Contents
A/ Overview
B/ Map and main destinations
C/ Famous express bus operators:
1/ TheSinhTourist: popular with foreign tourists
Learn Vietnamese: Buying bus ticket and To depart / To arrive
2/ Phuong Trang: famous bus operator for locals
3/ Mai Linh: famous bus operator for locals
4/ Tam Hanh (Hanhcafe)
D/ Sai Gon biggest bus station: Mien Tay and Mien Dong
E/ Saigon airport bus
F/ Hanoi main bus stations
G/ Hanoi airport bus
H/ Others
Bus to Tra Vinh city, Mekong delta
Lost in transportation: A guide to catching buses in Vietnam
C/ Famous express bus operators:
1/ TheSinhTourist: popular with foreign tourists
Learn Vietnamese: Buying bus ticket and To depart / To arrive
2/ Phuong Trang: famous bus operator for locals
3/ Mai Linh: famous bus operator for locals
4/ Tam Hanh (Hanhcafe)
D/ Sai Gon biggest bus station: Mien Tay and Mien Dong
E/ Saigon airport bus
F/ Hanoi main bus stations
G/ Hanoi airport bus
H/ Others
Bus to Tra Vinh city, Mekong delta
Lost in transportation: A guide to catching buses in Vietnam
A/ Overview
Using express bus to travel along Vietnam is perhaps the most convenient, easiest and cheapest way.
National highway No.1 runs along the country, passes through all the main destinations. This present "old and poor" highway with 4 lines is always full of buses, trucks and other kinds of vehicles. This is the reason, on average, its just only 40 to 50km/hour on this highway.
Most express bus operators use Korean buses with air-conditioned and comfortable seats. What you need to bring is ear plugs as most buses are equipped with TVs and DVD player and local passengers enjoy watching movie, music during long journeys.
For short journey like Sai Gon - Mui Ne; Sai Gon - Da Lat, most express bus operators use seating bus and depart in morning at 7:30AM.
For long journey Sai Gon - Nha Trang; Nha Trang - Hoi An; Hue - Ha Noi, they use sleeper bus and depart in late afternoon (5:30PM) or in the evening (8:30PM) and arrive in following day's morning.
In Sai Gon there are two main goverment-runed bus stations that have daily buses leaving for cities in Mekong delta (Mien Tay bus station) and Da Lat, Vung Tau, Mui Ne, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Da Nang, Hue, Ha Noi (Mien Dong bus station) (See how to get to these bus stations by public bus from Ben Thanh market at below)
In Sai Gon there are two main goverment-runed bus stations that have daily buses leaving for cities in Mekong delta (Mien Tay bus station) and Da Lat, Vung Tau, Mui Ne, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Da Nang, Hue, Ha Noi (Mien Dong bus station) (See how to get to these bus stations by public bus from Ben Thanh market at below)
Here is the express bus information table: route, distance, fare, travel time, kind of bus. All, especially fare, is just for reference. Please check with the below famous express bus operator.
Note: The fares of route 1 listed below are of TheSinhTourist express bus operator on 12th March 2012. These fares are higher than other express bus operators like Phuong Trang, Mai Linh...
