Getting Around Soc Trang
Soc Trang is a compact, easy-going city in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, and getting around it is refreshingly simple. Whether you're here to see the famous Khmer pagodas or to watch the storks at Tan Long, you won't need an elaborate transport strategy. Here's how visitors typically move around, and how to reach the city in the first place.
On Foot
The most straightforward way to explore central Soc Trang is simply to walk. The city is small enough that you can walk anywhere in town in under an hour, which makes strolling between markets, pagodas, and riverside spots entirely practical. If you're staying centrally, you can treat your own two feet as your main mode of transport for most of your sightseeing.
Xe Oms (Motorbike Taxis)
For longer hops or when the heat gets to you, xe oms are the local standby. These are motorbike taxis, and they're readily available — look for guys relaxing by their motorbikes on a street corner. The key practical tip: make sure to make the price very clear before you go. Agreeing on the fare up front avoids any awkwardness at your destination.
Buses and Public Transport
Soc Trang doesn't have a metro, tram, or rail network, so buses are the main form of public transport — and they're primarily geared toward intercity travel rather than getting around within the city itself. Regular buses run between Soc Trang and other cities along Highway 1, which connects the city to Cà Mau in the south, and to Cần Thơ, Ho Chi Minh City, and cities further north.
- From Ho Chi Minh City: Services to Soc Trang leave from the Mien Tay bus station and take roughly 5 hours.
- From Can Tho: Soc Trang is about 1 hour away by local bus.
- From Tra Vinh: Local buses only leave in the morning, so plan your onward travel accordingly.
Highway 1A links the province with Can Tho and Bac Lieu, so if you're arriving overland from elsewhere in the Delta, this is the corridor you'll likely be travelling along.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
In practice, the xe om fills the role that taxis and app-based rides serve in larger cities. If you'd prefer a car, ask at your hotel or guesthouse — staff can usually arrange one — but don't count on hailing a metered taxi off the street the way you might in Ho Chi Minh City or Can Tho.
Arriving by Air
Soc Trang has no airport of its own. Air travel to the region is served by Can Tho International Airport, located in Cần Thơ, which is approximately 60 km from the city's center. From the airport, you'll need to continue overland — typically by bus or by arranging a car — to cover the remaining stretch into Soc Trang. Given the distance, it's worth sorting out your onward transport in advance rather than arriving and improvising.
Practical Summary
- Within the city: walk, or flag down a xe om and agree the fare first.
- To and from other cities: regular buses along Highway 1, with HCMC services from Mien Tay station and a short hop from Can Tho.
- By air: fly into Can Tho International Airport, then travel overland to Soc Trang.
- No rail, metro, or tram: don't plan your trip around a train network — there isn't one here.