Dalat to Vũng Tàu Night Bus – When It All Goes Wrong
If you’ve been following our North to South Vietnam backpacking adventure, you’ll know that things don’t always go smoothly on the road. On this leg, we took the Dalat to Vung Tau night bus, hoping to make an early morning boat connection to an island. Instead, what should have been a simple overnight journey turned into a real backpacking mishap—and a story worth sharing.
A Rushed Start at the Bus Station
It all began with a slightly chaotic evening in Dalat. We received a WhatsApp message saying our bus was leaving in 15 minutes—cue a mad dash across town. Despite rushing to the location, confusion struck almost immediately. We realised we’d somehow double-booked transport: one ticket for the bus we’d decided against, and one for the bus we were actually trying to catch.
That mistake only cost us around $23, but it was a reminder that in the rush of backpacking, it’s very easy to make small errors with bookings.
The Dalat to Vung Tau Night Bus Ride
The night bus itself was an adventure. Sleeper buses in Vietnam are famous for their reclining bunks, but also for their cramped spaces and less-than-perfect comfort. As budget backpackers, we embraced the experience—though sleep was patchy at best.
By the time we rolled into Vũng Tàu, we were exhausted, bleary-eyed, and still facing the challenge of catching our boat to the island.
When Plans Fall Apart
Here’s where things really went wrong. The timings didn’t line up, communication was tricky, and before we knew it, the chance to board our onward boat had slipped through our fingers.
Travel in Vietnam—especially when relying on a chain of connections—requires a healthy dose of flexibility. Our carefully-laid plans crumbled, and we were left improvising a new route forward.
Discovering Vũng Tàu
Sometimes, the best parts of travel come from mishaps. Stuck in Vũng Tàu longer than expected, we had the chance to explore this coastal city.
We strolled along the seafront, admired the working fishing boats, and cooled off with a swim alongside local families enjoying the evening.
Lessons for Budget Backpackers
What did we learn from our Dalat to Vũng Tàu night bus adventure?
- Double-check bookings. Apps and websites sometimes don’t cancel tickets correctly—always confirm.
- Build in buffer time. Transport in Vietnam can run late, so don’t plan tight connections.
- Embrace mishaps. Getting stranded led us to discover a new city we might otherwise have skipped.
For anyone planning this route, check timetables on services like 12Go Asia before you commit, and allow room for flexibility in your plans.
Overall, the Dalat to Vung Tau night bus was a journey we’ll never forget—equal parts frustrating and unforgettable
More From Our Vietnam Adventure
If you missed the beginning of our journey, check out our first post in the series: Our Air India Flight and Arrival in Hanoi.
And if you’d like to dive deeper into Vietnam travel, our full Vietnam guidebook is available on Amazon.
Final Thoughts
The Dalat to Vũng Tàu night bus was meant to be a straightforward leg of our Vietnam backpacking trip. Instead, it turned into one of those chaotic travel stories we’ll never forget. Sometimes, “when it all goes wrong” is when the real adventure begins.
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