The fares of route 2 are of Phuong Trang (Almost the same with Mai Linh' fares)Route 1:Sai Gon - Da Lat - Mui Ne - Nha Trang - Hoi An - Hue - Ha Noi
| Route | Fare | Distance | Travel time | Kind of Bus |
| Sai Gon - Da Lat | 180,000 VND | 310 Km | 8 hours | Seating |
| Sai Gon - Mui Ne | 120,000 VND | 220 Km | 5 hours | Seating |
| Sai Gon - Nha Trang | 200,000 VND | 450 Km | 10 hours | Sleeper |
| Da Lat - Mui Ne | 120,000 VND | 112 Km | 4 hours | Seating |
| Da Lat - Nha Trang | 120,000 VND | 211 Km | 5 hours | Seating |
| Mui Ne - Nha Trang | 120,000 VND | 230 Km | 5 hours | Seating |
| Nha Trang - Hoi An | 300,000 VND | 484 Km | 11 hours | Sleeper |
| Hoi An - Da Nang | 80,000 VND | 30 Km | 1 hour | Seating |
| Hoi An - Hue | 90,000 VND | 135 Km | 4 hours | Sleeper |
| Hue - Ha Noi | 300,000 VND | 658 Km | 14 hours | Sleeper |
Route 2: Sai Gon - Mekong delta's cities/towns (Price of Phuong Trang on 04 April 2012)
| Route | Fare | Distance | Travel time | Kind of Bus |
| Sai Gon - Chau Doc | 130,000 VND | 260 Km | 6 hours | Seating |
| Sai Gon - Can Tho | 100,000 VND | 180 Km | 4 hours | Seating |
| Sai Gon - Vinh Long | 90,000 VND | 135 Km | 3 hours | Seating |
| Sai Gon - Rach Gia | 140,000 VND | 250 Km | 5 to 6 hours | Seating |
| Sai Gon - Cao Lanh | 90,000 VND | 157 Km | 4 hours | Seating |
| Sai Gon - Sa Dec | 85,000 VND | 3 to 4 hours | Seating | |
| Sai Gon - Ben Tre | 95 Km | 2 hours | Seating | |
| Sai Gon - Ca Mau | 185,000 VND | 350 Km | 7 to 8 hours | Sleeping |
| Sai Gon - Bac Lieu | 170, 000 VND | 280 Km | 6 to 7 hours | Sleeping |
| Sai Gon - Long Xuyen | 115,000 VND | 220 Km | 5 hours | Seating |
1 USD = 20,800 VND
B/ Map and main destinations: Sai Gon (Ho Chi Minh city) - Da Lat - Mui Ne - Nha Trang - Hoi An - Hue - Ha Noi
1/ TheSinhTourist (formerly well known as Sinhcafe. www.thesinhtourist.vn)
Overview
Has been in service since 1993. Very popular with packackers and overseas Vietnamese.
Destinations: Saigon – Da Lat – Mui Ne - Nha Trang – Hoi An – Hue – Ha Noi
Seating buses with 45 seats leave in daily morning (7:30AM - 8:00AM) and Sleeper bus with 39 beds depart every night (8:30PM)
Booking: 1 day in advance for Sai Gon to Da Lat/ Mui Ne/ Nha Trang (seating bus). Sleeper buses are needed to book 2 days in advnace as they are usually fully booked, especially on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Destinations: Saigon – Da Lat – Mui Ne - Nha Trang – Hoi An – Hue – Ha Noi
Seating buses with 45 seats leave in daily morning (7:30AM - 8:00AM) and Sleeper bus with 39 beds depart every night (8:30PM)
Booking: 1 day in advance for Sai Gon to Da Lat/ Mui Ne/ Nha Trang (seating bus). Sleeper buses are needed to book 2 days in advnace as they are usually fully booked, especially on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Coming to Vietnam traditional new year, its good to book bus ticket as soon as possible (for the way from Saigon to Nha Trang – Hoi An – Hue). Local passengers who are working in Saigon are leaving for their homes.
Note: During traditional new year and holidays, the service is maybe getting worse and price increases very much, sometimes doubles price in comparison with normal day.
Online
You can book online at www.thesinhtourist.vn Note: During traditional new year and holidays, the service is maybe getting worse and price increases very much, sometimes doubles price in comparison with normal day.
In comparison with main rivals: TheSinhTouist buses are older. Some buses are needed to replace. Price is much more higher than rivals. The strong points of this company are "environment" on bus and its convenient location. Its quiet on bus. No movie, no karaoke. And drivers are quite professional. Some drivers speak a little English.
Contact
Headquarters in Saigon and has representative offices at all main tourist destinations. All the offices are in backackper area of destinations. So it is just a little bit walk to have everything.
