Bus stations
Hanoi never consolidated its bus stations: My Dinh, Giap Bat, Nuoc Ngam, Gia Lam, Yen Nghia and Son Tay each own a wedge of the map. The sleeper-bus culture fills the gaps between them.
My Dinh (west, on the elevated metro line) is the biggest: the northwest gate for Sapa, Dien Bien, Ha Giang and the Lao Cai corridor, with sleeper berths at Vietnamese prices. Giap Bat (south) covers Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa and the central provinces. Nuoc Ngam in the southeast is the long-haul specialist — Hoang Long’s network runs to Da Nang, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City itself, plus Cat Ba.
Gia Lam (east, by the Long Bien bridge) serves Hai Phong, Quang Ninh and the Chinese border at Mong Cai; Yen Nghia (southwest) takes Hoa Binh and Son La; Son Tay covers the ancient capital’s old province. Public city buses link all of them — routes 03B, 16, 21B, 28, 48 and the 60-series stop at Nuoc Ngam alone.
Vietnam’s intercity culture is the cabin sleeper: double-deck berths, AC, Wi-Fi, and fares that make the train look extravagant — Sapa from My Dinh in about six hours, Ha Giang overnight for the loop. For the short hops the limousine minivan (9 seats, hotel pickup) has eaten the market: Ninh Binh, Hai Phong and Ha Long are now mostly van rides booked by the hotel desk. Book everything through Vexere or the operator hotlines; arrive 30 minutes early, and keep small dong notes for the station snack carts.
THE TIO READ
For Sapa we take the night train to Lao Cai — romance aside, it beats the mountain road — but for Ha Giang the sleeper from My Dinh is the only sensible start of the loop. For everything within 150 km, ask your hotel for the limousine van: door-to-door beats any station. And learn the six-station map before you book: a ticket out of the wrong terminal is a 90-minute Grab ride, not a walk.
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