How much is a bus fare in Ho Chi Minh City?

What is the cheapest way to get around Ho Chi Minh City?

Sun bleeds gold onto dusty streets. Motorbikes a blur. A river of sound. So many. Buses lumbering, groaning giants. Cheap. So cheap. Dust motes dancing in the golden light. The cheapest way… Lost in the thought. The cheapest… the bus. Red. Green. Blue. A wave of heat rising. Engines thrumming. Bus. The bus is cheapest. The air vibrates. Hot metal. Warm skin. Grab. A whisper of cool air in a passing car. Gojek. Be. A screen’s cool glow. Not the cheapest. But fast. A rush. Wind. Taxis. Gleaming. Waiting. Not the cheapest. Not like the bus. The heat shimmers. The cheapest. The bus. The sun, a heavy weight in the sky. The bus sighs. A breath of diesel. The cheapest way.

• Bus: Cheapest. A slow, meandering journey.
• Ride-sharing apps (Grab, Gojek, Be): Convenient. Faster. Not the cheapest. Remember the surge pricing after dark. Last week, District 1 to District 7, late, almost 200,000 VND.
• Taxis: Air-conditioned solace. Expensive. For tourists, maybe.

Yesterday, Bus 152. From Ben Thanh Market all the way to Tan Binh. Only 7,000 VND. Unbelievable. Hot, though. Packed. A symphony of horns. But cheap. So cheap.

How much does a bus cost in Vietnam?

City bus: 7,000-15,000 VND. Route dictates the price. Express? Expect more.

Comfort costs.

• Price varies city to city.
• Express buses offer enhanced experience.
• Always confirm fare before boarding.

My sister hated the Hanoi buses. Too crowded, she said. Then again, she always complains. I found them… adequate. It’s not Paris.

How to get around Ho Chi Minh City?

Motorcycles are common. But not safest. Definitely not “perfectly safe.” Traffic laws? Interpretive. Driving style? Energetic. Consider ride-sharing apps like Grab. Cars. Taxis. Safer. More predictable.

• Grab: Cars, motorbikes. Set price. Avoids haggling. My go-to in District 7 last year. Good for navigating unfamiliar areas.
• Taxis: Reliable. Vinasun, Mai Linh reputable companies. Use the meter. Or agree on a price beforehand. Remember my taxi ride from Tan Son Nhat. Straightforward. Efficient.
• Buses: Extensive network. Cheap. Challenging to navigate initially. Downloaded a bus app in 2023. Helped.
• Walking: Great for short distances. Experience street life. Hot though. Be prepared.
• Motorbike rental: Exciting. High risk. Requires an international driver’s permit. And nerves of steel. Not for the faint of heart. Witnessed a few near misses. Right near Ben Thanh Market. Crazy.

Traffic is dynamic. Constant motion. Pedestrians weave through. Motorcycles dominate. Horns are a form of communication. Not aggression. Mostly. Adaptability is key. Observe locals. Follow their lead. Patience is a virtue. Especially in rush hour. Around District 1. Insanity.

Consider your comfort level. Experience with two-wheeled vehicles. Risk tolerance. Choose wisely. Getting around is an adventure itself. Sometimes literally. My perspective. After three trips. Each time different. Always interesting.

Do buses in Vietnam take card?

Night… dark. Thinking about Vietnam. Buses. Tap tap tap. Remember the heat. Dust. Used to be all cash. Crumpled Dong. Sticky. Now… cards. So strange. Different. Makes me… I don’t know. Not sad, exactly. Just… thoughtful. Remember trying to count the bills. So confusing. Hot and tired.

• Many buses accept cards now. Like… debit cards. Credit cards too.
• E-wallets are big there now. Saw people using their phones all the time. Like Momo. And ZaloPay. So convenient.
• Mastercard virtual cards work sometimes. Through e-wallets like Ting. Used that a few times myself in Hanoi. 2023. Near Hoan Kiem Lake. Bought a banh mi afterwards. Spicy.

Things change. Fast. Everything different now. Progress, I guess. Still… Miss the chaos sometimes. The old ways. Maybe.

How common is credit card in Vietnam?

Okay, so credit cards in Vietnam? Crazy popular, right? I heard Dung, some bigwig at the State Bank, said there were over 150.6 million cards in use by March. That’s a HUGE jump! Like, a three point somethin’ percent increase from last year. Wow.

Seriously, everyone’s using them. My cousin in Hanoi, she uses hers for everything. Groceries, gas, even her motorbike repairs! Even my grandma, bless her heart, she’s getting used to it now. It’s way more common than you’d think.

Huge growth! It’s a total boom. I bet it’ll keep going up and up. More people than ever are getting cards. Makes total sense, right? They’re convenient!

• Massive card usage: Over 150 million cards in circulation!
• Significant growth: A 3.29% increase from 2023, which is astounding!
• Widespread adoption: From my experience, everyone I know uses them.
• Future projections: Expect even higher numbers in the coming years!

It’s really taken off. The whole thing is pretty amazing, honestly. I mean, Vietnam’s changing fast, super fast.

Can a foreigner get a credit card in Vietnam?

A credit card in Vietnam? For foreigners? It’s possible. A whisper of possibility, a shimmering mirage in the humid air. Think of the scent of pho, the relentless sun, the vibrant chaos of Hanoi. To get one, you need time—substantial time.

Ninety days minimum, they say. A fleeting moment in the grand tapestry of existence, yet a mountain to climb. One hundred and eighty days? Even better. A solid presence, a deep breath before the plunge.

Residency, a year, at least. That’s the hard part. A year of weaving yourself into the fabric of this land. Of learning the rhythm, the pulse of Vietnam. A year of sunlight warming your skin, rain washing your soul.

And then? Debt. Oh, the dreaded debt. No Group 2 debts. No bad debts. Clean. Pure. Like a newly polished jade statue. No stains on your financial soul.

It’s a test of worthiness, a ritual passage. A yearning for acceptance, a silent plea. This land, this vibrant, chaotic land. It judges you. It whispers its judgments on the wind.

The card itself, a slim rectangle. A promise, a key. Access. To the hum of this country. The taste of freedom. The thrill of possibility.

• Minimum 90 days residency remaining.
• One year valid residency minimum.
• Impeccable financial history. No outstanding debts. A clean slate.

The scent of jasmine, the taste of strong coffee—these are the rewards. The card, a small, shiny thing. But, oh, the feeling.

Is there a credit score in Vietnam?

Night… again. Thinking about… credit scores. Even in Vietnam. It’s different there. A whole other system. CIC runs it. Not like… here.

Different scale. Makes you think. About how these things work. So much hinges on numbers. Invisible strings… pulling you.

I remember… applying for a loan last year. Felt so… exposed. Like they saw right through me. All my… flaws.

• CIC: Credit Information Center. They hold all the secrets.
• Different scale: Not the FICO score I know. Something else entirely.
• Loan application: 2023. Needed it for… new equipment. For my photography. It’s… how I cope.

This pressure. To be… worthy. Of credit. Of… everything. It’s heavy. Weighs you down. Like a… stone. In the river.

Sinking. Slowly.

• Photography: Helps me… see. The beauty. In the ordinary.
• River: I go there sometimes. To… think. To… be.
• 2023: The year I… almost lost it all.

Maybe credit scores… aren’t so bad. A way to… prove yourself. To the world. To… yourself. Maybe. But still… it feels… suffocating. Sometimes. Like tonight.