Transport
Renting a bike from 150K ₫/day, Grab, intercity sleeper buses, trains and domestic flights from $25. Traffic rules, fines and the IDP. Updated 2026.
Updated: April 2026
Key numbers
What it costs to get around Vietnam, how far things are, and your options for each leg.
100–250K ₫Bike rental per day (automatic scooter)
from 15K ₫GrabBike ride, 3–5 km
200–350K ₫Sleeper bus HCMC → Nha Trang
from $25Domestic flight (low-cost)
Renting a motorbike
70 million motorbikes for 100 million people, so the bike is how most people get around here. Rentals start at 100,000 ₫/day.
| Type | Models | Engine | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic scooter | Honda Vision, Lead, Yamaha Janus | 110–125 cc | 150,000–250,000 ₫ | 2,000,000–2,500,000 ₫ |
| Sport automatic | Honda Airblade, Yamaha NVX | 125–155 cc | 200,000–300,000 ₫ | 2,500,000–3,500,000 ₫ |
| Semi-automatic | Honda Wave, Future | 110–125 cc | 100,000–180,000 ₫ | 1,500,000–2,000,000 ₫ |
| Motorcycle | Honda Winner, XR150 | 150–400 cc | 250,000–800,000 ₫ | from 3,500,000 ₫ |
Deposit
Cash deposit: 1–3M VND for a scooter, 5–10M for a motorcycle. Never leave your original passport; a photocopy or cash is enough.Checklist when you collect the bike
- Inspect for scratches, dents, and cracked plastic
- Photograph and video it from every angle
- Test the brakes (front and rear)
- Check the lights: headlight, indicators, brake light
- Check the mirrors and tyres (tread, cuts)
- Ask for two keys and two helmets
- Save the rental shop’s phone number
- Confirm the return terms and the fuel level
Fuel
- RON 95 at petrol stations: 17,500–22,000 VND/L (~$0.70–0.90). Petrolimex is the largest chain.
- Consumption: 2–2.5 L/100 km. A full scooter tank (4–5 L) gives a range of 150–200 km.
Grab & taxis
Grab is the main taxi app. Alternatives include Be, Xanh SM, Maxim and inDrive.
| Service | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| GrabBike | Motorbike taxi, 1 passenger | from 12,000 ₫ (~$0.50) |
| GrabCar Economy | Economy car (Vios, i10) | from 30,000 ₫ (~$1.20) |
| GrabCar Plus | Comfort car | 20–30% more than Economy |
| GrabCar 7-seater | Minivan, 7 seats | from 50,000 ₫ |
| GrabRent | Car with driver by the hour | from 160,000 ₫/h (~$6.50) |
Rough fares by distance
| Distance | GrabBike | GrabCar |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 km | 15,000–25,000 ₫ ($0.60–1) | 50,000–70,000 ₫ ($2–3) |
| 5–7 km | 25,000–35,000 ₫ ($1–1.40) | 70,000–90,000 ₫ ($3–3.60) |
| 10 km | 30,000–45,000 ₫ ($1.20–1.80) | 80,000–120,000 ₫ ($3.20–4.80) |
Paying for rides
Western Visa and Mastercard work fine in Grab — just add a card in the app. Cash in Vietnamese dong (VND) is also accepted everywhere. Watch for dynamic pricing: rush hour +20–50%, rain +30–80%, late night +10–20%.Other apps
1
BeVietnamese rival to Grab, plus BeFood
mid-range2
Xanh SMVinFast electric cars, fast-growing service
mid-range3
MaximBudget alternative, wide bike coverage
20–40% cheaper than Grab4
inDriveYou name your own price
negotiableBuses
Sleeper buses are the main budget way to travel between cities. Operators: Futa Bus, TheSinh Tourist, Hanh Cafe, Hoang Long.
