During major holidays (April 30th - May 1st, National Day Sept 2nd, New Year) and especially the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet), the demand for booking buses from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta provinces always spikes. "Sold-out" tickets within minutes of opening, overloaded fake buses along the way, or ticket prices pushed up 2-3 times higher than usual are constant nightmares. Below is a detailed A-Z guide to help you proactively book high-quality, fairly priced bus tickets for the safest and most comfortable journey.
1. When Do Bus Companies Sell Tet Tickets? The Golden Time to Hunt
The biggest mistake many people make is waiting until close to the holidays to start looking for tickets. For peak periods, major bus companies always schedule ticket sales very early and divide them into multiple phases:
- 🗓️ Phase 1 (1.5 - 2 months before Tet): Usually opens for ultra-long routes (like from HCMC to Ca Mau, Rach Gia, Bac Lieu). Tickets sold in this phase are mostly online on the websites/apps of major companies like Phuong Trang, Kumho Samco, Tuan Hung. This phase has the best seats available (lower bunks, middle rows).
- 🗓️ Phase 2 (3 - 4 weeks before Tet): Bus companies start selling tickets directly at counters in Mien Tay Bus Station for customers not familiar with technology. At the same time, shorter routes (to Can Tho, Vinh Long, Dong Thap) are opened.
- 🗓️ Extra Phase (1 - 2 weeks before Tet): When tickets from Phase 1 and 2 run out, major companies will add extra buses (often contracted vehicles licensed for Tet routes). Note: Extra buses might not have the premium sleeper quality as the official brand buses, or might have slightly higher empty-return surcharges.
2. Step-by-Step Guide to Successful Online Holiday Bus Booking
To avoid exhausting queues at Mien Tay Bus Station on peak days, buying tickets online via app or e-wallet is the optimal choice. The exact process is as follows:
Prepare personal information in advance
15 minutes before the sale opens, write down in your phone notes: Passenger's full name, Phone number, ID card number, and have your banking app or e-wallet (MoMo, ZaloPay, ShopeePay) ready with sufficient funds for quick transactions.
Use official booking apps
Access official apps directly (FUTA app, Kumho app) or via Vietnam's largest reputable ticket portal, **Vexere**. Avoid buying on unfamiliar personal websites or intermediary Facebook groups with fake identities.
Pay immediately
During holidays, bus company systems will automatically cancel held reservations if not paid within 5 - 10 minutes. Therefore, you need to choose payment methods via bank transfer QR codes or e-wallets to complete the transaction instantly.
Check and save the e-ticket QR code
After payment, the system will send a confirmation SMS/Email with the e-ticket QR code. Take a screenshot and save it so you only need to scan the code at the station to board the bus, without fear of losing a paper ticket.
3. Be Aware of Holiday Ticket Refund/Cancellation Policies
A crucial point many passengers ignore is that holiday refund/cancellation policies are extremely strict compared to normal days:
- Longer required time: On normal days, you can cancel tickets 2 - 4 hours prior without fees or with a light 10% fee. But during Tet, bus companies usually require cancellation 24 to 48 hours before departure.
- High cancellation fees: The refund/cancellation fee during Tet is usually **30% to 50%** of the ticket value to limit ticket hoarding and last-minute returns.
- No ticket exchanges: Most companies will not support changing the date or trip during the Lunar New Year. If you want to change, you must cancel the old ticket (with a fee) and book a new one yourself.
4. Comparing Buses to the Mekong Delta for Tet: Which to Choose for Less Fatigue?
The journey from Saigon to the Mekong Delta during Tet often takes twice as long (e.g., normally 7 - 8 hours to Ca Mau, but during Tet, it can be 12 - 14 hours due to massive traffic jams). Choosing the right type of bus will directly affect your health:
| Bus Type | Design | Pros During Tet | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIP Limousine Room (20 - 24 rooms) | Each passenger has a private cabin with curtains, massage chairs, charging ports, and entertainment screens. | Absolute privacy, comfortable to lie down and rest undisturbed, convenient phone charging during long jams. | Highest ticket price (often 1.5 times a regular bus), sells out extremely fast. |
| Premium Sleeper (34 - 36 beds) | New generation sleeper beds with low partitions between beds. More spacious than regular buses. | Reasonable price, comfortable enough for long journeys. | No fully enclosed curtains, fewer personal entertainment amenities than VIP rooms. |
| Regular Sleeper (40 - 44 seats) | 3 parallel rows of traditional double-decker beds without partitions. | Highest quantity of tickets, easy to book during extra phases. Most economical fare. | Narrow space, noisy, and hard to sleep on crowded Tet buses. |
5. Tips to Prevent Motion Sickness & Protect Your Health During Tet Traffic Jams
Traffic jams stretching from My Thuan Bridge to Trung Luong Junction are terrifying for those prone to motion sickness. Apply these highly practical tips:
💊 Prepare medicine & Good seating positions
Take motion sickness medicine 30 minutes before departure. When booking, try to hunt for beds on the lower tier (A) and in the middle of the bus (beds number 4 to 8 depending on the company). This is where the bus rides smoothest, with less swaying, and avoids engine vibrations at the rear.
