S1 E46 | Sleeper Bus Journey from Da Lat to Da Nang in Vietnam

Leaving the cool highlands of Da Lat behind, we boarded a sleeper bus to Da Nang—Vietnam’s vibrant coastal city. Since we couldn’t film our earlier ride from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat, we thought this was the perfect chance to show what traveling in a USD 14 Vietnamese sleeper bus really looked like.

From the moment we were picked up at our hostel by a friendly minivan, the experience already felt unique. At the bus station, we checked in our backpacks with bright rain covers that kept them clean and dry. Shoes weren’t allowed inside the bus—everyone had to place them in plastic bags and later swap into communal flip-flops during meal stops.

The bus interior was narrow, with three rows of semi-reclined seats stacked tightly together. It wasn’t the most spacious ride, but there were small comforts: bottled water, occasional Wi-Fi, and charging ports. Still, sleep came only in short bursts as passengers got on and off through the night. By the time we reached Da Nang bus station in the morning, we were exhausted but excited.

That’s when the real challenge began. Our OYO booking failed us again, leaving us stranded without a room. Luckily, Agoda quickly came to the rescue, rebooking us at a beachside hotel—though not before plenty of drama at the reception desk. While waiting, we stumbled upon a small family-run shop selling fresh bánh mì for just 7,000 VND. The owners didn’t speak much English, but their warm smiles and extra chili sauce made the sandwiches unforgettable.

When we finally checked into the new hotel, the room turned out to be the nicest we’d stayed in so far on our Vietnam journey—clean, spacious, and even stocked with toiletries. After freshening up, we wandered into a lantern-lit alleyway and discovered a vegan restaurant serving a vegetarian version of bánh xèo, Vietnam’s iconic rice flour pancake. For just VND 70,000, we enjoyed a full-course meal with spring rolls, sauces, and tofu-filled dishes that felt like a feast.

The day ended on a sweet note with strawberry yogurt at a local café, a reminder that travel isn’t always easy—especially when dealing with sleepless nights and booking hiccups—but the small joys always made it worthwhile.