Vietnam’s sleeper buses have become infamous amongst the backpacker community. If you’re heading to Vietnam on a budget, it’s likely you’ll be taking your fair share of sleeper buses since it’s the most affordable means of long-distance travel. Taking flights whilst in Vietnam was not within my budget so I quickly became familiar with the different types of sleeper buses and the ways in which to make the journey go as smoothly as possible.
Introduction to sleeper buses
Sleeper buses are Vietnam’s most common method of transport so you can take them between most major cities. They are designed for overnight journeys which is often convenient for backpackers as it saves time and money by combining both accommodation and travel. The sleeper buses typically have two levels of bunk-style beds and varying other amenities, including air conditioning, blankets and WIFI. There are usually two types of sleeper buses; the standard sleeper bus and the VIP sleeper bus. The VIP sleeper bus often costs slightly more but is definitely worth it if you’re keen to get a good nights sleep.
How to book the sleeper bus
When in South East Asia, I usually book all my transport through 12Go. When you select your destination it will show you available trains, buses and flights so you can compare prices. If you choose to look specifically at buses, it will show you all the available buses along with pictures of the inside. Usually, if it doesn’t specifically mention ‘VIP’ or ‘executive’ bus you can see which one it is from the images they provide.
I do suggest booking online ahead of time as they are becoming really popular and can get booked up quickly, especially in high season. If you don’t like to book online, it’s often possible to book your ticket through your hostel or hotel.
Getting to the bus terminal
If you book your ticket through 12Go, it will tell you the location of the bus station on your booking confirmation email. Sleeper buses aren’t usually allowed into the city so the bus stations are usually in the middle of nowhere on the outskirts of the city. Don’t expect the bus station to be glamorous – it’s usually a few plastic chairs outside of an empty building or something similar. I recommend taking a Grab/Bolt to the bus station once you’ve figured out it’s location. Alternatively, if you booked your ticket through your hostel/hotel, they might have someone pick you up and bring you to your sleeper bus. Always double check you’re getting on the right bus. Often there are buses headed in the same direction but they might be different companies so make sure to show your ticket to the driver if you are unsure. Also, double check that if you paid for a VIP/executive bus that you are not getting on a standard bus.
Choosing your seat
I would argue that the seat you’re allocated during your journey determines how much sleep you’re getting. As soon as you get onto the bus, you are made to take your shoes off. I found that sometimes my feet would get cold when they blast the aircon so maybe bring a pair of socks onto the bus if you’re not wearing them already. Your shoes go into a plastic bag and you keep them with you on your bed.
Unfortunately, I have never got to choose my own seat on a sleeper bus as the driver always allocated us a bed. However, I know others who have been able to choose. I recommend choosing a bed by the window in the middle of the bus. Too close to the front and you’ll have to listen to the driver honking his horn all night and too close to the back and you’ll be overwhelmed by the smell of the toilet. I also recommend choosing a bottom bunk so you have more privacy, since the top bunk is at eye level of anyone walking around.
Be prepared to be woken up and kicked off
Almost every time I took a sleeper bus, I would be dropped off two or three hours earlier than the supposed arrival time. The bus driver will usually shout when they arrive at a city or sometimes they might wake you up to find out where you’re getting off. Multiple times we were woken up at 5am and told to get off because we’d arrived earlier than expected. Also, don’t expect to be dropped at a bus station as more often than not we would be dropped somewhere outside of the city in the early hours of the morning. There’s nothing that tests your relationship more than being dropped on the side of the road, in the middle of nowhere at 5am when you are both hungry, half-asleep and trying to figure out where to go. Also I’m sure my fellow backpackers know the struggle of trying to fill the hours between arriving in a new place and only being able to check into your accommodation at 2pm.
Standard sleeper buses
Standard sleeper buses have two levels and three rows of bunk style-beds. Usually all beds come with a blanket and a water bottle. As there are three rows, the beds tend to be very narrow with little space to put your belongings. I’m 5ft 6 and quite petite so I manage to fit comfortable, but for Quinn, who is over 6ft, it’s a very tight fit. There are no curtains so there is little privacy between you and the surrounding passengers. The back of the bus is taken up by a row of five beds on both levels with no spaces between so there is no room for a toilet. Depending on how long the journey is, the bus is likely to make 2-3 stops along the way to pick up food or use the bathroom. However, the number of times often depends on the driver and sometimes stopping once isn’t even guaranteed!
VIP sleeper buses
Despite only being slightly more expensive, the VIP sleeper buses are a lot more comfortable than the standard buses. Instead of three rows of beds, there is only two meaning that the width of your bed is significantly larger than in a standard sleeper. This is great because it means you have space to bring a rucksack with your valuables onto the bus rather than leaving it in the luggage compartment under the bus. Not only do you also have a curtain, but you have a whole cabin to yourself with your own light switch, a blind for your window, a blanket and a cushion. There is often a toilet at the back of the bus so you don’t need to rely on the bus driver stopping for bathroom breaks either.
Realistically, it’s unlikely you’ll get a good nights sleep (if any!) on the standard sleeper bus since there just isn’t enough space or privacy. If you don’t function well on little sleep then opt for the VIP sleeper for a higher chance of getting at least some sleep during the journey.
Essentials for the journey
- Snacks
- AirPods/headphones
- Travel pillow (especially for the standard sleeper)
- Jumper/fleece
- Phone/iPad for entertainment
- Socks for cold feet
- Eyemask
- Toilet roll