HOW TO GET AROUND

RENT A MOTORBIKE

If you are confident on a motorbike, this is a truly epic way to travel Vietnam (think Top Gear Vietnam Special). You can either buy a motorbike at your start point - usually Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) - or rent through a company that allows one-way hire. This gives you the ultimate freedom to get around, stop where you want and explore off the beaten track places, but also means travelling some really long distances! Most people choose to rent bikes in each place as they go, but travel by bus or train for the long distances.

Buying a motorbike is only really worth it if you will be spending a couple of months in Vietnam, as it can be a hassle finding the right motorbike to buy, as well as selling it at the end - and getting a good price. Depending on what motorbike you go for (manual, automatic, semi-automatic, Japanese vs Chinese made) prices range from USD $200-$500+. Any bike you choose will likely have done many kms, so be prepared to breakdown!

You can rent a motorbike from as little as $5 USD per day, but it is worth paying extra for a rental company with a 24/7 helpline so they can assist you with any breakdowns or repairs you may need, as well as offering a one-way hire option or even luggage transfer.

NOTE: laws for foreigners driving motorbikes in Vietnam are a bit of a grey area, even if you have an International Drivers License. If you are worried about potential legal issues, stick to a 50cc scooter which does not require a license - but may not get you around trickier terrains!

BY TRAIN

Travelling by train is often safer than by bus as some roads and bus drivers can be a bit sketchy, and you get to enjoy some stunning scenery without seeing busy roads and traffic. Booking a ''soft sleeper'' is more comfortable, though more expensive.

Trains run along a north-south route between Hanoi and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), that looks something like this: Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Than Hoa - Vinh - Dong Hoi - Hue - Danang - Quang Ngai - Dieu Tri - Nha Trang - Saigon. There is also an overnight train that runs between Hanoi and Lao Cai (38km from Sapa) and one from Saigon to Binh Thuan (for Phan Thiet and Mui Ne).

The main disadvantage we found was that the train timetable is not super regular, which was a bit limiting if you do not have heaps of time! The other thing is that the train only stops at main cities, so it is not so useful if you plan on visiting some of the smaller coastal towns, as you will have to get a train to the closest town and then a bus/taxi to where you want to go. Even the stations are sometimes not located near the tourist area so you will need additional transport.

Fares range from around 70k VND for a one-stop soft seat to 1335k VND for a soft sleeper travelling the whole north-south route. Trains can be booked up to 60 days in advance through either 12Go.Asia or Baolau.com. If you are flexible on time and not fussy about which train/ class, then you can usually book a couple of days ahead at the train station!

BY BUS

We ended up travelling mostly by bus as it was more convenient and cheaper than by train. The best option is to book overnight sleeper buses, as you can not only save on a night’s accommodation but can also sleep to pass the journey, as some can be over 8 hours long! You also avoid the bulk of the traffic, so the journey is a lot smoother and safer.

You can book buses online through either 12Go.Asia or Baolau.com but we found it best to book buses through our accommodation where possible, as it was often quite a bit cheaper than online. The buses operate on an unofficial ''hop-on hop-off'' system along the main road, so if your hotel is along the road they can arrange for you to be picked up there (and communicate with the bus company to make sure you are). You can ask the bus driver to drop you off somewhere along the way even if it is not the main bus stop - Google Translate and Google Maps come in handy for this!

There are several types of sleeper buses, and which one you book can make a big difference to your comfort. Sometimes you do not get a choice because there are limited buses along less popular routes, but the best one to book if you can is the one that looks like a spaceship capsule. Look out for wide pods with curtains and USB ports!

Depending on where/how far you are travelling the cost will be somewhere between 200k-500k VND.

WITH A TOUR OR DRIVER

There are many tours around Vietnam or even around specific cities, if you prefer to leave the organisation and logistics of transport, tickets and guides to someone else. This is a good option for people who are not the most confident travellers or solo travellers wanting to travel as a group. There are many tour options for anyone - backpackers, older people, couples, or even for people wanting a guide that speaks a specific language. The downside to tours is that they are usually a lot more expensive than planning your own trip, and you do not have the flexibility to see/do your own thing!

BY TAXI/GRAB

There are usually taxis everywhere in tourist areas so you will never have too much trouble finding one. Some will have a meter and others may agree a set fare before you set off. It helps to have Google Maps and Google Translate handy so you can communicate where you want to go and the price.

I recommend downloading the Grab app before you go, which works like Uber except with Grab you can either connect your card to pay the driver or pay with cash. Using Grab to get around is a reliable option as most places have plenty of drivers available and you can see exactly where you are going and how much it will cost before you get in the car. It also means you are less likely to be overcharged as the price is set, and their star-rating/review system encourages good service