Are trains good in Vietnam?

Is it easy to travel around Vietnam without a car?

Okay, so Vietnam without a car? Yeah, easy peasy, I did it, survived!

Back in 2023, I landed in Hanoi, straight from Luton, shattered. No way was I driving in that chaos.

Buses? All over the place! Cheap as chips. Sleeper buses? OMG, game changer.

Trains are an option but I didn’t use them much because of the limited number of trains and locations.

• Buses: everywhere
• Trains: limited
• Planes: can be expensive, but quick

I took a train from Hanoi to Hue. It was alright! Slower, but scenic. Cost me about $30.

Planes? Flew from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh. Pricey, but saved me a day. Vietjet Air are pretty good, never had a problem.

Motorbikes, though, are everywhere. Grab is your friend. Or haggle with a xe om (motorbike taxi). Just hold on tight! Cyclos are cute, but tourist traps, for sure.

Driving yourself? Hard pass. The traffic in Ho Chi Minh City? Forget about it. Locals drive like maniacs. Respect.

One time, my bus broke down… middle of nowhere. Ended up sharing a bánh mì with some kids in a village. That was an experience! Good times.

Buses are the way to go. And try the local food, duh. You won’t regret it. Well, maybe the balut. That stuff’s weird.

• Buses: main way to travel
• Motorbike taxis (xe om): convenient for short distances
• Grab: easy to book rides
• Taxis: available, but more expensive
• Cyclos: tourist attraction, negotiate price beforehand

Is it easy to solo travel in Vietnam?

Solo tripping in Vietnam? Piece of cake, darling. Seriously. Safer than my grandma’s knitting circle, almost. Violent crime? About as common as a unicorn riding a Vespa.

The real enemy? Pickpockets in tourist traps. Think of them as mischievous, thieving fairies, only instead of glitter, they leave you with an empty wallet. Annoying, yes. Existentially threatening? Hardly.

Here’s the lowdown:

• Safety: Vietnam is remarkably safe. My friend Sarah backpacked there last year and only got mildly sunburnt. No major incidents!
• Pickpocketing: Keep your wits about you, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Think of it as a fun game of human chess: you vs. the nimble-fingered bandits. You’ll be fine.
• Transportation: Getting around is a breeze. Motorbikes are everywhere, creating a chaotic ballet of near misses—absolutely exhilarating. Trains and buses are plentiful and cheap, too, if that’s your style.
• Language: While knowing some Vietnamese helps, English is spoken widely, especially in tourist areas. Just remember “xin chào”—hello—it’s a charm offensive.
• Food: Oh, the food. Prepare for a culinary explosion. From pho to banh mi, your taste buds will thank you. My personal fave? Bun cha—delicious!

Pro-tip: Learn a few basic Vietnamese phrases. Trust me, it’ll win over locals faster than a bowl of pho on a cold day. Oh, and pack light—you’ll be thanking me later, I swear. You’ll navigate it with a smile and a bit of street smarts, my friend.

Is Vietnam solo travel friendly?

Vietnam… alone. Safe? Hmm.

I did it. I remember that stale air. Even now. It’s… different. I remember the food, though. Yeah.

• Food: Risk, definitely. Stomach went rogue more than once. Like a rebellion, really. But it’s part of the story, isn’t it?

The loneliness. That hit hard.

• Loneliness: Real, heavy. Expect it. It’s okay, though, kinda? Part of it, too.

My throat burned. Each morning. Ugh.

• Air Quality: Just awful. No sugarcoating it. Prepare. Really prepare.

Wouldn’t trade it. Not really.

• Overall: Go anyway. Just… be ready. It’s worth it, I think? I think.