Types of sleeper buses for tourists in Vietnam

Traveling by sleeper bus is popular in Vietnam, recently many foreign tourists are also interested in this type of vehicle.

Sleeper buses are a popular means of transportation in Vietnam and many Southeast Asian countries such as Laos, the Philippines, and Thailand. Mr. Ngoc Quan, a tour guide in Ho Chi Minh City, said that Vietnamese tourists choose to travel to domestic destinations by bus because of its convenience, faster travel time than trains, cheaper costs than flights, and no need to go through complicated procedures. Foreign tourists traveling independently also choose this means of transportation. Recently, there have been some controversies on social networks from foreign tourists who have experienced sleeper buses in Vietnam, because they do not know all the information about this type of transportation.

Tourist buses come in a variety of types, from seats to sleepers, with different standards. Below is a summary of sleeper buses based on information provided by tour guides and the reporter's experience.

This means of transport is usually for long journeys over 100 km. There are two popular types of sleeper buses: economy class and cabin buses.

Types of sleeper buses for tourists in Vietnam — **Foreign tourists on an economy-class sleeper bus.** Photo: BestPrice Travel

Economy class buses have 44 seats, 34 seats and 32 seats. The beds are usually divided into 3 rows, 2 floors, each bed for one passenger. The bed size is suitable for passengers under 180 cm tall. Basic amenities on the bus include curtains for each bed, blankets, drinking water. Some buses have additional USB charging ports, LCD screens, and LED lights.

Passengers boarding the bus are required to put their shoes and sandals in a nylon bag. Large luggage such as suitcases can be placed in the trunk, light personal belongings can be carried on the bus, and shoes and sandals can be placed in the niche under the bed. Passengers who want a convenient location should choose the lower bunk bed. The upper bunk bed is suitable for those who want privacy, but find it inconvenient to get in and out.

The price of an economy class car ranges from 250,000 to 300,000 VND. For example, the route from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat is more than 600 km long, takes about 8 hours, and costs an average of 280,000 VND per passenger. Travelers need to book tickets 2-3 days in advance to choose the location and time of the car as desired. Cars running during the day are usually slower than those running at night because they stop at many stops. Travelers can book tickets through the call center or the car company's application. In addition, they can book through applications providing online travel services or on e-wallets.

The high-end sleeper bus has 22 cabins, divided into 2 rows and 2 floors. Each cabin can accommodate two adults with a maximum height of about 170 cm. This type of bus is more convenient, each cabin usually has an LCD screen, charging port, and a mattress with massage mode. Some buses are also equipped with a WC. Similar to the economy sleeper bus, passengers need to book tickets in advance. The ticket price is about 300,000 VND - 450,000 VND higher per cabin. This type of bus is suitable for passengers who want a comfortable, private place to sleep when traveling long distances. The bus company usually picks up and drops off passengers at the requested address.

In addition to sleeper buses, tourists can use seated buses (usually for routes under 100 km), economy class with a capacity of 16 seats, 29 seats and 45 seats, priced under 100,000 VND. These buses run continuously and are readily available, but the downside is that they often stop to pick up passengers along the way before entering the highway, the travel time is usually around 15-20 minutes.

In the higher-end segment, there are limousine buses with 9, 11, 17, 19 or 22-28 seats. The amenities on the bus are more advanced than regular passenger buses. The seats are covered with soft cushions, have charging ports, drinking water, wet towels, and LCD screens on the back of the seats. Usually, tourists who travel on this bus often book tickets in advance, and the bus rarely stops to pick up passengers along the way. The price ranges from 100,000 VND to 200,000 VND. This type of bus is suitable for customers who want convenient services, spacious seats, and privacy.

According to vnexpress.net

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