Address: 246 De Tham street, district 1, Ho Chi Minh city
Tel: +84.8.38389597Fax: +84.8.38369322
Email: info@thesinhtourist.vn
www.thesinhtourist.vn
Depart and arrive: at offices listed below (all offices at the destinations' backpacker area; in the center of cities/towns)
Saigon headquarters:
Office 1: booking ticket; get on bus for Da Lat, Mui Ne, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Hue, Ha Noi246 - 248 De Tham St., Dist. 1, Sai Gon
Tel: +84.8.38389597
Fax: +84.8.38369322
Email: info@thesinhtourist.vn
Office 2: just only for booking ticket
24 -26 Pho Ðuc Chinh St., Dist. 1, Sai Gon
Tel: +84.8.38222892
Fax: +84.8.38217416
Da Lat: for booking ticket; get on bus for Sai Gon, Mui Ne, Nha Trang
4 A Bui Thi Xuan St., Da Lat
Tel: +84.63.3822663
Fax: +84.63.3836701
Email: dalat@thesinhtourist.vn
Mui Ne: for booking ticket; get on bus for Sai Gon, Da Lat, Nha Trang
144 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St., Phan Thiet
Tel: +84.62.3847542
Fax: +84.62.3847656
Email: muine@thesinhtourist.vn
Nha Trang: for booking ticket; get on bus for Sai Gon, Mui Ne, Hoi An
90C Hung Vuong St., Nha Trang
Tel: +84.58.3522982/ 058 3521 981
Fax: +84.58.3523085
Email: nhatrang@thesinhtourist.vn
Hoi An: for booking ticket; get on bus for Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hue
587 Hai Ba Trung St., Hoi An Town
Tel: +84.510.3863948
Fax: +84.510.3916620
Email: hoian@thesinhtourist.vn
Da Nang: for booking ticket; get on bus for Hoi An, Hue
154 Bach Dang St., Da Nang
Tel: +84.511.3843259
Fax: +84.511.3843260
Email: danang@thesinhtourist.vn
Hue: for booking ticket; get on bus for Hoi An, Da Nang, Ha Noi
Office 1
12 Hung Vuong St., Hue
Tel: +84.54.3845022
Fax: +84.54.3826867
Email: hue@thesinhtourist.vn
Office 2
48 Nguyen Tri Phuong St., Hue
Tel: +84.54.3823309
Fax: +84.54.3826867
Ha Noi: for booking ticket; get on bus for Hue
Office 1
52 Luong Ngoc Quyen St., Hoan Kiem Dist., Ha Noi City
Tel: +84.4.39261568
Fax: +84.4.39261621
Email: hanoi@thesinhtourist.vn
Office 2
64 Tran Nhat Duat St., Ha Noi City
Tel: +84.4.39290394
Fax: +84.4.39290395
Photo
Saigon headquarters
Saigon office II (Pho Duc Chinh street)
Learn Vietnamese with me- Buying bus ticket and To depart / To arrive
More: http://vietnameseconversation.blogspot.com/
2/ Phuong Trang
Overview
This famous express bus operator has been in service since 2002, and is very popular with local passengers.
Destination
Covers most destinations in the South and Central of Vietnam with many daily buses departing almost every hour. Below is the list:
Sai Gon - Da Lat - Mui Ne - Nha Trang - Quang Ngai (beautiful and less touristy beach in central Vietnam) - Quy Nhon (quiet beach city in central Vietnam) - Da Nang (the largest city in central Vietnam)
Sai Gon - and many cities in Mekong delta (Vinh Long, Can Tho, Long Xuyen , Chau Doc, Rach Gia, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau...)
Characteristic: All buses with orange colours and are new as the company often buy new mordern buses thanks to fast development.
Booking: 1 day in advance for Sai Gon to Da Lat/ Mui Ne/ Nha Trang (seating bus). Sleeper buses are needed to book 2 days in advnace as they are usually fully booked, especially on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Coming to Vietnam traditional new year, its good to book bus ticket as soon as possible (for the way from Saigon to Nha Trang – Da Nang). Local passengers who are working in Saigon are leaving for their homes.
