Vietnam - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 358

Purchasing a good bicycle in Vietnam is hit and miss. It's recommended that you bring
one from abroad, along with a good helmet and spare parts.
Bicycles can also be hired locally from guesthouses for about US$2 per day, while
good-quality mountain bikes cost US$10 to US$12.
BOAT
The extensive network of canals in the Mekong Delta makes getting around by boat feas-
ible in the far south. Travellers to Phu Quoc Island can catch ferries from Ha Tien or Rach
Gia.
In the country's northeast, hydrofoils connect Haiphong with Cat Ba Island (near
Halong Bay), and cruises on Halong Bay are extremely popular. Day trips to islands off
the coast of Nha Trang, to the Chams off Hoi An, and in Lan Ha Bay are also good excur-
sions.
BUS
Vietnam has an extensive network of buses that reach the far-flung corners of the country.
Modern buses, operated by myriad companies, run on all the main highways.
Many travellers (perhaps the majority) never actually visit a Vietnamese bus station at
all, preferring to stick to the convenient, tourist-friendly open-tour bus network.
Whichever class of bus you're on, bus travel in Vietnam is never speedy; reckon on just
50kmh on major routes including Hwy 1.
Bus Stations
Many cities have several bus stations, so make sure you get the right one! Bus stations all
look chaotic but many now have ticket offices with official prices and departure times dis-
played.
Reservations & Costs
Always buy a ticket from the office, as bus drivers are notorious for overcharging. Reser-
vations aren't usually required for most of the frequent, popular services between towns
and cities.
On rural runs, foreigners are typically charged anywhere from twice to 10 times the go-
ing rate. As a benchmark, a typical 100km ride is between US$2 and US$3.
Deluxe Buses