Booking a bus in Vietnam: the 2026 guide
Vietnam's buses come in many forms: sleeper and cabin buses for the long night journeys, limousine vans of 9 to 12 seats around Hanoi, minivans on the central coast. On 24 October 2026, 12Go listed more than 2,000 offers between Da Nang and Hoi An alone. Here is how to book, step by step, and what to check so that you leave from the right place, in the right seat.
Search your bus on 12Go →The 3 ways to buy a ticket in Vietnam
| Channel | How it works | Advantages | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online comparator (12Go) | Search your route, compare every company and pay online | Buses, vans, trains, ferries and flights on one page, with ratings and pick-up points; e-ticket by e-mail | Read the exact pick-up address and seat type on your ticket |
| Operator website | Buy directly from one company, e.g. dsvn.vn (Vietnam Railways) or futabus.vn (FUTA Bus Lines) | Official source for that company's timetables | Often in Vietnamese; you only see one company at a time |
| Hotel or travel agency | Your accommodation books the seat for you | Convenient, sometimes with a pick-up at the door | Ask which company and which seat type you will get, and the final price |
Booking on 12Go in 5 steps
Search your route and date
Enter your departure and arrival cities and your travel date. On Hanoi → Ninh Binh you will see more than 1,000 offers in a day.
Choose bus, train, ferry or flight
Many routes mix several modes: Hanoi → Sapa has buses and night trains, Hanoi → Cat Ba combined bus + boat tickets, Rach Gia → Phu Quoc ferries.
Compare rating, seat type and pick-up point
Each departure shows the company, its customer rating, the seat type (single or double cabin, sleeper, limousine van…) and the pick-up address. Check that it suits you.
Pay online
The price shown is per adult, taxes included. Enter the passenger names exactly as in the passports — essential on trains and on buses to Cambodia, Laos or China.
Keep your e-ticket on your phone
You receive the ticket by e-mail. Keep it on your phone with the pick-up address, and be at the pick-up point early.
6 things to check before you pay
In Hanoi, many buses to Sapa, Ha Long or Ninh Binh leave from company offices in the Old Quarter (Tran Quang Khai, Tran Nhat Duat, Nguyen Huu Huan streets…) or pick up at hotels, rather than from a bus station. Check the address on your ticket.
"Single cabin", "double cabin", "upper" or "lower" berth, "Limousine 9": on the same route these are very different.
Some tickets include several legs: bus + speedboat or bus + cable car to Cat Ba, bus + ferry to Phu Quoc, bus + van + train to Luang Prabang. Read the details to know where you change.
On the same train, Vietnam Rail sells standard seats and berths while companies like NewLivitrans or Hana Train sell private carriages at a higher price. Check which one you are buying.
Buses run to Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Nanning. If you travel on a Vietnamese e-visa, the border point must be one you selected in your application. Read our border and visa guide.
Private cars and taxis are listed next to buses but priced per vehicle. Don't mistake them for a bus seat. Compare with our bus prices and company reviews.
When should you book?
On the busiest routes, departures are plentiful — on 24 October 2026, 12Go listed 2,069 offers Da Nang → Hoi An, 1,185 Hanoi → Ninh Binh and 1,115 Hanoi → Ha Long Bay. A few days ahead is usually enough if your schedule is flexible.
Book earlier for routes with few departures — Hanoi → Luang Prabang (7 combined trips that day), Hanoi → Vientiane (15 buses), Rach Gia → Phu Quoc (8 ferries) — for a berth on the night train to Lao Cai or along the north–south line, or if you want a specific cabin on a night bus.
The most-booked routes
Number of offers listed on 12Go for 24 October 2026 — click a route for schedules and tips.
| Route | Offers that day | From |
|---|---|---|
| Da Nang → Hoi An | 2,069 | €4.20 |
| Hanoi → Ninh Binh | 1,185 | €6.41 |
| Hanoi → Ha Long Bay | 1,115 | €8 |
| Ho Chi Minh City → Mui Ne | 967 | €7.58 |
| Hue → Hoi An | 802 | €6.86 (train) / €7.43 (bus) |
| Hanoi → Sapa | 771 | €9.28 |
| Ho Chi Minh City → Vung Tau | 585 | €7.69 |
| Ho Chi Minh City → Can Tho | 524 | €8.68 |
Hue → Hoi An: the train fare is for Hue → Da Nang; from Da Nang, Hoi An is a short bus or van ride.
Booking a bus in Vietnam: your questions
Can I book Vietnamese buses online?
Do buses pick you up at your hotel?
Can I buy train tickets online?
How far in advance should I book?
Ready to book your bus in Vietnam?
Compare every company, seat type and pick-up point, pay online and keep your e-ticket on your phone.
Search your bus on 12Go →