Arrival & Transport
Arrival by Plane
Vietnam has three main international airports:
Hanoi — Nội Bài (HAN)
The main airport of the north, 45 km northwest of the old town. Direct flights from Frankfurt with Vietnam Airlines (10.5h). Connecting flights via Bangkok, Singapore, Doha, or Istanbul.
Transfer: Bus 86 to the old town (35,000 VND ≈ 1.30€, 45–60 min.), Grab/Taxi (250,000–350,000 VND ≈ 10–13€). ATTENTION: Only use official taxi stands (Mai Linh, Vinasun) or Grab!
Ho Chi Minh City — Tân Sơn Nhất (SGN)
Vietnam's busiest airport, only 7 km from the center. Direct flights from Frankfurt with Vietnam Airlines. Connecting flights via Bangkok (Thai Airways, VietJet), Singapore (Singapore Airlines), Dubai (Emirates).
Transfer: Bus 109 (20,000 VND, 45 min.), Grab (80,000–120,000 VND ≈ 3–4.50€). During rush hour, the journey to the center can take 90 minutes!
Đà Nẵng (DAD)
The gateway to Central Vietnam, only 3 km from the city center. Few direct flights from Europe, but excellently accessible by domestic flight from Hanoi (1.5h) or HCMC (1.5h). Perfect as a starting point for Huế and Hội An.
Flight Prices from Germany (Guidelines)
| Period | Price (Round Trip) |
|---|---|
| Low Season (Apr–Jun, Sep) | 500–700€ |
| Shoulder Season (Oct–Nov, Feb–Mar) | 600–900€ |
| High Season (Dec–Jan, Jul–Aug) | 800–1,300€ |
Tipp
Vietnam Airlines offers the only direct flights from Germany (Frankfurt). The best prices can be found 2–3 months in advance. Connecting flights via Bangkok or Singapore are often cheaper and offer the opportunity for a stopover.
Domestic Flights
Given the large distances, domestic flights are the fastest option. The network is excellently developed:
Airlines
- Vietnam Airlines: National carrier, best service, luggage included. More expensive, but reliable.
- Bamboo Airways: A good middle ground, modern fleet, luggage included.
- VietJet Air: Low-cost, often the cheapest prices (from 500,000 VND ≈ 18€). ATTENTION: Hand luggage max. 7 kg, checked luggage costs extra!
- Vietravel Airlines: Newest carrier, still a small route network.
Important Connections
| Route | Duration | Price (from) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi → Ho Chi Minh City | 2h 10 | 30€ | 30+ daily |
| Hanoi → Đà Nẵng | 1h 20 | 25€ | 15+ daily |
| HCMC → Đà Nẵng | 1h 20 | 25€ | 15+ daily |
| HCMC → Phú Quốc | 1h | 20€ | 10+ daily |
| Hanoi → Huế | 1h 10 | 25€ | 5+ daily |
| HCMC → Đà Lạt | 50 Min. | 18€ | 8+ daily |
Tipp
VietJet often has flash sales with tickets from 0 VND (only taxes, about 8€). But: Book luggage ONLINE IN ADVANCE — at the airport, it costs three times as much!
The Reunification Express
The Reunification Railway (Đường sắt Thống Nhất) connects Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh City over 1,726 km. The journey takes 33–36 hours — no one travels the entire route in one go, but sections are an unforgettable experience.
The Best Sections
| Route | Duration | Price (Soft Sleeper) | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huế → Đà Nẵng | 2.5–3h | ~10€ | Hải-Vân Pass, coastal panorama |
| Hanoi → Huế | 13–14h (night train) | ~25€ | Sleep at night, arrive in Huế in the morning |
| Đà Nẵng → Ninh Bình | 15–16h | ~28€ | Through the entire country |
| HCMC → Nha Trang | 7–8h | ~18€ | Coastal landscape |
| Hanoi → Lào Cai (Sapa) | 8–9h (night train) | ~20€ | Wake up in the mountains |
Classes
- Hard Seat: Wooden seats, cheap, uncomfortable, authentic. Only for short distances.
- Soft Seat: Padded seats with air conditioning. Suitable for daytime journeys up to 6h.
- Hard Sleeper: 6-bed compartments stacked. The upper berth is the cheapest (and tightest). Good for night trains.
- Soft Sleeper: 4-bed compartments with a lockable door. The best option for night trains. Bedding, blanket, and pillow included.
Booking
Online via 12go.asia or baolau.com (extra charge, but English-speaking and reliable) or directly at the station (cheaper, but only in Vietnamese). Popular routes are fully booked days in advance during high season!
Tipp
The route Huế → Đà Nẵng is the most beautiful train journey in Vietnam — the train winds over the Hải-Vân Pass directly along the sea. Sit on the right side (southbound) for the best view. A soft seat is perfectly sufficient here.
Bus, Grab & Motorcycle
Travel Buses
The Open-Tour-Bus-System is Vietnam's most popular means of transport for backpackers and budget travelers. Sleeper buses with reclining seats connect all major stops on the north-south route.
- The Sinh Tourist: The most reliable provider, slightly more expensive, fewer stops, punctual.
- Hoàng Long: Good, modern, good value for money.
- Phương Trang (FUTA): Largest network in the south, very cheap, sometimes overcrowded.
Price Examples: Hanoi → Sapa night bus (8h) 10–15€, Huế → Hội An (3.5h) 5–8€, HCMC → Đà Lạt (7h) 8–12€.
Grab — Southeast Asia's Uber
The most important app for travelers in Vietnam! Grab offers:
- GrabCar: Car with driver. Fixed price, air-conditioned, GPS-tracked. Cheaper than taxis.
- GrabBike: Motorcycle taxi. Extremely cheap (2 km = 10,000 VND ≈ 0.40€), quick through traffic. Helmet provided.
- GrabFood: Food delivery — convenient at the hotel.
Grab works in all cities with about 50,000 inhabitants or more. Install before traveling — you need a phone number for registration. A Vietnamese SIM card (from 100,000 VND at the airport) is recommended.
Renting a Motorcycle
Vietnam by motorcycle — the ultimate adventure, but only for experienced riders! An international driver's license is theoretically required, but without a valid license, travel insurance will NOT pay in the event of an accident.
- Automatic Scooter: 100,000–200,000 VND/day (4–8€). Honda Wave, Yamaha Nozza.
- Semi-Automatic: 150,000–250,000 VND/day. Honda Win, the backpacker cult motorcycle (often in poor condition!).
- Guided Tours: Easy Rider tours with local driver/guide (30–50€/day including motorcycle, driver, and fuel). The safest and most informative option.
Achtung
Traffic in Vietnam is DANGEROUS. About 30 people die daily in traffic. If you're not an experienced motorcyclist, take an Easy Rider or Grab. And: ALWAYS wear a helmet — it's mandatory and saves lives!
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