What to Expect on a Vietnam Sleeper Bus & How To Book

Sleeper bus routes in Vietnam

Sleeper buses run between many of the major tourist destinations in Vietnam. Some of the most common routes (with average journey times) are:

• Hanoi – Sapa (from 5hrs)
• Hanoi – Ha Giang (from 6hrs)
• Hanoi – Phong Nha (from 10hrs) / Hue (from 13hrs) / Da Nang (from 14hrs) / Hoi An (from 15hrs)
• Ho Chi Minh City – Da Lat (from 6hrs 15min)
• Ho Chi Minh City – Mui Ne (from 3hrs)
• Ho Chi Minh City – Nha Trang (from 9hrs)

For the most comfortable experience, I’d recommend breaking your journey up by stopping at different cities on the routes. We didn’t want to do a bus journey longer than around 8 hours, so planned our Vietnam itinerary around these distances.

Also, be aware that journey times online aren’t always accurate – our bus to Mui Ne took an hour longer than listed. Buses will often stop to deliver packages or pick up locals en route, which is normal practice for a lot of the bus companies in Vietnam. So if you need to arrive somewhere for a specific time, make sure you’ve given plenty of room for delays.

Some routes will have drop-off points outside the main city centre. Most will offer a van transfer service from here to a more central location. (This happened to us in Hue and we were briefly terrified they’d missed our stop!)

Types of sleeper buses in Vietnam

Vietnam sleeper buses vary, with different configurations depending on the type of bus and line.

• Standard sleeper buses usually have three rows of beds, with two levels, upper and lower. These will usually accommodate 30+ passengers. The cheapest, older-style buses sometimes have an extended berth at the back, which is worth avoiding as you may end up next to strangers.

• VIP sleeper buses will usually have just two rows of beds, allowing wider bunk space. These will generally have privacy curtains and be a more comfortable experience, at a higher price point. Capacity is lower, around 20-24, and they’re usually more expensive than a standard sleeper bus.

On our Vietnam trip, we took four sleeper buses and all of them were different:

• From Hanoi to Phong Nha we booked a VIP Sleeper with HK Buslines. This was probably the nicest sleeper bus we took, with VIP cabin bunks in a two-row setup with privacy curtains, opposite each other on the bottom row. The seats were wide and spacious, and even had a ‘massage function’. We were provided with bottled water and fluffy throw blankets, with a TV (that didn’t work) and USB charging point.

• From Phong Nha to Hue, we booked a VIP sleeper bus through our hostel. The experience was similar to the previous VIP bus, although the bus was slightly less fancy.

• From Dalat to Mui Ne, we booked a standard sleeper bus with VietNam Travel Bus for the 4 hour journey. On this one, we had a three-row layout with no privacy curtains. Definitely a slightly older bus, but the seats were relatively comfortable and a blanket was provided.

• From Mui Ne to Ho Chi Minh City, we booked with Futa Bus. Our bus had three rows with cabins and privacy curtains, and actually probably the most comfortable seats so far. Despite being quite narrow, there was plenty of legroom for Ashley, and the bus was very new and clean.

How much does a sleeper bus cost?

Vietnam sleeper bus prices vary depending on the route, operator and type of vehicle you’re travelling on. Standard sleeper buses can cost as little as $7 per seat, while VIP buses charge anywhere up to $30+.

Here’s how much our sleeper buses cost:

• VIP Sleeper with HK OpenTour from Hanoi to Phong Nha – 646,000 VND each ($25.30/£20.40)
• VIP Sleeper from Phong Nha to Hue via hostel – 300,000 VND each ($11.79/£9.40)
• Standard sleeper with Viet Nam Travel from Dalat to Mui Ne cost 275,000 VND each ($10.80/£8.72)
• Sleeper with Futa Buses from Mui Ne to Ho Chi Minh City cost 214,000 VND each ($8.41/£6.78)

How to book a sleeper bus in Vietnam

• Directly from the bus station or travel office: The best way to get the cheapest sleeper bus price is to book directly at a bus station or company travel office. Bus stations are located in major cities including Saigon and Hanoi.
• Through your accommodation: Hostels and some hotels will be able to help with booking your sleeper bus in Vietnam, and these services will often pick you up directly from hostels. We booked our sleeper bus to Hue from our hostel in Phong Nha, Central Backpackers.
• Via a local travel agent: In tourist areas, you’ll find travel agents brokering services including tours and transport.
• Online travel agent: You can also book with an online travel provider such as GetYourGuide.
• Online: Booking sites such as Bookaway and 12Go compare prices for transport options in Vietnam. We used a mix of both to research and book, and found Bookaway easier to filter for higher-end services. 12Go has a wider variety of providers, and affordable options for budget travellers. If you’re booking online, make sure you research the company in advance as standards can vary across different providers.

During busy times, like Tet (Lunar New Year), it’s best to book your bus in as much advance as possible. At quieter times on quieter services, you can usually get away with booking 1-2 days before.