In comparison with other rivals: Good new buses, good local price. Possesses many own rest stops offering lunch and dinner with local price. The problem is somtimes it is quite noisy on the bus as local people love talking and enjoying movie.Staffs speak Vietnamese, some speak a little English.
Contact
Website: http://futatrans.com.vn - Email: lienhe@futa.vn
Booking at Sai Gon office: (08) 38 309 309
Depart and arrive Except Sai Gon with head office in backpacker area (near TheSinhTourist), you have to board the bus at goverment-owned bus stations. So its usually crowded as well as messy. As below:
Sai Gon headquarters
Office 1: For booking ticket; get on bus for Da Lat, Vung Tau, Phan Thiet (Mui Ne), Nha Trang
272 De Tham Street, district 1 (Backpacker area, next to TheSinhTourist bus operator).
272 De Tham Street, district 1 (Backpacker area, next to TheSinhTourist bus operator).
Tel: (08) 38 309 309 (open 24 hours)
Office 2: 231 Le Hong Phong street, district 5 (China town).
Office 3: For booking ticket; get on bus for Mekong delta ( Cao Lanh, Chau Doc, Can Tho, Ca Mau, Rach Gia)
328A Le Hong Phong, ward 1, district 10.
Tel: (08) 38. 309 309 - Fax: (08).38 333 467
Ticket booth number 31 at Mien Tay bus station: For booking ticket; get on bus for Mekong delta ( Cao Lanh, Chau Doc, Can Tho, Ca Mau, Rach Gia, Soc Trang...)
395 Kinh Dương Vương street, Binh Tan district.
Tel: 08 38 309 309
Ticket booth number 43 and 44 at Mien Dong bus station: For booking ticket; get on bus for Da Lat, Vung Tau, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Da Nang
292 Dinh Bo Linh street, ward 26, Binh Thanh district.
Tel: 08.38 309 309
Da Lat: Da Lat city bus station. Offer free transfer service from Da Lat bus station to city center (under 10 km)
01 To Hien Thanh street, ward 3, Da lat city
Tel: 0633 58 58 58
328A Le Hong Phong, ward 1, district 10.
Tel: (08) 38. 309 309 - Fax: (08).38 333 467
Ticket booth number 31 at Mien Tay bus station: For booking ticket; get on bus for Mekong delta ( Cao Lanh, Chau Doc, Can Tho, Ca Mau, Rach Gia, Soc Trang...)
395 Kinh Dương Vương street, Binh Tan district.
Tel: 08 38 309 309
Ticket booth number 43 and 44 at Mien Dong bus station: For booking ticket; get on bus for Da Lat, Vung Tau, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Da Nang
292 Dinh Bo Linh street, ward 26, Binh Thanh district.
Tel: 08.38 309 309
Da Lat: Da Lat city bus station. Offer free transfer service from Da Lat bus station to city center (under 10 km)
01 To Hien Thanh street, ward 3, Da lat city
Tel: 0633 58 58 58
Mui Ne: 20 Huynh Thuc Khang street, Ham Tien ward, Phan Thiet city
Tel: 0623.743113
Nha Trang: 7 Hoang Hoa Tham street, Nha Trang city
Tel: 0583.560179 - 0583.560.248
Quy Nhon: 71 Tay Son street, Quy Nhon city, Binh Dinh province
Tel: 0562.242424
Da Nang: 201 Ton Duc Thang street, Hoa Minh ward, Lien Chieu district, Da Nang city.
