Vietnam (VN)
Vietnam is a dynamic, rapidly developing Socialist Republic stretching 1,650km down the eastern coast of the Indochinese Peninsula — a country of extraordinary geographical diversity, from the karst mountains of the north and the Red River Delta, through the stunning coastline of the Central region, to the vast Mekong Delta in the south.
Getting Around
Transport options for living in Vietnam.
Public Transport Overview
Vietnam's public transport infrastructure varies dramatically between cities. Hanoi has a metro system (Cát Linh–Hà Đông Line 2A operational since 2021; Nhổn–Ga Hà Nội Line 3 partially open 2024), an extensive bus network, and city bikes (Hà Nội Bike Share). Ho Chi Minh City's Metro Line 1 (Bến Thành to Suối Tiên, 19.7km) opened in December 2024 — a transformative infrastructure milestone. HCMC also has a dense bus network covering most districts. Da Nang has a bus network but no metro. Public buses cost ₫5,000–₫15,000 per journey. The metro (both cities) charges ₫6,000–₫26,000 depending on distance. Day passes and monthly passes available. Bus networks are functional but crowded, infrequent on evenings and weekends, and signage is primarily in Vietnamese. Grab remains the dominant daily transport mode for most expats.
🎫 Transit Passes
Unlimited rides on Lines 2A and 3 metro
All city bus routes within Hanoi
Unlimited rides on Metro Line 1
All HCMC bus routes
Taxi & Rideshare
Metered taxis from reputable companies are safe and reliable. Vinasun (green, HCMC) and Mai Linh (green/white, nationwide) are the gold standard for meter taxis. Always use the meter — agree if there's any doubt. Fake taxis (lookalike branding) are common in tourist areas: use Grab for price certainty. Typical airport fares: Hanoi Nội Bài to Old Quarter: ₫250,000–₫350,000. HCMC Tân Sơn Nhất to District 1: ₫120,000–₫180,000. Xanh SM electric taxis (Vingroup) are clean and well-rated in both cities.
Rideshare (Long-distance)
Grab dominates Vietnam's ride-hailing market with GrabCar (car), GrabBike (motorbike taxi), GrabFood and GrabExpress. Prices are fixed upfront. GrabBike is the fastest and cheapest way to navigate HCMC and Hanoi traffic — expect ₫15,000–₫50,000 for city trips. Be (Beeline) is a Vietnamese alternative with competitive pricing. Xanh SM (electric vehicles) gaining market share in 2024–2025. Always verify driver name, photo and plate before boarding.
Cycling
Cycling is practical in Da Lat, Hoi An, and rural areas but challenging in HCMC and Hanoi due to traffic density. Hoi An is the most bike-friendly city in Vietnam — flat roads, bike lanes on some streets, rentals ₫30,000–₫80,000/day. Hanoi has a city bike share scheme (Hà Nội Bike Share) with docking stations. HCMC cycling on major roads requires caution — traffic is intense. A helmet is legally required and strongly recommended for motorbikes; advisable for bicycles.
Intercity Trains
Vietnam's Reunification Express (Thống Nhất) runs the legendary 1,726km Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City route in approximately 30–35 hours (SE/TN trains). The train is a comfortable and scenic way to experience the country. Key stops: Hanoi, Vinh, Huế, Đà Nẵng, Quy Nhơn, Nha Trang, HCMC. Book via dsvn.vn (Vietnam Railways website) or 12go.asia — soft sleeper (nằm điều hòa) 4-berth cabins are recommended (₫500,000–₫1,200,000 Hanoi–HCMC). The Hanoi–Da Nang overnight sleeper is extremely popular. The planned North–South High Speed Rail (350km/h) was approved in 2024 and will eventually reduce the journey to under 5 hours, with construction beginning in the late 2020s.
Driving
Foreigners staying more than 3 months who drive regularly should obtain a Vietnamese driving licence. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is valid for visitors. Motorbikes require a Class A1 (≤50cc) or Class A2 (>50cc) Vietnamese licence — a standard car licence does NOT cover motorbikes. Vietnam drives on the RIGHT. Traffic in HCMC and Hanoi is intense — density of motorbikes creates a flowing, seemingly chaotic pattern that follows its own logic. Major roads have traffic lights; smaller streets are navigate-by-priority. Speed limits: 60km/h in urban areas, 80km/h on highways, 100–120km/h on expressways. Blood alcohol limit: 0% (no alcohol permitted while driving since 2020). Mandatory equipment: helmet meeting QCVN 2:2008, lights front and rear. Toll roads (expressways) are expanding rapidly — HCMC–Long Thành, Hà Nội–Hải Phòng expressways are well-maintained and significantly faster than national highways.
Airports
HANOI: Nội Bài International Airport (HAN) — 45km from Hanoi Old Quarter. Airport Express Bus 86 (₫45,000, 60–90 min) runs to city centre. Metered taxi: ₫250,000–₫350,000 (45–75 min depending on traffic). Grab available from designated pickup zones. Terminal 1 (domestic) and Terminal 2 (international, opened 2015). HO CHI MINH CITY: Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport (SGN) — 8km from District 1. City bus 109 (₫20,000, 30–60 min). Metered taxi: ₫120,000–₫180,000 (20–45 min). Grab from pickup zones in Domestic terminal. International Terminal T3 (new, 2024) dramatically improved capacity. Long Thành International Airport (40km from HCMC) opened for commercial operations June 2026 (Phase 1 capacity: 25M passengers/year; inaugurated December 19, 2025 technically). DA NANG: Đà Nẵng International Airport (DAD) — right in the city (3km from centre). Taxi: ₫80,000–₫120,000.