Skip to content Pick by distance
Vietnam stretches about 1,650 km from north to south, and most of the country is a ribbon along the coast. The simplest rule is to match the mode to the distance.
| Distance | Usually best | Why |
|---|---|---|
| North to centre to south (Hanoi, Da Nang, Saigon) | Fly | 1 to 2 hours in the air against a day or more by land |
| Coast legs, such as Hue to Da Nang or Saigon to Nha Trang | Train, or fly | Scenic and relaxed; the train is slower than flying |
| Overnight on a tight budget | Sleeper bus or train | Saves a night’s hotel |
| Two to five hours from Saigon | Private car, bus or train | Door to door against the lowest fare |
| Islands (Phu Quoc, Con Dao) | Fly, or ferry | Few other options |
Flights
Flying is the fastest way to cover Vietnam’s length, and domestic flights run frequently between the big cities and tourist airports. The domestic flights guide covers the airlines (Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet and a changed field of smaller carriers), flight times, the new terminals at Saigon and what the 2026 fuel shortage did to schedules. For flights beyond Vietnam to its neighbours, see budget airlines in Southeast Asia.
Trains
The Reunification Express runs the whole length of the country between Hanoi and Saigon on a single track along the coast. The full run takes roughly 30 to 38 hours depending on the service, so most visitors ride sections. Saigon to Nha Trang takes about 7 to 8½ hours. The train suits anyone who wants to watch the country pass and doesn’t mind a slower pace: sleeper berths on the overnight services save a night in a hotel, and the coast between Hue and Da Nang is one of the best stretches.
The catch is speed and flexibility. Trains leave at fixed times and from stations that aren’t always central. Book seats and sleepers ahead for holidays. There is no regular intercity train to Da Lat or the Central Highlands. Our guide to trains in Vietnam has the timetables and booking.
Buses and open tours
Sleeper buses and limousine vans link most towns and are the cheapest way to cover the shorter distances. Saigon to Da Lat takes about 6½ to 8 hours by bus, and Saigon to Mui Ne roughly 4½ to 6 hours door to door. Sinh Tourist and other open-tour tickets let you hop between cities on a fixed route. Buses are cheap, but pick-up and drop-off points are often away from your hotel, so allow for a taxi at each end. Our guide to buses and open tours has the detail.
Private car with a driver
A private car is the right choice for the legs where public transport has the most friction: from Saigon to Vung Tau, Mui Ne, Ho Tram, Can Tho or the Mekong Delta, for families with luggage, and for groups. It leaves from your door, stops where you ask (a lighthouse, a tea farm, the dunes), and the price is agreed before you go.
It costs more than a bus seat, and for a solo traveller with a backpack on a tight budget the bus is the sensible choice. For two or more people, or with children or large bags, a car’s door-to-door convenience can close much of the gap.
Cars vary widely in Vietnam, and so does the driving. The standard we hold our drivers to is calm driving with little horn, no cigarette smoke or heavy air freshener, a cabin filter that is actually changed, newer cars with good suspension, working seatbelts and child seats on request. Our Saigon airport transfers show how a pickup and a fixed price work, and the pages for Vung Tau, Mui Ne and Phan Thiet and Can Tho cover the most common routes.
Practical notes
- Distances look short on a map and aren’t: roads are slower than in Europe or the US, and a 150 km journey often takes three to four hours.
- Traffic around Saigon and Hanoi is heavy from about 4 to 7 pm and on the eve of public holidays.
- Tết (Vietnamese new year) closes businesses and fills every flight, train and bus for a week or more. Book months ahead if you’re travelling then.
- Carry your passport for flights and some train tickets, and keep dong for cash fares. The money guide covers notes and ATMs.