Tel: 05113.786 786
Can Tho (capital city of Mekong delta): 13 Hung Vuong street, Can Tho city
Chau Doc (Mekong delta): Chau Doc bus station (5-minute motorbike to center of Chau Doc town)
National highway 91, Chau Doc town
Tel: 0763.565888
Note: Free transfer to the center of the town
Ca Mau (Mekong delta): Ca Mau bus station
National highway 1A, Ly Thuong Kiet street, ward 6, Ca Mau city
Tel: 07803.651651 - Fax: 07803.3658888
Cao Lanh city, Dong Thap province (Mekong delta): Cao Lanh bus station
17-19 Vo Thi Sau street, wars2, Cao Lanh city
Tel: 0673.876850
Sa Dec town, Dong Thap province (Mekong delta): Sa Dec bus station
| 149/8 Khóm Hoa Khanh commune, wars 2, Sa Đec town | |||
Tel: 0673.774993
Note: Sa Dec is famous forbeautiful flower village and The LoverBus fare: 85,000VND Kind of bus: modern 33 seating bus Depart for Sai Gon: 2:30; 4:00; 7:30; 11:00; 12:30; 14:00; 15:30: 19:00 Sai Gon depart for Sa Dec: 7:00; 8:30; 10:00; 11:30; 16:30; 18:00;19:30
Rach Gia
260A Nguyen Binh Khiem street, Vinh Quang ward, Rạch Gia city, Kien Giang province
Tel: 0773.691691
Vinh Long: Vinh Long bus station
National highway 1A, Vinh Long city
Tel: 0703.879777
Vi Thanh city, Hau Giang province (Mekong delta) Vi Thanh bus station. Tel: 07113 583 583
Click to enlarge the image: http://www.futabuslines.com.vn/Router.aspx
Photo
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3/ Mai Linh
Overview
Has been in sevice since 1993 and is very popular with local passengers and overseas Vietnamese.
Characteristic: All green buses
Destination
Covers most of Vietnam destinations, from Sai Gon to Mekong delta and Ha Noi.
Below is the list:
Sai Gon - Da Lat - Buon Ma Thuot, Gia Lai, Kontum (Vietnam central highland) - Vung Tau - Phan Thiet - Nha Trang - Quang Ngai - Quy Nhon - Da Nang - Ninh Binh - Ha Noi - Hai Phong
Sai Gon - Mekong delta's cities (Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Can Tho, Chau Doc, Long Xuyen, Rach Gia, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau)
Booking: 1 day in advance for Sai Gon to Da Lat/ Mui Ne/ Nha Trang (seating bus). Sleeper buses are needed to book 2 days in advnace as they are usually fully booked, especially on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Coming to Vietnam traditional new year, its good to book bus ticket as soon as possible (for the way from Saigon to Nha Trang – Da Nang – Ha Noi). Local passengers who are working in Saigon are leaving for their homes.
In comparison with other rivals: Quite new buses, good local price. Possesses many own rest stops offering lunch and dinner with local price. The problem is somtimes it is quite noisy on the bus as local people love talking and enjoying movie.Staffs speak Vietnamese, some speak a little English.
Contact: 420 Le Hong Phong street, Ward 1, Dictrict 10, Ho Chi Minh city.
Tel: (08) 39 39 39 39 Fax: (08) 38 323 999
Website: http://www.mailinh.vn
Website: http://www.mailinh.vn
Depart and arrive: you have to board the bus at goverment-owned bus stations. So its usually crowded as well as messy. As below:
Sai Gon:1/ Mien Tay bus station (Depart for Mekong delta: Can Tho, Dong Thap)
Address: 395 Kinh Dương Vương street, Binh Tan district
Booking: (08) 39 29 29 29
2/ Mien Dong bus station (Depart for Da Lat, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Ha Noi)
Address: 292 Dinh Bo Linh street, ward 26, Binh Thanh district
Address: 292 Dinh Bo Linh street, ward 26, Binh Thanh district
Booking (08) 39 29 29 29
Can Tho: booking (0710) 37 39 333
Dong Thap (Cao lanh city):
Address: 15 Vo Thi Sau street, ward 2, Cao Lanh city.
Tel: (067) 3877 877.
Depart: every hour for Sai Gon from 3:00AM - 7:00PM with 80,000VND/ticket.
Dong Thap (Cao lanh city):
Address: 15 Vo Thi Sau street, ward 2, Cao Lanh city.
Tel: (067) 3877 877.
Depart: every hour for Sai Gon from 3:00AM - 7:00PM with 80,000VND/ticket.
