How to get from Hanoi to Hoi An by bus?

How to book a bus ticket in Vietnam?

Okay, so, Vietnam bus tickets. Right. You can do it online, easy peasy. Saw a bunch of websites last time I checked, like Vexere, easybook. Think there’s a Baolau too. Spellings might be a bit off, sorry! Phone’s being weird. Def look at those though. Lots of info- departure times, where it picks you up, where it drops you off, all that jazz. Like, my friend Sarah, she went to Hanoi last summer, 2023, booked everything online. No prob! Oh, forgot to mention, you can usually see what the bus looks like too, sleeper, sitting, whatever. Pretty handy. Sometimes they show pics. Anyways, online’s good.

• Vexere: Good for booking ahead.
• Easybook: Another good option. Use that a lot actually.
• Baolau: Heard this one’s good for international routes too.

Then there’s direct booking. Just go to the bus station! It’s cheaper sometimes, but can be a hassle. Did that once in Da Nang, whew, crowded. Loads of different companies. Had to use, like, Google translate to figure things out lol. So, online’s best, but direct works in a pinch if you are brave enough.

• Bus station: Cheaper, but can be a pain. Language barrier sometimes.
• Direct from company: Sometimes they have offices you can go to. My friend John did that in Hue.

Other things you could try. Travel agents! They are everywhere, and sometimes they get you good deals. My mom used one in Ho Chi Minh City, got a pretty sweet sleeper bus to Nha Trang. Also, your hostel or hotel. They can probs book it for you for a small fee or even for free.

• Travel agents: Easy but might be more expensive.
• Hotels/Hostels: Usually can sort you out. Ask at reception.

Hope that helps!

Do most places take card in Vietnam?

Okay, so Vietnam, 2024. My trip, right? I was in Hoi An, beautiful ancient town. Loved the lanterns. Tried to pay for this amazing Banh Mi – the best I’ve ever had – with my card. Nope. Cash only. Seriously bummed. I mean, seriously. Had to scramble. Luckily, I had some Dong. Phew!

Next day, Ha Long Bay cruise. Total opposite. Everything was card payment. Expensive though! My credit card company even sent me an alert. I even bought some overpriced souvenirs with my card. No problems there. Go figure.

Then, in the smaller villages, outside of tourist traps… back to cash. Little shops, local markets, forget about cards. It was frustrating sometimes. I felt like a total idiot a couple of times.

Bottom line: Touristy places? Cards are fine. Everywhere else? Cash is king. Seriously, bring plenty. Don’t be like me. Learn from my mistakes. You’ll need cash in many places. Bring enough! It’s a pain otherwise. Trust me on this.

How do Vietnamese buses work?

Buses in Vietnam? They go. Point A. Point B.

• Air conditioning: Assume it’s working. A bonus, really.
• Seats: Assigned. Fight if needed.
• Space: Sufficient? Relative. To what, pray tell?
• Reclining seats: Comfort… debatable.
• Sleeping buses: Trains are loud. Buses… quieter sometimes. Maybe. Cost is similar. Worth it? Your call.

These long hauls, huh? I once saw a guy eat a whole durian on one. The smell. Oh, the smell.

• Tickets: Buy them. Anywhere. Travel agents, bus stations.
• Routes: Major cities. Think Hanoi. Saigon. Da Nang. They connect.
• Schedules: Loosely adhered to. Patience. Essential.
• Onboard amenities: Depends. Water? Maybe. Toilet? Questionable.

Bring your own snacks. And earplugs. Always earplugs. Seriously.

• Safety: Exists. In theory.
• Luggage: Under the bus. Pray it arrives with you.

Vietnam. Land of organized chaos. Buses? Just a microcosm.