Foreign tourists argue about sleeper buses in Vietnam

Many tourists commented that sleeper buses lack amenities, but others said that cheap tickets cannot demand high-class service.

In October, British tourist Mia Challiner shared on her personal TikTok channel with more than 2 million followers her "terrible" experience taking a sleeper bus in Vietnam. Challiner said she had a 20-hour journey from Hanoi to Hoi An. The female tourist commented that the bus lacked amenities, had no toilet, and had small beds. Mia's post attracted more than 500,000 views.

Shortly after, tourist Remy Gumbs, 27, from Leicester, posted a video refuting the above opinion. Gumbs argued "how can you expect high-class service for less than 10 USD for a trip lasting dozens of hours?".

Sleeper buses are popular in Southeast Asian countries. In Vietnam, regular sleeper buses have 22-41 beds, while luxury buses have 20 cabins.

Remy recorded her journey on a sleeper bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne. Remy emphasized that the trip cost only nearly 10 USD, "cheap and highly effective". She said that with this price "you shouldn't expect luxury service". Currently, Remy's video "defending Vietnamese sleeper buses" has reached 1.5 million views on TikTok and received hundreds of comments from the online community.

Tourist Remy Gumbs checks in on Hanoi's train street during his trip to Vietnam in August. Photo: Remy Gumbs — Tourist Remy Gumbs checks in on Hanoi's train street during his trip to Vietnam in August. Photo: *Remy Gumbs*

The female tourist said that sleeper buses in Vietnam usually do not have toilets, but the bus company stops along the way so that passengers have time to eat and use the bathroom. Remy also pointed out the inconvenience of the small bed area compared to the height of most Western tourists. In return, the plus point is that the sleeping area has neon LED lights, creating a "relaxing feeling at night".

In an interview with the Daily Mail (UK), Remy said she was satisfied with her sleeper bus experience during her more than one-month trip in Vietnam and would "definitely recommend" this type of vehicle to other tourists.

''The cost of this type of vehicle is very cheap and suitable for long-distance travel, much more convenient than other types. Traveling by plane and sleeper train to domestic tourist destinations in Vietnam is much more expensive,'' Remy said.

Sharing the same opinion with Remy, Emily commented, "I'm willing to spend $10 to travel by sleeper bus for a 15-hour journey. This price is too good." Traveler Gary, from the UK, commented, "I need this means of transport in the UK, especially to travel to nearby destinations like Spain, it will be very convenient."

Aaron Spray, from Canada, who has visited 80 countries and territories, also shared his experience of traveling by sleeper bus in Vietnam in Travel magazine at the end of June. He rated these overnight buses in Vietnam as safe, especially for female travelers. According to Spray, traveling by bus is a popular form of tourism in Vietnam.

Multi-colored LED lights on a sleeper bus running at night in Vietnam. Photo: Aaron Spray — Multi-colored LED lights on a sleeper bus running at night in Vietnam. Photo: *Aaron Spray*

He said that tourists traveling on tours can expect better-quality buses that stop at rest stops for restroom breaks and snacks. These buses often pick tourists up from their hotels. "Be aware that even on tourist buses, the staff may not speak English," Spray said.

He believes that if you want to experience travel "like a local", you should choose overnight trips on sleeper buses.

“No toilet on board” is also a minus point of Vietnamese sleeper buses, according to Spray. Travel time is “quite long” because the driver stops to “pick up passengers along the way”. However, these things are “part of the experience, not much of a detriment to the trip”, Spray said.

Tasha Amy, from New Zealand, owner of the travel blog Backpackers Wanderlust, also shared her experiences traveling by sleeper bus in Vietnam in October. She said this means of transport is popular with locals, but foreign tourists should consider and research the bus company carefully before deciding to book a ticket.

The last row of seats on an economy sleeper bus in Vietnam. Photo: Backpackers Wanderlust — The last row of seats on an economy sleeper bus in Vietnam. Photo: *Backpackers Wanderlust*

One of the biggest "obstacles" of sleeper buses for Western tourists is that the bed size is "designed to fit the height of Asians". Tourists around 180 cm tall will have "difficulty stretching their legs" when booking a regular bus, booking a bus with a spacious cabin will be "more comfortable".

Amy shared that some tourists who are new to this type of vehicle may mistakenly think that the buses only run at night. However, sleeper buses in Vietnam still have trips during the day, "daytime tickets are even cheaper, and the drivers drive slower."

Passengers should take care of their personal belongings and wear light clothes to make it easier to get in and out of bed. Some vehicles do not have charging sockets or the slots are not compatible with phones, so passengers should "fully charge the battery or bring a spare charger for a journey of dozens of hours on the vehicle".

"People with tight schedules and need to be precise about time should not choose this means of transport," Tasha Amy shared.

Bich Phuong

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