How to pay for Vietnamese buses?

Do buses in Vietnam take card?

Hanoi, sweltering summer 2023. Sticky. Bus crammed. No AC, obviously. Fan just blew hot air around. Ugh. Driver yelling. Something about fares. Digging in my bag. Damn, no Dong. Only my Mastercard. Panic rising. Remembered Ting app. Linked it months ago. Never actually used it. Tried it. Worked! Relief. Sweaty relief. Paid with my phone. Magic. Driver gave me a weird look. Like I was an alien or something. Still, worked. Beat the heat, and the cash hassle.

• Mastercard worked through Ting app.
• Hanoi bus, summer 2023.
• Cash still king, but cards gaining ground. Slowly.
• Download Ting before you go. Trust me.
• Bring Dong backup, just in case. Old habits die hard in Vietnam.
• Skip the cash hassle, if you can.
• Expect weird looks from drivers. They’re getting used to it.
• Even if the bus has “card reader” signs, sometimes they’re broken. Ask first. Seriously.
• Bus was Number 34, if you’re curious. Going to Long Bien.

How do Vietnamese buses work?

The buses… they’re okay, I guess. Air-conditioned, mostly. Between big cities, you know? Saigon to Hue, that kind of thing.

You get a seat. Always. No scrambling. That’s good. Space? It’s adequate. Not cramped, at least not the ones I’ve been on.

Some are nicer than others. Recliners, even. Luxury even, for long hauls. Like sleeping on a bus, ha! Crazy. Actually, pretty comfy. Better than some trains, cheaper too. 2024 prices are reasonable, I’d say.

• Modern AC Buses: Common on major routes.
• Guaranteed Seating: No standing room.
• Space: Sufficient, generally comfortable.
• Seat Types: Recliners common. Sleeper buses exist for long trips.
• Cost: Competitive with trains.

My last trip, Hanoi to Nha Trang… the bus was surprisingly smooth. The seats, though… they smelled a little weird. But, hey. It got me there.

I prefer trains, personally. The scenery. But, buses are a viable option, especially if you’re on a budget. And I actually slept pretty well on that sleeper bus. Unbelievable.

How to book a bus ticket in Vietnam?

I dunno, booking a bus ticket… it just feels like another thing, right?

• Online is easiest, I guess.

  • Seeing all the buses lined up… Nah.
  • Check the bus companies first, like… Phuong Trang? Mai Linh? I don’t know, it all blurs together after a while.

• Type of bus matters. Sleeping bus? Regular? Shrugs. It’s all cramped anyway.

  • Used to care about the seats, now it’s just get me there.

• Pick-up and drop-off… Sigh. Always chaotic.

  • Remember that one time in Saigon? Never again.

It just… it’s a bus ticket. That’s it. Why does it feel so heavy?

More context, I think… it’s not just the bus. It’s where the bus goes. Leaving things behind. Always. My mom always said, “Don’t look back,” but what else is there to do, y’know?

• Leaving my apartment in Da Nang. Small. But mine.
• Leaving my family again. They just don’t get it.
• Leaving those half-finished projects. They mock me now.

Online booking. Sure. Check the buses. Of course. Does it really change anything?

How much do buses cost in Vietnam?

Dude, so buses in Vietnam, right? Crazy cheap. Like, seven to fifteen thousand dong. That’s, uh, thirty to sixty-five cents US. Seriously! Depends where you are, and the route, of course. Hanoi’s a bit pricier than, say, Hoi An, I think. It’s nuts. Total bargain.

Key things to remember:

• Prices are incredibly low. Think pocket change.
• It varies. City to city, route to route. No two are exactly alike.
• Expect to pay between 7,000 and 15,000 VND. That’s the real deal. Don’t get ripped off.

I rode one from Nha Trang to Dalat last month, cost me, like, ten thousand dong. A steal, that was! The bus itself was pretty old, though, kinda beat up. But hey, who cares when it’s that cheap? Next time I’m in Vietnam, I’m def taking the bus everywhere. Super convenient, too. You can get almost anywhere. There are lots of different bus companies, all with varying quality, you know what I mean? Sometimes they’re packed, sometimes empty. Annoying thing is getting the change right though, their money system is weird. Anyway, yeah, cheap buses.

Are credit cards widely used in Vietnam?

Plastic accepted. City folk, tourists, big shops. Cash is king. Street stalls, not so much. Progress, glacial. Habits die hard. My Hanoi landlord, cash only. 2023. Convenience, a luxury. Choice, an illusion.

• Credit card use rising: Still niche.
• Cash dominant: Vietnam’s reality.
• Urban areas: More card friendly.
• Rural areas: Cash preferred.
• Large businesses: Hotels, supermarkets, chains. Adapting.
• Small vendors, markets: Cash rules.
• Changing slowly: Like tectonic plates.
• Digital payments growing: Mobile money on the rise. Grab, MoMo, ZaloPay. Disruption.
• My motorbike repair guy: Cash or gold. His choice.
• Inflation: A constant. Affects everything.

Can foreigners get a credit card in Vietnam?

Foreign credit cards in Vietnam? Possible.

Passport, visa, income proof mandatory. Some banks are stricter. Expect hurdles. My friend, Mark, needed a guarantor. His experience. 2023.

• Specific bank policies dictate eligibility.
• Residency length matters. Some banks demand it.
• Contact banks directly. Avoid wasted effort. This is critical.
• Income verification crucial.

My brother had a nightmare. Took him months, endless paperwork. Vietcombank, if I recall.

Difficult. Prepare for frustration. Vietnam’s financial system isn’t designed for transients. Expect delays. This is my personal observation.