Can you choose your seat?

If you’re booking online, at the bus station or via an agent, you can choose your seat on some buses. Others will assign seats for you.

Are sleeper buses in Vietnam safe?

Like any mode of transport, there’s always some element of risk. Initially, I was quite nervous about travelling on the buses after hearing stories of erratic, tired drivers and stolen belongings. But it’s important to bear in mind that thousands of locals and backpackers travel on sleeper buses every day in Vietnam without incident.

Make sure you do your research, read reviews and book with a reputable bus company that focuses on safety standards for both vehicle and drivers. Good companies will switch out drivers regularly, and have well-maintained vehicles. From my experience, both HK Open Tour (in the North) and Futa Bus (in the South) felt safe, with well-maintained buses and competent drivers.

Daytime journeys are generally considered safer than overnight runs. So if you’re nervous about the safety of sleeper buses, I’d recommend making your journey during the day.

If you’re able to choose your bunk, the middle section tends to offer the smoothest ride. Always wear your seatbelt, and familiarise yourself with safety procedures on board.

Usually on a Vietnam sleeper bus, your main luggage (backpack or suitcase) will be placed in the hold underneath the bus, and you take a personal bag in the carriage with you. Although thefts on Vietnam sleeper buses are relatively rare, they do happen – so make sure any valuable items (passports, laptops, and especially cash) are in the carriage with you. I’d recommend using a money wallet or small cross-body bag for your passports, cash and any important documents.

How comfortable are sleeper buses in Vietnam?

At 5ft 1, I basically fit comfortably anywhere. On the flip side, I travel with a 6ft 3, broad shouldered Western man, so space was a concern when booking our sleeper bus trips. Most of the older sleeper buses are built with Vietnamese average sizes in mind, which can often be significantly smaller than the average Western size.

On all three of our sleeper buses, Ashley actually didn’t struggle TOO much with the legroom. If you’re tall or broad, I’d recommend booking a smaller capacity cabin-style VIP bus to allow for maximum space.

In terms of seat comfort, the seats on all three buses were well-padded, although the inability to change the angle of reclining did get a little uncomfortable for me at times. Overall though, it was more comfortable than the same length of journey on a flat-backed plane seat by far!

Do the buses have toilet facilities?

Most sleeper buses in Vietnam don’t have toilet facilities, and those that do may not offer the cleanest place to do your business. However, buses without facilities will stop around every 2-3 hours for a rest stop break of around 20-30 minutes.

This was a concern for me, but on all my journeys we stopped regularly enough. Be prepared for some rest stop toilets being very basic squat toilets, and make sure you have toilet paper and hand sanitiser at the ready.

General tips for travelling by sleeper bus in Vietnam

• Wear comfortable clothing for your journey on a sleeper bus – I found leggings and a comfy t-shirt to be the perfect travel outfit.
• Bring a jumper or hoody, as the bus cabin air conditioning can get chilly. Blankets are usually provided but the extra layer really helped!
• Shoes have to be taken off on sleeper buses for hygiene reasons, so I’d recommend wearing socks. Slip on shoes are a good idea for rest stops, although every bus we travelled on provided slipper-shoes for this purpose.
• Eye masks and ear plugs are helpful if you’re planning on getting some sleep on board. Vietnamese drivers use their horns very liberally, so expect to hear plenty of honking!
• Have a hygiene kit ready with tissues and hand sanitiser for rest stop bathrooms. If you can shower (and use deodorant) before travelling, I’d recommend it – you don’t want to be the one who’s stinking out the bus on an 8 hour journey!
• Take travel sickness pills if you’re prone to feeling sick on buses
• Bring cash for refreshments, as some rest stops will have shops or cafes. Bear in mind some buses ban the consumption of food or hot drinks, so you may need to finish up before boarding.
• Make sure you have entertainment – some buses offer WiFi, but in case it isn’t working, download some TV episodes/podcasts/music/books to entertain you. Many of the newer buses have USB charging ports but I’d pack a portable charger for your device and headphones, just in case.
• Don’t panic if the driver stops randomly en-route – this is common on Vietnam sleeper bus journeys, to pick up locals and parcels.

Summary: Should you book a sleeper bus in Vietnam?

Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by my sleeper bus experience in Vietnam. I did feel a little nervous before travelling, but once I relaxed into the journey I was able to have some quiet me-time to catch up with books and podcasts.

We did our research before booking, and were happy to pay the slightly increased prices for VIP buses with well-reviewed companies. Travelling mostly in daylight helped set my mind at ease in terms of safety, and I found the buses we travelled on clean and comfortable.

If you don’t like the idea of a sleeper bus, there are other ways to get around. Some areas of Vietnam have sleeper trains, or you can take an internal flight, or even join a multi-day, multi-destination guided tour. If you’re travelling on a budget, though, sleeper buses are a cost-effective and relatively comfortable way to travel around Vietnam.