The best way to get around Vietnam depends on the leg: fly the long north-south hops, take a sleeper train or sleeper bus for the scenic medium legs, and use Grab for getting around within cities. Vietnam is long and narrow, so most trips mix two or three modes. This guide compares every option for getting around Vietnam, with dated costs and how to book each, and it states plainly the one thing backpacker guides skip: what renting a scooter means for your travel insurance. It covers Vietnam domestic flights, Vietnam train travel on the Reunification Express, sleeper and limousine buses, Grab in Vietnam, metered taxis, and scooter rental in Vietnam.
The quick picture: which mode for which leg
As a rule, fly if the leg is over about 600 km or you are short on time, take the train or a sleeper bus for overnight legs where the journey is part of the trip, and use Grab inside cities. The table below compares the main ways to travel within Vietnam, with indicative 2026 costs (last reviewed 2026-07-09; fares move seasonally, so treat them as ranges).
Mode | Best for | Indicative cost | How to book |
Domestic flight | Long north-south hops (Hanoi to Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City) | USD 25-60 booked 2-3 weeks ahead | Airline sites, aggregators |
Reunification Express train | Scenic overnight legs, comfort | Soft sleeper USD 45-75 (Hanoi-Da Nang); USD 65-85 full length | Vietnam Railways, Baolau, Vexere |
Sleeper / limousine bus | Budget medium legs, overnight saving on a room | USD 8-18 typical; USD 20-35 long hauls | Baolau, Vexere, operator desks |
Grab (car and bike) | Getting around within cities, airport transfers | 30,000-70,000 VND in-city (about ₹110-255) | Grab app |
Metered taxi (Mai Linh, Vinasun) | When Grab is unavailable | Metered; verify the brand | Street ranks, hotel desks |
Scooter rental | Short local hops (licence and cover conditions apply) | 80,000-250,000 VND/day (about ₹290-900) | Rental shops, guesthouses |
At the July 2026 mid-market rate, ₹1 bought about 275 to 278 Vietnamese dong (Xe), which is the conversion behind the rupee figures above.
Vietnam domestic flights
Domestic flights are the fastest way to cover Vietnam’s long north-south distances, and they are cheap if booked ahead. Three carriers fly the network: Vietnam Airlines (full service), VietJet Air (budget, the widest network) and Bamboo Airways (mid-range). A short sector like Hanoi to Da Nang takes about 80 minutes and costs roughly USD 25 to 60 when booked 2 to 3 weeks ahead (Day Trips Vietnam; Viet Long Travel). Flying the one long jump on a week-long trip usually buys you a whole extra day on the ground, which is why our Vietnam itinerary guide recommends it for the Hanoi to Da Nang leg.
Vietnam train travel: the Reunification Express
Vietnam has one main railway, the Reunification Express, running the length of the country between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and its overnight sleeper legs are the most comfortable way to travel while you sleep. The full 1,726 km takes 32 to 37 hours, so few tourists ride it end to end; the popular section is Hanoi to Da Nang, about 16 hours overnight, with a soft-sleeper fare of roughly USD 45 to 75 (Vietnamese Train). Full length, a soft sleeper (a 4-berth cabin with bedding) runs about USD 65 to 85, and the older hard sleeper (6 narrower berths) is cheaper (Vietnamese Train). Trains SE3 and SE4 use the newest carriages and cross the Hai Van Pass in daylight. Book on Vietnam Railways or a reseller such as Baolau or Vexere; sleeper berths sell out, so reserve at least a couple of weeks ahead.
Sleeper buses and limousine vans
Sleeper buses are the budget workhorse of Vietnamese travel, with flat reclining pods, blankets and air-conditioning, and an overnight leg saves you a night’s accommodation. Typical routes cost USD 8 to 18, and long hauls like Hanoi to Da Nang run USD 20 to 35 (Day Trips Vietnam). “Limousine” vans are a smarter, pricier variant: 9 to 11 seats, hotel pickup, better for shorter legs like Hanoi to Ninh Binh or Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong. Book through Baolau, Vexere or your guesthouse. Buses are the biggest single transport saving on a trip, which is why our guide on how to plan a Vietnam trip on a budget treats them as a core cost lever.
Grab, taxis and getting around within cities
Grab is the default for getting around within Vietnamese cities: the app shows the fare before you confirm, so there is no meter to argue over and no negotiation. GrabCar gives you an air-conditioned car and GrabBike a motorbike taxi, both cheaper than a metered cab and both scam-proof because the price is fixed upfront. In-city rides typically cost 30,000 to 70,000 VND (about ₹110 to 255), and airport transfers run about USD 10 to 15 to Hanoi’s Old Quarter, USD 4 to 8 to central Ho Chi Minh City and USD 2 to 4 in Da Nang (Day Trips Vietnam).
