Vietnam transport guide

Public transport

Ho Chi Minh City

Bus network: extensive but slow due to traffic. Fares 5,000-7,000 VND (0.20-0.30 EUR). Not recommended for daily commuting.
Saigon Waterbus: limited route on the Saigon River, more sightseeing than practical transport.
Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien): began operations in December 2024. Single line, 11 stations. Fares around 7,000-20,000 VND.
Motorbike is the dominant mode of transport.

Hanoi

Bus network: better organised than HCMC. Fares 7,000 VND.
Cat Linh-Ha Dong elevated metro line: operational since 2021 (single line, 12 stations). Fares 8,000-15,000 VND.
Second metro line (Nhon-Hanoi Station) opened sections in 2024-2025.
Motorbike dominates.

Da Nang

Limited public bus network. Motorbike or taxi is the standard.
Da Nang is more bicycle-friendly than HCMC or Hanoi, with dedicated lanes on beach road.

Grab: dominant nationwide for car and motorbike ^[1].
Be: Vietnamese competitor (VinGroup-backed), often slightly cheaper than Grab ^[2].
Xanh SM: electric taxi service from VinFast (green cars). Growing presence in Hanoi and HCMC.
Traditional taxis: Vinasun and Mai Linh are the two reliable metered companies. Avoid airport touts.
Motorbike taxis (xe om): abundant. Negotiate the price before departure (20,000-50,000 VND for short trips). GrabBike is the safer alternative.
Car rental with driver: common for day trips. 800,000-1,500,000 VND/8 hours.

Vietnam does not recognise most foreign driving licences. An International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention is valid. The 1949 Geneva IDP is not valid in Vietnam.
You need a Vietnamese driving licence after 3 months of residence.
Conversion: foreigners with a valid licence from their home country may convert it to a Vietnamese licence (Giay phep lai xe quoc te) at the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam without taking a driving test.
Requirements: original licence, certified translation, passport with valid visa, residence certificate, health check.
Motorcycle licence: a separate category. The 1968 IDP covering motorcycle (A category) is recognised. Locally, you need a Vietnamese A1 licence for bikes under 175cc; A2 for larger.

Buying a motorbike: the standard transport for most expats. A new Honda Airblade or Yamaha Grande (125cc) costs 30-50 million VND (1,150-1,900 EUR). Second-hand: 10-30 million VND.
Buying a car: subject to high registration fees (10-12% of the car's value) plus VAT (10%) and special consumption tax (15-60% depending on engine size). A new Vios or Accent costs around 600-700 million VND (23,000-27,000 EUR), roughly double the price in Europe.
Importing a car: prohibitive: duties of 70-100% + VAT + luxury tax. Do not import.
Registration: motorbike registration (cavet / certificate of registration) is the owner document. The plate is attached to the vehicle. Always verify the cavet before buying second-hand.
Insurance: compulsory third-party insurance is mandatory (roughly 500,000 VND/year for a motorbike, 1-2 million VND for a car).

Road traffic is chaotic by Western standards. Traffic flows based on negotiation, not strict lane discipline.
Motorbikes weave through junctions and traffic. The golden rule is: \"maintain constant speed and predictable direction\". Do not stop abruptly.
Driving on the right.
Vietnam has about 55 traffic-related deaths per day. Motorbike riders and passengers must wear helmets.
Major cities have growing traffic congestion, particularly in peak hours (07:00-08:30, 16:30-18:30).
Emergency: 115 (ambulance), 113 (police), 114 (fire).

Da Nang and Hoi An are good for cycling, with relatively flat terrain and less aggressive traffic.
Hanoi has some cycling in the Old Quarter pedestrian streets (weekends).
HCMC is not bicycle-friendly due to high traffic density.
Electric bikes (xe dap dien) are popular and do not require a licence for models under 250W with speed limited to 25 km/h.

Trains: Reunification Express connects Hanoi-Da Nang-HCMC over 30+ hours. Soft sleeper is the recommended class. Book at dsvn.vn. Punctuality is reasonable. The route through Hai Van Pass near Da Nang is scenic.
Buses: sleeper buses are a Vietnamese institution for overnight routes (HCMC-Da Lat, HCMC-Nha Trang, Hanoi-Sapa). Fares 150,000-500,000 VND.
Domestic flights: VietJet, Bamboo Airways, Vietnam Airlines. Very affordable. HCMC-Hanoi ~2 hours, 500,000-1,500,000 VND one way.

This page is not legal advice. Verify current requirements with the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam.