Vietnam Sleeper Buses: Everything you should know to plan the itinerary

Once we were stranded on a highway, because our sleeper bus forgot about our reservation. True story, you can see the photo of us laughing to don’t cry down below, or check our instagram for more.

Sleeper buses in Vietnam are fun, convenient and budget fiendly. Everything seems fine, until you’ll have a bad experience. Believe us any backpacker in Vietnam has one horror story based on night buses.

This guide to Vietnam sleeper buses will help you prepare (both mentally and physically) for the challenges.

We will walk through the entire process to book the tickets, verify it, secure the best seats and safety tips for your journey. We have done two Vietnam full itineraries in the past four years, using a mix of night buses and trains.

First thing first, what is a sleeper bus?

Even though the name sounds obvious, not all the buses run through the night. You can also book a day sleeper bus. We took a sleeper bus from Sapa during the day, around lunchtime, to arrive in Hanoi in the evening. Don’t judge us; we caught some sleep, too.

There are very different sleeper buses, and it mostly depends on the rule that you get what you pay for. We will explore the different kinds of sleeper buses you can book and the pros and cons of each; well, there are not many cons for VIP Express.

When we first travelled through the country, it was an intense itinerary of 15 days in Vietnam to match our free visa on arrival. It was hard, but we could condense days of exploration with night sleep on the buses, “reducing” waste of time. That’s why sleeper buses are the most popular way to get around for backpackers visiting Vietnam.

What is a VIP bus in Vietnam?

The VIP buses are the most comfortable way to get around the country. These are special compared to regular buses, as they allow a limited number of people, are cleanest, offer some sort of snacks and drinks, and often the shuttle service to the town centre.

These comfortable methods of transportation might be pricer but you will have a very special journey. While booking the VIP bus, you can get the choice of which. The number next to the VIP Bus tells you how many people will be with you on the journey.

The VIP buses are much more comfortable than other options, as they are often shared with a limited number of guests. The seats are larger, with the possibility of reclining fully. The sleeper VIP buses in Vietnam are next level, with semi-private cabins, such as screens, power outlets, big windows, and curtains to separate them. They look a lot like capsule hotels.

When booking a VIP sleeper bus, you are assured of courtesy and a more comfortable journey. There will be no more than two pods stacked on each other, and you will never share a seat.

Booking a Sleeper Bus in Vietnam

We book all our trips in Southeast Asia through 12Go, which is very reliable and can be done in advance. Sorting by dates, journeys, and preferred times, you can find what suits you best by comparing several bus companies and paying by card directly online.

We will resonate with the fact that buses are very popular and often get fully booked way in advance. Check your journey and itinerary and book as soon as you confirm it.

Even though you can book through local agents on the spot, we found that paying by card and avoiding haggling for prices and fear it is a scam, you can just spend a few dollars extra but have confirmation on your email.

How much do sleeper buses cost in Vietnam?

The price of a sleeper bus in Vietnam can be very affordable; however, the cost changes depending on the route and how far in advance you book it. To reach Sapa from Hanoi, we paid £10 each, and we even got upgraded to a VIP bus.

A sleeper bus with short distance costs between $3 to $5, mid-distance $5 to $10, long distance sleeper buses cost in excess of $15 if booked well in advance.

Booking online or through an agent on the spot doesn’t get any cheaper, as locals make their own prices, and you have to haggle a bit sometimes.

What to expect on a sleeper Bus

We had several journeys on buses in Vietnam while visiting the country two times. Just a few times, we had unpleasant times, others regular journeys. The bus will stop approximately every 200 Km or 3 hours on average, and this was overall with all our bus journeys.

Each stop lasts about 20 minutes, and the designated places offer food, drinks, and toilets. Mid-range and VIP buses often offer a voucher that can be exchanged for food or drink at the rest stops.

Last but not least, let’s talk about your stature. We found ourselves a bit crouched in the cheapest buses. These offer very limited legroom, and I couldn’t stop thinking about people with considerable height and legs.

We suggest spending a few bucks more but get a comfortable journey. When I was also carrying my equipment on the sleeper pod, the space was limited and I had to cross my legs to stay kind of comfortable.

Sleeper buses type and what you should book

Regular Sleeper: These are the cheapest but often slowest with many stops. They have three rows and two bunk beds each and are the most crowded. If you can upgrade your journey, spend a few $$$ more.

Two Raw Sleeper: These are still regular buses with a lot of stops but less crowded. The two rows are crouched to fit more people but have only two rows on a bunk bed. The two raw sleepers are cheap and only a few dollars more than the regular.

VIP: There are more VIP types than you can count. The VIP buses are made for the most comfortable journey, and believe us, it is a great upgrade. We were upgraded in Sapa on the return trip to Hanoi, and it was a pleasant trip, although a 6-hour journey. The VIP mostly looks like your private bed/cabin, with TV (often off), light, power outlets, water-free, and definitely fewer people. Usually, the number of guests is written next to the bus type.

What to wear on a sleeper bus in Vietnam

Now, let’s talk about what to wear on a sleeper bus in Vietnam. We prepare our sleeper bus outfit ahead of time and place our change on top of our backpack for easy pickup. We try to find a bathroom or changing room; usually, Coffee Highlands does the job for us.

When embarking on a long or short journey, we always wear trousers, as it gets cold at night, and avoid making too much contact with surfaces.

Also, remember to carry a hoodie or a long-sleeved jacket. The AC in the buses in Vietnam is powerful and gets chilly at night. Even though they give you a blanket, I prefer having my own things, and this means sometimes when we find disposable blankets. Wear socks and carry your own flip-flops.

Train or sleeper bus in Vietnam?

If you are at the point of your journey when you need to decide whether to take the train or sleeper bus, this comparison might help. We have taken both, and the journey is completely different. One of the main differences is the arrival point of both trains and buses.

Bus stations are often outside the city centre, and only a few companies offer a shuttle service that will take you to the centre or accommodation. This extra service is often subject to an extra fee.

Instead, train stations are often right in the centre. It was the case for Ninh Binh, the same as Hanoi, where buses can’t go into the centre, and instead, the train stations are within walking distance.

However, buses are more affordable and reach locations the train doesn’t. Also, consider that trains are often fully booked within weeks in advance, so if you are planning to get your ticket through 12Go Asia while checking the route.

Q&A | Your questions answered about Vietnam sleeper buses