Distance (Cao Lanh - Sai Gon): 162Km. 3.5-hour drive
Da Lat: booking (063) 3 521 111
Phan Thiet: booking (062) 3 823 222
Nha Trang: booking (058) 3 59 06 06
Da Nang: booking (0511) 2 246 246
Ha Noi: booking (04) 36 33 66 99
Photo
4/ Tam Hanh bus (Hanhcafe)
Sai Gon headquarters: For booking ticket; get on bus
199 Pham Ngu Lao street, district 1
Tel: 3920 5653
Mui Ne office:
356 Huynh Thuc Khang street
Tel: 062 384 8080 - 374 8338
Price and time: 110,000VND with A/C seating bus. Depart at 8:00AM; 8:30AM; 3:00PM; 8:00PM and 8:30PM
D/ Sai Gon biggest bus stations
There are two biggest bus stations in Sai Gon: Mien Tay bus station and Mien Dong station
1/ Mien Tay bus station
This bus station is for buying tickets and departing for all main cities and towns of Mekong delta, such as Can Tho city, Ben Tre city, Chau Doc town, Cao Lanh city, Sa Dec town, Vinh Long city, Ha Tien town, Rach Gia city, My Tho city...
This bus station is for buying tickets and departing for all main cities and towns of Mekong delta, such as Can Tho city, Ben Tre city, Chau Doc town, Cao Lanh city, Sa Dec town, Vinh Long city, Ha Tien town, Rach Gia city, My Tho city...
There
are many ticket booths belonging to many bus operators. Famous reliable
ones are: Phuong Trang and Mai Linh (See Famous express bus operators)
Address: 395 Kinh Dương Vương street, Binh Tan district.
How to get to Mien Tay bus station by public bus:
Good A/C public bus number 39, in front of Ben Thanh market, leaves for
Mien Tay busstation almost every 30 minutes from 6:00AM to 7:00PM. It
takes about 30 to 40 minutes to arrive
How to get to Mien Tay bus station by motorbike: from the center of Sai Gon, a motorbike taxi takes about 25 minutes to arrive in the bus station. Charges about 40,000 - 50,000VND
2/ Mien Dong bus station
The largest bus station where you can find buses to almost all destinations in the North of Saigon. As a traveller, you may look for buses to Central highland (Buon Ma Thuot, Kontum...), Phan Rang - Thap Cham city of Ninh Thuan province, Phu Yen province, Quy Nhon province, Quang Ngai province...
There are many ticket booths belonging to many bus operators. Famous ones are: Phuong Trang and Mai Linh, Chin Nghia, Thuan Thao
Address: 292 Dinh Bo Linh street, ward 26, Binh Thanh district. (about 30 - 40 minutes by motorbike from center of Saigon)
How to get to Mien Dong bus station by motorbike: from the center of Sai Gon, a motorbike taxi takes about 40 minutes. Charges about 50,000 -60,000VND
E/ Saigon airport bus
The Tan Son Nhat domestic airport is just beside Tan Son Nhat international airport. In front of this domestic terminal, there are public buses running to center of Saigon city. You can get off at Ben Thanh station (opposite Ben Thanh market) or De Tham station (on Tran Hung Dao street), the backpacker area of Saigon.
Bus number: 152
Bus capacity: 55 seats
Bus capacity: 55 seats
Time: 6:00AM – 6:00PM
Bus from Tan Son Nhat to De Tham station takes about 30 mintues if no traffic jam. (6:30AM – 7:30AM and 5:00PM – 6:30PM are rush hours in the city. You may spend 1 hour on bus from and to airport - De
Tham)
Price: 4,000VND (under 31km)
Air conditioner: Yes. But sometimes it is really weak.
Itinerary: Tan Son Nhat airport - Truong Son - Tran Quoc Hoan - Hoang Van Thu - Nguyen Van Troi - Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa - Nguyễn Đình Chiểu - Cách Mạng Tháng Tám - Phạm Hồng Thái - Lê Lai - Bến Thành station - Trần Hưng Đạo (De Tham station, backpacker area) - Nguyễn Văn Cừ - Dương Bá Trạc - đường 9A - Khu dân cư Trung Sơn
Owner: Saigon bus company (http://www.saigonbus.com.vn)
Pictures:
Pics: Vietnamguidebook
F/ Hanoi main bus stations
There are many bus stations in Hanoi. Among them, you should know the way to My Dinh, Giap Bat and Luong Yen bus stations...