| Route | Time | Price | Operators |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCMC → Nha Trang | 8–10 h | 200,000–350,000 ₫ ($8–14) | Futa, TheSinh |
| Nha Trang → Da Lat | 3–4 h | 120,000–180,000 ₫ ($5–7) | Futa, Hanh Cafe |
| HCMC → Da Lat | 6–7 h | from 180,000 ₫ ($7) | Futa, TheSinh |
| Hanoi → Sapa | 5–6 h | 200,000–350,000 ₫ ($8–14) | Futa, Hoang Long |
| Hanoi → HCMC | ~30 h | 450,000–800,000 ₫ ($18–32) | Hoang Long, TheSinh |
Where to buy tickets
12go.asia (~10% markup, easy English booking), baolau.com, vexere.com (the biggest selection, lower prices). City buses: from 5,000 ₫ (~$0.20), navigate with the BusMap app.Trains
The Reunification Express is the main Hanoi ↔ HCMC line: 1,729 km, 30–34 hours. The Da Nang → Hue stretch over the Hai Van Pass is one of the best-looking train rides anywhere.
| Class | Description | Price (Hanoi → HCMC) |
|---|---|---|
| Hard seat | Hard seat | ~600,000 ₫ (~$24) |
| Soft seat (A/C) | Soft seat, air-conditioned | ~850,000 ₫ (~$34) |
| Hard berth (A/C) | 6-berth compartment, firm bunks | ~1,100,000 ₫ (~$44) |
| Soft berth (A/C) | 4-berth compartment, soft bunks | 1,500,000–2,000,000 ₫ ($60–80) |
Top routes
Da Nang → Hue: 2.5–3 h, from 100,000 ₫ (~$4). Hanoi → Lao Cai (Sapa): 8 h, overnight, from 500,000 ₫ (~$20). Luxury carriages: Violette Express, Sapaly — from $40–70. Book a Soft berth 5–7 days ahead — they sell out fast.Domestic flights
22 airports across the country. Rule of thumb: under 300 km, take the bus; 300–800 km, train or overnight bus; over 800 km, fly.
| Airline | Type | Baggage | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam Airlines | Full-service | 23 kg included | from $35 |
| VietJet Air | Low-cost | Paid, from $5 | from $25 |
| Bamboo Airways | Struggling, few flights | Included | from $30 |
Traffic rules & fines
Since 1 January 2025, Decree 168/2024/NĐ-CP has been in force and fines have jumped sharply. An IDP is required for bikes 50 cc and up.
| Violation | Fine |
|---|---|
| No licence (up to 125 cc) | 2–4M ₫ ($80–160) |
| No licence (over 125 cc) | 6–8M ₫ ($240–320) |
| No helmet | 400–600K ₫ ($16–24) |
| Drink driving | 6–8M ₫ + 7-day impound |
| Running a red light | 800K–1M ₫ ($32–40) |
Insurance after an accident
Rental-shop insurance doesn’t work for foreigners in 95% of cases. Your real protection is a personal travel-medical policy with a “motorbike riding” add-on (SafetyWing, Genki, World Nomads, from ~$40 a month). Without a valid IDP your insurer can refuse to pay out.Mistakes
Five common mistakes that leave travellers overpaying or in trouble.
Riding without an International Driving Permit (IDP)
- 1Fine up to 8M ₫ ($320) plus a 7-day impound of your bike.
- 2Your insurer can refuse to pay out after an accident if you had no IDP.
- 3Vietnam recognizes the 1968 Vienna Convention IDP — get it in your home country before you fly (AAA in the US, the Post Office/AA in the UK, and similar bodies elsewhere).
Leaving your passport as a deposit for a bike
- 1Without your passport you can’t check into a hotel, change money, or go to the police.
- 2Leave a cash deposit (1–3M VND) or a photocopy instead.
- 3Reputable rental shops work without holding your original passport.
Not inspecting the bike at pickup
- 1Photograph every scratch and dent before you ride off.
- 2Check the brakes, lights, indicators, mirrors, and tyres.
- 3Take a video — it’s your protection when you return the bike.
Grabbing a taxi right outside the airport
- 1The fare is often 2–3 times the normal rate.
- 2Use Grab — the price is locked in before the ride.
- 3Or take the city bus: from 8,000 ₫ (~$0.30) from Da Nang airport.
Not unticking VietJet’s add-ons
- 1When you buy a ticket, insurance, meals, and priority boarding are added automatically.
- 2A $25 fare can balloon to $60 with the extras.
- 3Check each step of the booking flow carefully.