The “sleeper bus”, as expats affectionately call it, is a common way to travel around Southeast Asia, and Vietnam especially. Rob and I took a few of these busses during our travels around Ho Chi Minh City. Aside from my crippling anxiety before boarding for one in particular 10-hour ride, the busses are comfortable, convenient, and cheap.
As with most things, for every joy the sleeper bus offers, there is also a woe.
Joy 1: You get your own space.
Woe 1: If you’re larger than the average Vietnamese, you will not fit.
Joy 2: They give you a super comfy blanket.
Woe 2: There is no telling when it was last washed.
Joy 3: You get where you want to be.
Woe 3: They only stop once and there are no working bathrooms on the bus.
Joy 4: You can get pretty comfortable in those recliner chairs.
Woe 4: Some people get a little too comfortable.
Joy 5: You can watch the country side roll by at a brisk pace (the drivers are not slow).
Woe 5: You are freezing the entire time since the AC is blasted.
Joy 6: They have sweet, techno-club inspired lights on for night rides.
Woe 6: They play techno-club music on full blast during night rides.
Regardless of the woes, a $6 dollar ride to a beach town just can’t be beat.
RQ: Would you take a sleeper bus? Have you ever been on something like it?
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Wow, I have never seen anything like that! Are they pretty sanitary? It looks like a much more comfortable way to travel, rather than sitting upright and crammed in a seat. I would avoid beverages at all costs because knowing me, stopping once for a bathroom break would not cut it.
Wow-these look better than the sleeper buses I took in China. They were nasty and old, but if you were tired enough, they got you where you needed to go without really thinking about it because you could sleep right through the ride!
I wouldn’t last on a bus with no working bathrooms! I would most definitely be the annoying person asking the driver to please stop at a restroom 10 times 🙂
Aside from the sanitary concerns (and no bathroom), this definitely looks like a convenient way to travel!
It all sounds good except for 10 hours with no bathroom – that would not be good!!!!
My thoughts precisely. That was my main problem with them. I had to stop drinking water a long time before we got on the bus.
I have never heard of “sleeper buses” until now! Very interesting!!!!!!
The no bathroom thing was a little stressful for me, but you could get pretty cozy on them.