My Dinh, Hanoi's biggest
bus station, has many daily buses to all main destinations of Northeast
and Northwest. There are some buses leaving fot Ninh Binh in the South
of Hanoi from here too.
Giap Bat bus stations has many daily buses to the South of Hanoi and some buses to Northwest provinces.
If you would like to take bus + express boat to Cat Ba island (Lan Ha bay), come to Luong Yen bus station.
Getting to My Dinh, Giap bat, Luong Yen bus stations by public bus
Get on bus: from Luong Ngoc Quyen street of Old Quarter walk straight to Chuong Duong bridge. Turn right is Tran Quang Khai street. There is one small bus station here leaving for My Dinh, Giap Bat, Luong Yen
Travel time: 50 - 60 minutes (to My Dinh)
35 - 45 minutes (to Giap Bat)
20 - 25 minutes (to Luong Yen)
Fare: 3,000VND/pax with air-conditioned
Bus number: 34 (to My Dinh), 03 (to Giap Bat), 202 + 203 + 204 + 205 (to Luong Yen)
Pics: vietnamguidebook
G/ Hanoi airport bus
Just outside of Hanoi's Noi Bai international airport, there are public buses running to the Old Quarter of Hanoi. It takes about 1hour and you can get off at Long Bien station (near Long Bien bridge). From this station, its just a some 7-minute walk to Luong Ngoc Quyen street of Old Quarter. From Old Quarter to Noi Bai airport, come to Long Bien bus station to get on the bus.
Bus number 17: Long Bien - Noi Bai airport
Travel time: over 1 hour
Ticket: 5,000VND with air-conditioned
Note: There are green electric cars running between Noi Bai airport and bus station of airport. Its just a 3-minute drive. Ticket: 5,000VND. Otherwise, you have to walk out of Noi Bai, cross the street to bus station of airport.
Long Bien bridge
Bus number 17: Long Bien - Noi Bai airport
H/ Others
Bus to Tra Vinh city, Mekong delta
Bus operator named Thanh Thủy
(Please note that I haven't used it service yet). Please share your comments
Travel time: about 4 - 5 hours
Departure time: 4:30AM till 10:00PM
Every hour has one bus
(Please note that if you take the bus at 9:00AM, the travel time is just about 4 hours. Because they will take the route Saigon - Ben Tre - Tra Vinh which is shorter than Saigon - Vinh Long - Tra Vinh)
Booking phone number: 074 3858 687 (Tra Vinh)
08 39 24 25 26 (Ho Chi Minh city)
08 39 24 25 26 (Ho Chi Minh city)
Saigon bus station address: 276 - 280 Trần Phú street, district 5
Just give them a call, and they will pick you up in district 1
Tra Vinh bus station: ward 8, Tra Vinh city
They also offer free transfer to hotels in Tra Vinh city
Bus fee: 130,000VND
45 seats with A/C (Often full with local people) or sleeper bus
Lost in transportation: A guide to catching buses in Vietnam
Lost in transportation: A guide to catching buses in Vietnam
VietNamNetBridge – The first time I rode a bus in Ha Noi was one afternoon in early March this year, two weeks after I arrived in the country.
Travel adventure: The bus map is not 100 per cent precise. It tells which streets the bus traverses, but not the exact stops, which leads to more adventures. Sometimes, new bus travellers may get free tour of Ha Noi.
At the end of my first HIWC book club meeting, I bravely asked the ladies, "Does anyone know how to ride the bus?" My husband and I recently moved into an apartment on Truc Bach Lake, somewhere in the
middle of Ha Noi. Until then, all my trips downtown were in the comfortable confines of a taxicab.
The buses cruising down Yen Phu intrigued me, and offered a possibly more efficient way of getting
around. How does one start on this bus network?