If you do take a metered taxi, use one of the two reputable brands, Mai Linh (green cars) or Vinasun (white cars), and watch for copycats. Common scams are lookalike liveries (“Mai Lin” or “Mei Linh”), meters rigged to run 3 to 5 times fast, and the missing-zeros trick where a meter reading “64.0” (meaning 64,000 VND) is verbally read to you as 640,000 VND (Vietnam Online; Mastyatri). Insist on the meter, photograph the number plate, and when in doubt, just open Grab.
Renting a scooter in Vietnam: read this before you ride
A scooter is the cheapest and most flexible way around a single town, at 80,000 to 250,000 VND a day (about ₹290 to 900), but for Indian travellers it carries a licence and insurance catch that decides whether you are protected in a crash. Rentals are easy to arrange at shops and guesthouses (Ahoy Vietnam), which is exactly why the risk is worth stating plainly rather than glossing over.
The licence reality
An International Driving Permit issued in India is granted under the 1949 Geneva Convention, while Vietnam recognises only IDPs issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention, which India has not signed (ETHOS). In practice that means an Indian IDP is not, strictly, valid to ride a motorbike in Vietnam. Helmets are separately compulsory for rider and passenger on all roads, with on-the-spot fines of 400,000 to 600,000 VND per person (AIP Foundation). Riding without a recognised licence can leave you both fined and personally liable.
What your travel insurance actually requires
This is where the licence point stops being academic. On Zurich Kotak General Insurance, an IRDAI-registered Indian general insurer, a two-wheeler accident claim requires a valid international driving licence and, where mandated, a helmet, and the rental-excess benefit does not extend to motorbikes, mopeds or scooters at all. Read plainly: if you ride on a licence Vietnam does not recognise, or without a helmet, a motorbike accident claim can be declined, and damage to the rented bike itself is the renter’s own risk because rental-excess cover excludes two-wheelers. We are not telling you that you are covered if you ride; we are telling you the conditions honestly so you can decide. See what a Vietnam policy covers under travel insurance for Vietnam .
If you still choose to ride
If you rent anyway, wear a proper helmet every time, photograph the bike for existing damage before you leave the shop, stay off highways and expressways, and never surrender your passport as a deposit (leave a cash deposit or a photocopy instead). The safer alternative that keeps you inside your cover is simple: take Grab, hire a car with a driver, or book a guided pillion tour where a licensed local rider drives and you ride behind. You still get the mountain-pass experience, without the licence and cover problem.
Booking apps and passes worth knowing
Two apps cover almost all of it: Grab for city rides and short transfers, and a booking aggregator such as Baolau or Vexere for trains, buses and ferries in one place. Install Grab before you land and add a card, keep a little cash for markets and small vendors, and book sleeper trains and long-distance buses a couple of weeks ahead in peak season. For the experiences these routes connect, see our guide to things to do in Vietnam ; for the wider trip, the Vietnam travel guide ties the logistics together.
Travelling to Vietnam? Get covered before you fly. Get a travel insurance for Vietnam quote in minutes: enter your trip dates and travellers, pick a plan, and download your policy instantly.
FAQ
Q: What is the best way to travel around Vietnam?
A: It depends on the leg. Fly the long north-south hops (Hanoi to Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City) for about USD 25 to 60 booked ahead, take a sleeper train or sleeper bus for scenic overnight legs, and use Grab inside cities. Most Vietnam trips mix two or three of these; the comparison table above pairs each mode with the leg it suits.
Q: Can I rent a scooter in Vietnam with an Indian licence?
A: Not straightforwardly. An International Driving Permit issued in India comes under the 1949 Geneva Convention, but Vietnam recognises 1968 Vienna Convention permits only, and India has not signed that convention, so an Indian IDP is not strictly valid to ride there (ETHOS). Helmets are also compulsory, with fines of 400,000 to 600,000 VND. The safe option is Grab, a car with driver, or a guided tour where a licensed local rides.
Q: Does travel insurance cover scooter accidents in Vietnam?
A: Only under conditions. A two-wheeler accident claim requires a valid international driving licence and, where mandated, a helmet, and damage to the rented bike itself is not covered under rental-excess benefits, which exclude motorcycles and mopeds. Riding without a recognised licence can void the claim; confirm your cover before you rent and see travel insurance for Vietnam .
Q: Is the train or the bus better in Vietnam?
A: Trains for comfort and scenery, buses for cost and frequency. A soft-sleeper berth on the Reunification Express (about USD 45 to 75 for the overnight Hanoi to Da Nang leg) is roomier and steadier than a sleeper bus (USD 8 to 35), while buses are cheaper and run more often. Choose the train if the journey is part of the trip.
Q: Is Grab available in Vietnam?
A: Yes, in all major cities, for both cars (GrabCar) and motorbike taxis (GrabBike). The fare is shown before you confirm, so there is no meter dispute and no haggling; it is the simplest way to avoid taxi scams. On a GrabBike, insist on the helmet the driver is required to provide.
