|hitch = <rating country='vn' />
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'''Vietnam''' is a country in [[South-Eastern Asia]], with borders with [[Cambodia]], [[Laos]] and [[China]]. There is no word for Hitchhiking in Vietnamese but hitchhiking in Vietnam is generally easy, especially if sticking to the AH1 (Asian Highway 1) from Hanoi to Saigon. The hitching method is to use the flat palm sign, like in China or using a sign. Using the thumb is less likely to work.
=== Mentality ===Hitchhiking in Vietnam is generally easy, especially if sticking to the QL.1 road that runs from the Chinese border in Lào Cai to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). QL.1 forms the Vietnamese part of AH1 (Asian Highway 1) so some maps show it as AH1. The hitching method is to use the flat palm sign, like in China or using a sign. Using the thumb alone is less likely to work. On the sign it's best to write "đi nhờ xe đến" followed by the name of the city (đi - to go, nhờ - ask for a favor, xe - car, đến - to arrive). This could be translated as hitchhiking to.
In Vietnamese people will often tell you that hitchhiking is impossible, but in almost any road in the country pedestrians are offered to hop in various vehicules but vehicles. Generally people are expected to pay, but the concept of a free ride is accepted if you are a foreigner. It's very cheap to use transportation Inside of the cities or when in Vietnama bad spot, you can go from Hanoi to Saigon for 20$ so you should not hitchhike here to save moneya universal "2km" sign works very well. If you're looking for adventure and want to meet the nicest Vietnamese then wave your hand!
Vietnamese people On countryside roads you will often tell not see a lot of cars, but you that hitchhiking do see a lot of motorcycle. So a good idea is impossible, [[User:Nonsờ|Nonsờ]] has barely ever waited more to buy a helmet once (costs like 5 dollars) and than 30 minutes hitchhike with over 50 rides in the countryit everywhere. The concept of a free ride is accepted if you are a strange foreigner but if you are Vietnamese people will ask you 'why be happy to stop for you , they just don't do like everyone else?want to be cought by police, becouse riding without a helmet is forbidden. It also means that your bag should be light enough, because it's going to be on your back for many kilometres.
If Using a sign with "Xin Xe" ("please drive me to") followed by your destination works well. Expect every bus and van to stop as well, even if youdon're staying with Vietnamese people and leave them with hitchhiking t have your hand stretched out. Most of the time they will charge, but you may get a free ride. Ask before entering by saying "Miễn Phí?" ("free?"). The Vietnamese can be worried about your safetyvery generous. It would If you want to be polite then to consider paying clear you want a free ride, make a bus when you leave them (even for sign that says "Cho tôi đi nhờ" in the north or "Cho tôi quá giang" in the south, it means "give me a short ride) so they are not too worried". Some minibuses will still stop and ask for money though.
Remember In cities traffic lights are common, so you can approach cars directly when they are standing and asking them where they go. That makes it more likely to smile in any situation!be taken by (faster) cars than by trucks. Generally approaching them, when they are entering their cars, increases the chances immensely to be taken by a car of choice.
=== Speed ===There are also toll gates on the QL.1 called "Tram Thu Phi" (say tram too phee), ideal places especially at night.
If you can ride around 50km/hr you can consider it a good average in Vietnam. If you want to visit some places and hitchhike at the same time try to not ride more than 300km a day as the roads are slow and streets are dark at 6pm.On the [[Hanoi]] - [[Saigon]] highway hitching with trucks is very easy. Be prepared to go very slowly, the speed limit is often 80km/hr. It took user [[User:Worldhitch|Worldhitch]] 5 days while going mellow. == Speed ==
=== Signs ===If you can ride around 50km/hr you can consider it a good average in Vietnam. If you want to visits some places and hitchhike at the same time try to not ride more than 300km a day as the roads are slow and streets are dark at 6pm. Highway QL.1 is very busy, getting a ride is easy with a sign and a good spot but riding is slow.
Using Secondary roads can be quite empty but if you get a sign with "Xin Xe" car you can go quite fast ("please drive me to"like on Ho Chi Minh highway) followed by your destination works well. Expect every bus and van to stop as wellOn some small roads, even if you don't can have your hand stretched outto wait a while before seeing any car or truck. Most of the time they will charge, but you may get a free rideAn option is then to be light enough to be able to hitchhike with moto. Ask before entering by saying "Miễn Phí?" ("free?"). The Vietnamese can Unintentionally ending up in cities should be avoided since there are very few trucks in them and very generousmany buses and motorbikes.
If you want to be clear you want a free ride, make a sign that says "Cho tôi đi nhờ" in the north or "Cho tôi quá giang" in the south, it means "give me a ride". Some minibuses will still stop and ask for money though.== Cities ==[[Hanoi]]<br/>[[Saigon]]<br/>
== Links ==
[http://marcandoelpolo.com/viajar-a-dedo-autostop-vietnam/ Information, tips and personal experiences of hitch-hiking in Vietnam. A 1433 km journey on 27 vehicles (only in spanish)], by Marcando el Polo
=== Law ===
Vietnamese insurances only allow some tourist transport companies to transport foreigners. Any other vehicule (moto, local bus, car..) will not be covered in case of a problem.There is a substantial problem with Police corruption. This is usually no problem for hitchhikers. However your driver may request that you pay the "fine". Drink driving is also common. It is up to the hitcher to use their discretion in these situations.== Personal Experiences ==
=== Hitchhiking ==='''gonzalo''' '' has successfully hitchhiked from Nha Trang to Hanoi without any inconvenient, the expression Xin đi nhờ is clear for everyone, is recommended to 'use it every time a car or motorbike stops. The waiting time for motorbikes were between one or three minutes (a sing saying 2KM helps), for cars the waiting time was around 20 minutes. The cities in Vietnam stretch for many kilometers before reaching the countryside so it is better to hitchhike motorbikes rather than walking. It can be tough to ride on a bike with a heavy backpack, if that is the case be sure to let you backpack loose so the seat will hold it instead of your back. He found only friendly and helpful people, definitely a good country to hitchhike in. ''
In the cities, the endless stream of motorbikes can be annoying, and many will stop, even if you have luggage. However most will expect payment and state this beforehand. You can get free rides with them though. This is most effective when travelling into a town from its outskirts. Unintentially ending up in cities should be avoided since there are very few trucks in them and very many buses and motorbikes.
In rural areas hitchhiking is easierHitchhikernick - hitched from border of Cambodia to china in 2 weeks (1week in Hanoi to get china visa) in September 2016. Trucks have no problem stopping Hitching was pretty easy, but 90% of the time it was a motorbike (you must wear a helmet in Vietnam-biker gave me his spare one). Only difficulty I found was when stuck in big cities, otherwise easy. Hardly ever asked for money, if at all. Average waiting time 10 mins. Be very careful where youcamp as a local cut open bottom of my tent and stole my GoPro, tried to comeback and get my wallet, but i shouted like a mad man at him and he didn't come back, that was in a temple grounds of all places in Ha-Long bay.
You may even try to get a boat ride on the Mekong.
Onlyexperiences: I hitchhiked from HO chi Minh to Hanoi February 2024 and it was super easy ! never waiting more than 30 minutes! A big advice is to use a sing ( Xin Di Dho ) it will help you to avoid taxis and people who want money === Cities =Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==* [[Hanoi]]* [[Saigon]]{{nomadwiki}}
{{IsIn|South-Eastern Asia}}
[[Category:Vietnam]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[fr:Vietnam]]