Or, practically speaking, where? A nice lady at the book club meeting named Janice led me to the terrace and pointed across the street. "Go to that bus stop over there, and take #23. That goes to your area."
Nervous and excited at the same time, I got on #23, having no idea where it was going. I kept asking the other passengers, all English language-challenged, "Truc Bach?" All of them were saying "50". Bus # 50. At Long Bien station, they told me to get off.
I got on the wrong Bus 50 (the one on its terminal stop) and was directed to the opposite platform. I got on, and finally the surroundings looked familiar. I got off at the top of Truc Bach Lake, and after a 10-minute
walk, I was home.
That first attempt egged me on to more bus adventures. Janice told me about the monthly bus pass, and I was on the lookout for a Ha Noi Bus office that sells them. These are located at the terminal stations, like Long Bien and Cau Giay.
At Long Bien, I went up to the counter and said "Monthly bus pass?" All I got was an empty look from the older lady at the counter. I turned around to the few people standing by, "Speak English?" A young man with a "Ha Noi Bus" label on his chest pocket came up to me. "Do you speak English?", I repeated. "No speak English. I speak Russian," he replied. Oh wow! Only in Viet Nam will you find bus company employees fluent in Russian.
Obtaining a bus pass was turning out to be a drama all its own. I tried once more, hoping we had an elementary language in common, "Speak French?" Again, a blank look.
Obtaining a bus pass was turning out to be a drama all its own. I tried once more, hoping we had an elementary language in common, "Speak French?" Again, a blank look.
Eventually, he understood what I wanted and explained it to the lady at the counter. She then proceeded
to hand me a form to fill out. It did not contain a word of English. I looked up to the heavens for help. I made the best attempt at guessing: name, address, birth date. I left the rest of the form blank.
Miraculously, she took it, and gave me the price – VND140,000, plus another 100,000 for the permanent ID card. She wrote the pick up date onthe form.
Miraculously, she took it, and gave me the price – VND140,000, plus another 100,000 for the permanent ID card. She wrote the pick up date onthe form.
Three days later, I proudly waved my new bus pass at my housekeeper, who was not all that amused. "Only students and old people ride the bus," she told me. Everyone else had a motorbike. She was smiling, but puzzled as to why the person she called "madam" would travel "beneath her", so to speak. All this just adds value to the experience, I think.
Now it is all very easy. From my new abode in Tay Ho, I take bus #31 to my different destinations, including Vincom Towers all the way in lower Hai Ba Trung. At the stop in front of 33 Au Co, the buses arrive 15-20 minutes apart. The wait is never lonely, as I am always accompanied by a cackle of turkeys, certainly another "Only in Viet Nam" experience.
The culture is also made manifest here, in the way young people automatically stand up and give up their seats when an elderly person comes on board. That sort of courtesy is something we can all re-learn.
The bus map is not 100 per cent precise. It tells which streets the bus traverses, but not the exact
stops, which leads to more adventures. At the very least, I get a free tour of Ha Noi.
Going to the monthly coffee mornings at the different hotels downtown, I resist the urge to take the easy route and just hand the address to the cabbie. Taking a bus to Long Bien station, I transferred to #1, which brought me just 20m from Hotel Nikko. On another occasion, it stopped right in front of Hotel Mercure. And always just in time.
One recent English Conversation class was held at Cuc Gallery in Keangnam. They warned us it was far and to share a taxi, if possible. But all it took was one bus ride, on #33 and, from the same "turkey" station I always go to. I was expecting a long walk or a cab ride at the end, but it stopped right in front of Landmark 72.
It's not always easy, especially when the bus is packed and I have to stand while the bus sways this way and that. But it is always more interesting than a point-to-point cab ride. You must pay attention, or you might
miss your stop! My favorite bus has become the 31, by virtue of frequency. Janice swears by the 23. What's your number?
Victoria Fritz
(Source:
VNS
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/your-vietnam/91426/lost-in-transportation--a-guide-to-catching-buses-in-vietnam.html)
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