How much is public transport in Vietnam?
Public transport in Vietnam is affordable. Bus fares typically range from VND 5,000 (US$0.21) to VND 9,000 (US$0.39) per ride, depending on the route's length.
Vietnam Public Transport Costs: How Much?
Okay, so public transport in Vietnam, eh? Here’s my take…
Generally, bus fares start cheap. Think around 5,000 VND, like a quarter of a dollar. Prices increase with distance, topping out around 9,000 VND (under $0.40).
It’s affordable, honestly.
I remeber taking a bus from District 1 to like, near the airport in Ho Chi Minh City back in maybe, December 2018? Cost me peanuts. Was probably around 7,000 VND, if I remember right.
Public bus fares are super cheap in Vietnam. Like, proper cheap.
Honestly, navigating the buses can be a little confusing at first. Just saying. Not really, really confusing, but, y’know. Just a tad.
But the price? Chef’s kiss. Worth the initial confusion factor, I think.
How do you pay for things in Vietnam?
Ugh, Vietnam. Okay, so back in 2023 when I was backpacking in Hanoi…cash was king! Seriously. Imagine me, haggling for a banh mi near Hoan Kiem Lake. No way they took my Amex. I tried.
But then, at fancier hotels in Saigon? Visa and Mastercard were totally accepted. It was this weird mix.
Like, even booking my Ha Long Bay cruise online beforehand? Credit card. No problem. But buying souvenirs? Forget it. VND was the only way.
- Cash: Street food, markets, small shops
- Cards: Hotels, tourist spots, online bookings
- My tip: Get local currency upon arrival.
Actually, I think some places took UnionPay too. Maybe even some digital wallets now?
And yeah, ATMs were around, but those fees…oof! So, plan ahead. Don’t be like me, scrambling for dong before that boat trip.
How to pay in Vietnam as a tourist?
Night. Empty room. Thinking about Vietnam… the heat shimmering off the mopeds. Used mostly cash there. Dong. So many zeroes. Felt rich, even though wasn’t.
Remember that tiny food stall in Hoi An… Paid with a wad of dong for the best banh mi I’ve ever had. Even got a little extra chili. Credit card wouldn’t have worked there. Not a chance.
ATMs… used those a few times. Sketchy sometimes, but convenient. Especially in Hanoi. Needed cash for that Bia Hoi corner. Plastic wouldn’t cut it. Street food. Market stalls. Cash is king.
- Cash: Absolutely essential. Especially outside the cities.
- Dong (VND): Official currency. Get used to it.
- ATMs: Widely available. But carry some USD just in case. Skimmers can be a problem though. Lost $200 in 2021 that way.
- Credit Cards: Useful in bigger places, hotels, touristy restaurants. Visa and Mastercard mostly. Not Discover. Learned that the hard way.
- Exchange Rate: Check it. Double-check it. Don’t get ripped off. Happens.
Weird… Remember the smell of those incense sticks… Drifting on the humid air… Makes me miss it. Crazy how a simple question… can unlock a flood of memories. Gotta go.
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