1

On the Hue to Hanoi route (i've done it 3 times) the buses are invariably full and i've seen some people complain that they've bought 2 tickets so that they have both seats to themselves yet the driver ignores them and insists on someone sitting next to them. Their pleas that they've got 2 tickets fall on deaf ears, even if they show both tickets! Also, moreso on this route than others in my experiences, the locals like listening to their own music out loud and if you managed to somehow sleep you will be woken up by someone's music at 4am without fail!

Last year doing this trip (twice) i got dropped off at the bus depot outside of Hanoi, this year all foreigners got dropped off at some random point in Hanoi. I have no idea where this place was but rest assured the motos and taxi companies know. A guy will come on the bus and tell all foreigners that if you go to his 'office' (aka hotel) then you have free taxi ride into OQ. If you have a hotel booked then get the free taxi in and just walk away when you get into OQ and go to your hotel.

2

Also they always take you to their restaurants in the middle of nowhere, you don't really have a choice but to eat there. The restaurants arent bad but some people prefer to have more options when they eat.

3

Avoid Camel tour bus, one time they have people sitting in the middle of the bus!!. Trekking and other companies are fine.

4

Thanks for the insight. I'll keep it in mind when I arrive.

5

As already mentioned, Avoid T M Brothers, They are the worst and not even the cheapest, don't expect air con or a bottle of water, if you get it you get it and thats it. Never gone between Hue and Hanoi by bus but a do a return to Saigon Nha Trang every week so I know a bit about these company's. I have tried so hard to get out of using Sinh cafe all the time just for change really but I always seem to go back to them after trying someone else, I also like PT but they can drive a bit fast sometimes.

6

The idea of being hearded, sheep-style between commission paying restaurant to commission paying guest house fills me with horror.

However if you want a CHEAP bus trip (although some of that cheapness may be lost by sub-standard guesthouses, since the commission paid has to come from somewhere), why not buy only 1-leg at a time not the whole HCMC-Hanoi. That way, if you decide you don't like that particular bus company, you can change.

7

I just want to say that i took the overnight train and slept nicely. Well it doesn't take much for me to sleep.

I used sinh cafe for the busses but i booked ad paid whenever i was ready to move on. No problems with the busses or drivers - touch wood

8

You sound like saying camel toe.

Well if you are travelling by bus, why not book city to city then. Might be best.

9

Hi folks!

Sorry to hear about all the bad experience all of you had with these buses. Actually I was sure to take one of these buses myself in my next travel. We will be travelling from Hanoi to Saigon this November.

So after reading all the comments I start to think about different options. Are there any? Taking regular buses from places to place? Train? What are the options we have there beside the open ticket buses?

Thanks!
Eugene

10

I'm going to VN this coming December, 2012. I looked up Sinh Cafe Open Tour, looks like they have a pretty well organized schedule. I did email them for more info and their csr responded very politely. I'm also planning to do the Open Bus Tour from Saigon -> Mui Ne -> Nha Trang -> Da Nang -> Hue -> Hoi An -> Ha Noi. And I'm going with a co-worker. We probably start our trip around December 9th in Saigon, is anyone else going around the same time?