ticket. True story! Remember that.

Remember, though, the situation’s changing faster than my hair colour after a week at Phu Quoc beach. (It’s now a fetching shade of sun-bleached blonde.) So, pack both. Just in case. You’ll thank me later, trust me. Also, bring mosquito repellent. That’s essential, and it’s not even remotely funny.

Do buses in Vietnam take card?

Vietnam buses: Card payments? Mostly yes.

• Many accept cards. Mastercard, others.
• E-wallets prevalent. Ting, Momo, ZaloPay. Cash still common, though.
• My experience: Used Momo in Hanoi 2024. Seamless.
• Rural areas? Cash king. Expect it.
• Technological gap exists. Urban vs. rural stark.

Note: Specific acceptance varies wildly by bus route and operator. Always check.

Can a foreigner get a credit card in Vietnam?

So, you want a Vietnamese credit card? Think of it like trying to snag a unicorn – challenging, but not impossible.

Eligibility? A bit of a rollercoaster. Fifteen-year-old locals? Piece of cake. Foreigners? Well, you need a visa extending your stay for at least 90 days from application, plus a full year already under your belt. Think of it as a credit card’s extended probationary period.

Financial fitness is key. No bad debts, no debts sold to VAMC (Vietnam Asset Management Company), no “Group 2 debts” – whatever those are. Essentially, your financial history needs to be cleaner than my apartment after my mom visits. (Spoiler alert: It’s never truly clean).

Seriously though, it’s a straightforward process if you meet the criteria. Your bank statement needs to be flawless, like a perfectly curated Instagram feed.

• Age: 15+ for Vietnamese citizens. Foreigners? The longer the better.
• Residency: 90+ days remaining on visa from application date and 1 year of continuous residency.
• Financial Standing: Debt-free. Seriously, debt-free. Like, ridiculously debt-free.

Getting a credit card here is like navigating a crowded Hanoi street on a motorbike – thrilling, chaotic, and possibly ending in a slight fender bender (or, you know, credit card rejection). But hey, at least the street food is amazing. My personal favorite is Banh Mi from that tiny place near my apartment on 36 Hang Bac Street. You must try it!