Bus Travel

Air-conditioned buses catering to travelers can be a good option for long-distance travel in Vietnam. "Open tour" bus tickets allow you to make stops along the way and there are options for sleeper buses, which have reclining seats. For about $60, you can purchase an open ticket from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City with four stops at destinations in between. About a dozen tour operators offer bus service; reputable ones include Mai Linh and Phuong Trang. It's a good idea to book at least a day in advance (earlier if it happens to be a national holiday). One of the biggest conveniences of bus travel is that many companies offer the option of hotel pickup.

Bus Information

Mai Linh Express. Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City. 28/3939–3939; www.mailinhexpress.vn.

Phuong Trang. 80 Tran Hung Dao, Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City. 1/900–6067; www.futabus.com.