Vietnamese Transportation Vocabulary: 80+ Best Words To Learn Now

Getting around Vietnam is no easy task. The infrastructure (although improving) is still behind many other Asian countries like China, Malaysia, and Thailand. For this reason, it’s very important to learn Vietnamese transportation vocabulary to make the process as hassle-free as possible.

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Common Transportation Vocabulary In Vietnamese

Here we have it! The very basics to get you started.

Places To Go

We know all know too well that you have places to go and people to meet in Vietnam. Let this list guide you.

Questions To Ask To Help You Get Around

And here are some phrases so you can be more specific.

Different Types Of Transportation Tickets

These are useful to know when travelling or booking trips.

Car-Related Vocabulary In Vietnamese

The most universal means of transport. Here are the key terms.

Phrases Related To Getting Around By Car

Renting or borrowing a car can be a great way to get around, albeit really hectic in Vietnam. Here are some questions and phrases you’ll need.

Airplane-related Vocabulary In Vietnamese

Travel by air is becoming increasingly popular within Vietnam. Here are common words to know when travelling by air.

Getting Around Via Water In Vietnamese- Vietnamese Transportation Vocabulary

Ahoy! Is there anything more fun than hitting the high seas or winding riverways of Vienam?

General Phrases In Vietnamese For Getting Around

So What Is The Best Way To Get Around Vietnam?

Phew! That was a long list. But we still need to answer the question that most people came for. Is it better to take buses, taxis, cars, or one of the myriad other options available?

Well, the answer is that it largely depends on where you are, how much time you have, and what kind of person you are.

For example, if you’re in Hanoi city center and need to get to the outskirts during rush hour, then a motorbike taxi service like Grab is the best way to get around(although far from the safest).

If you’re in Halong Bay making your way around the floating islands, then obviously, it’s probably not the best idea to rent a car.

If you’re doing a whistlestop tour of Vietnam, it’s best to fly from one destination to the next with a budget airline. However, if you have the time, there’s a definite allure in taking the 32-hour train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.

Here are a few basic tips.

Don’t rent a motorbike or a car, especially not in the cities. The traffic is crazy, to put it mildly, and even experienced drivers and riders won’t know what’s hit them(sometimes literally).

Secondly, avoid xe om drivers(unlicensed motorbike taxis), and I’d probably go as far as to say all taxis unless they’re with the Grab app. The Grab app sets a fixed price, so you won’t find yourself arriving at a destination and the driver demanding more money than the previously agreed-upon price. It’s happened more times than I care to remember.

Learn Vietnamese Words And Phrases With Ling

We hope you enjoyed our list. I’ve lived in Vietnam for five years, and there is nothing more fun than getting out there and seeing the country.

Ling has been invaluable in that time because you can have more authentic and enriching experiences with local people if you speak a little of the language. Ling’s Vietnamese courses will take you from language learning zero to hero.

If you enjoyed this blog, why not check out a few others here: gym vocabulary in Vietnamese and weather conditions in Vietnamese.