🎒 Bring snacks & Water
During Tet, rest stops along the highway (like Le Hoang, Minh Khai stops) are always dreadfully overcrowded. Buying food or going to the restroom there is very time-consuming. You should carry a small water bottle, some bread, ginger candy, or dried fruits to proactively recharge your energy.
6. Golden Rules for Catching Buses on Peak Days to Avoid Missing Trips
Traffic jams around Mien Tay Bus Station and the western gateways of Saigon (Kinh Duong Vuong St, National Route 1A, An Lac roundabout) are "specialties" every holiday. Even with a ticket in hand, the risk of missing your bus is very high if not prepared:
- Arrive 90 minutes early: Normally 30 minutes is enough, but on holidays, be at Mien Tay Bus Station at least an hour and a half before departure. The roads will be extremely crowded, and queuing to get paper tickets at automated machines takes longer.
- Utilize shuttle buses: If you book Phuong Trang, register for the door-to-door shuttle service in the city center when booking. Their shuttles will calculate appropriate pick-up times to ensure you don't miss your trip.
- Board at representative offices: Instead of squeezing into Mien Tay Bus Station, many companies have private offices in District 5 (Le Hong Phong) or District 10 where passengers can board directly before heading to the station. Ask the staff carefully to choose the most convenient boarding point near your home.
7. How to Identify and Avoid "Fake Buses, Price Gouging" During Tet
Fake buses (xe dù) are unregistered vehicles that don't operate fixed routes from stations, often circling to pick up passengers along the way and finding every way to gouge prices. Pocket these tips to protect yourself:
Never catch a bus along the road
Do not wait to hail buses at An Suong intersection, Ga intersection, Binh Phuoc intersection, or along National Route 1A. Taking these buses means being packed tightly in the aisles, enduring an exhausting slow ride as they gather passengers, and prices arbitrarily hiked 2-3 times midway.
Recognize authorized surcharge fares
During Lunar New Year, the government allows companies a surcharge of **40% - 60%** on peak direction fares to offset the cost of empty return trips. If a bus company demands a 100% - 200% surcharge, it's a price-gouging fake bus.
Beware of social media "ticket touts"
When apps run out of tickets, many people on Facebook travel groups post offering to transfer tickets at original prices. There are many cases where passengers transfer deposits and are immediately blocked. Only buy tickets from official companies or authenticated platforms with invoices.
8. Other Important Notes When Taking Holiday Buses
- Packing specialties as gifts: Tet is an occasion to bring many gifts and specialties (like Soc Trang pia cakes, Lai Vung fermented pork, fresh Nam Can crabs). Live seafood must be packed in tightly sealed styrofoam boxes stored in the luggage compartment; companies will refuse them if smells reach the cabin.
- Sending pets (dogs, cats): Transport safety regulations strictly forbid taking pets into the passenger cabin. You can only send pets in the bus's luggage hold (with a fee). However, the hold during Tet is packed with luggage, lacks oxygen, and gets extremely hot. Consider this carefully to avoid affecting your pet's health.
- Valuables on your person: Phones, wallets, jewelry, and laptops should be kept in a small backpack worn close to you on your bed. Never leave them in the luggage hold to prevent loss.
💡 Tip for Tet Tour guests at Bà Ngoại Homestay:
Tet is an extremely busy peak season for eco-tourism in Ca Mau. If you book Bà Ngoại Homestay as your resting spot and base for exploring U Minh Melaleuca Forest and Ca Mau Cape (like the 2D1N Tour), please contact Mr. Bì (hotline 0919 244 834) to secure your accommodation before booking bus tickets. When your bus arrives at Ca Mau Bus Station, Mr. Bì's private tourist car will pick up your group for free and take you to the homestay very attentively!
Article Author
Trần Bì (Founder of Bà Ngoại Homestay)
Mr. Tran Bi is a local expert on culture, history, and eco-tourism in Ca Mau, with over 10 years of experience guiding tour groups to explore U Minh Ha Forest and the Cape.
Experience Authentic Ca Mau Tourism
Join Uncle Ba Khia to explore the Cape, traverse mangrove forests, catch crabs, harvest honey, and stay at Mr. Bi's refreshing eco-homestay.