Taking the Tourist Bus in Vietnam

Before leaving for my nine-day trip in Vietnam, I wanted to book everything in advance so that I wouldn't have to be bothered when I get there. The trains are somewhat expensive for me so I decided to just take the tourist bus since many travelers use this anyway.

From what I read in several travel forums, the two most trusted companies operating bus tours are Kim Tours and Sinh Cafe (which is now known as The Sinh Tourist). I opted for the latter for the simple reason that the name has more appeal to me. (Haha) I sent an e-mail to inquire about the availability of tickets for my desired travel dates, the cost and how to book. I received a reply in a few days and they gave me instructions, which is by wiring them the payment. I didn't see Sinh Cafe in the company name where I should send my payment and I immediately realized that this is one of those 'fakes' pretending to be the real one. (Even if they were the real one, I wouldn't bother because wiring money is tiresome and I would rather take my chance on booking when I get there.)

I scoured the web to find the website of the real one. I was still not able to book in advance though. I didn't know if it was my connection or their website which has a problem that time.

On my first day in Vietnam, the first thing I had to do was to book my bus tickets. I was lucky that the hostel I stayed in HCMC was very near their office which is along De Tham St. I was able to book my desired schedule and was really glad that it was cheaper than I expected. I only paid about 976,000vnd for HCMC-Nha Trang-Hoi An-Hue-Hanoi trips. I also got a free souvenir shirt. (I am a sucker for freebies!)


For my first overnight trip, I had no expectation with the sleeper bus. I thought that it would be just like any other buses only with much larger leg rooms so that you could recline your seats more. But to my surprise, there were real beds, (or at least close to a real bed) double-deckers arranged in three rows, which made me look forward to a restful sleep. The beds are long enough. However, the beds at the front and the middle portion are shorter and was not enough for me. They also provide a blanket and you get 500ml water. (I wonder how often they wash those blankets.) There's also a toilet but in only one of the three overnight buses I took is functioning. Wearing shoes/slippers inside the bus is not allowed so we had to take them off and put them in a plastic bag. This is actually nice to make sure that the bus is kept clean. I think it is also because in Vietnam you have to remove your foot wear upon entering a house and since people sleep in the overnight bus, it is considered a house. Here's to hoping that all sleeper buses are like this.

Inside the Sinh Tourist sleeper bus (HCMC-Nha Trang)

An Afternoon in Ho Chi Minh

Arriving in Ho Chi Minh at past midnight without having much sleep and rest for the past three days, I decided to sleep in until my check-out time in the hostel where I stayed in. I had 9 days to travel from the southern part of Vietnam to Hanoi and with this very short time, I knew I should waste no time to make this trip worth it.

I was surprised, or rather became uneasy, when the driver of my rental car from the airport told me to follow him to narrow alleys at 1:30am. I didn't expect that my hostel would be located in such a place. My hostel was already locked and very dark when we got there which made me think if there were any other guests. An old man greeted me and I supposed he owns the place. I had to remove my shoes (which I actually liked) to get in and he led me to my room which is has a double bed and a balcony.

I woke up the next morning with familiar sounds of women chatting, children playing on the streets, music and honking of motorcycles. It suddenly felt like I was in my cousin's house in Batangas but I got reminded that I was in Vietnam. I stayed in the receiving area of the hostel before leaving to use their wi-fi and check what I should do in the city in the afternoon. The old lady was nice enough to give me a bagel, or something similar to it. She must have seen in my face that I was really hungry that time. Although it was really oily, I still ate all of it since I was starving and it would be ungrateful of me if I didn't.

Don't get me wrong. I really appreciate and am very thankful to all the hospitable and generous people I know or met. But their acts don't always guarantee that you will really enjoy. It's not always that what they offer is what you want. Nonetheless, they never fail to make me feel good.

Before leaving, I asked the old lady how to go to the office of Sinh Tourist. I was glad to know that it was just a few hundred meters from the hostel and easy to find. I booked all four trips to Hanoi and they gave me a free t-shirt.

I had approximately seven hours to spend in the city and it felt like I wasted much of it in getting lost. Finding a place to eat was difficult and deciding what to eat is much so. I ended up eating pho in a nearly empty Vietnamese-Mexican restaurant. I know I should eat where locals go because it is an assurance that the food there is good but I still feel a little awkward if I am the only foreigner in there. I could pass as a local but the backpack I carry gave me away.

After much thinking, I decided to just visit the War Remnants Museum. I assumed that the museum was around the area so I just walked not really knowing what direction I should be taking. Already tired with aching back and dripping with sweat, I called a xe om (a motorbike similar to Philippines' habal-habal). Unfortunately, the driver doesn't speak English and had no idea where the museum is. So I had to walk a few more hundred meters until I found another xe om. Luckily this time, he speaks English and knows where my destination is. During the ride, I had a little chat with my driver (whose name I forgot). He asked my name and where I am from (which was how most of my conversations with locals would go). Since he told me that it was up to me on how much I should pay him, I gave him 20,000vnd (roughly 1usd) and he seemed to be satisfied with it. He was also nice enough to help me cross the street (which made me think why he didn't just dropped  me on the other side of the street) when he noticed that I was very hesitant for fear of getting hit by a motorbike.

Tanks and air crafts used during the Vietnam war displayed on the museum grounds.

The entrance fee was 15,000vnd. The museum grounds was not that big but you will find several tanks and air crafts used during the war on display. Inside the building are photos which chronicles many of the aspects of the war. It was very informative and at the same time heart-wrenching. The exhibit about the people, mostly children who were suffering from physical and mental degradation due to dioxin compound (one of the chemicals used by America and commonly known as Agent Orange) that poisoned them and their parents, put me on the verge of tears.

One of the photos showing people affected by the chemicals used during the Vietnam war.  An older photo shows the same man when he was just a baby walking on land sprayed with those chemicals. I took the photo only because of the dog, though.

I am not really well-versed when it comes to history and the Vietnam war. For all I know, America wanted to protect democracy from the rising power of communism. But seriously, I wonder if the war was necessary. Wanting to protect people by killing others, especially those who are innocent doesn't buy me. The war has long been over but it's effects are still gravely felt by those who have nothing to do with it.

After spending three hours in the museum, I tried to find the Saigon Central Post Office and the Notre Dame Basilica. I followed two guys who were also from the museum, assuming that they have the same destination. Unfortunately, I lost them mainly because of my hesitation to cross the street.

The wonder of getting lost is that you get to a place you never thought you'd be and get to do something you didn't plan. In my case, I became a food critic for once. Or at least my opinion about a food was/will be credited. I walked into this restaurant in some part of the city I don't exactly know and one of the staff asked me to try their new product and give them feedback. It was free. How could I say no?

I spent my remaining time at the Sinh Tourist office, waiting for my bus. I was too tired that all I wanted to do is to lie down and sleep. If only I have found out earlier that my phones GPS works, I wouldn't have spent so much time getting lost. But then again...