Ho Chi Minh City is the most vibrant city in Vietnam, where many commercial centres, companies, amusement parks, … attract tourists all around the world.
To come to Ho Chi Minh from oversea, for Australian guests, the best transportation is aeroplanes. Plenty of flights fly directly from Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City. And, the second way is to stop at Vung Tau Port on the tourist cruises. Then, you will transfer to Ho Chi Minh City around 2 hours by car.
If you move to Saigon within Vietnam, you have a lot of choices because many provinces and cities have routes to Saigon. Guests can freely choose means such as aircraft, cars, trains, … Each vehicle has its own outstanding advantages depending on your actual location.
So, base on your conditions, you will select the means to travel to Saigon most reasonably. If you stay far away, you can choose to travel by plane or train. And tourists coming from the closer provinces should choose a bus, or go by private car…to save money.
Let’s look closely on the means…
Transportation to Ho Chi Minh City
1. Arrive in Saigon by plane
There are airports in most provinces and big cities in Vietnam, so tourists can easily travel by Saigon by aeroplanes.
HCMC has Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the largest airport in the country, a stopover for flights from all parts of the country. The airport is only 10km from the city centre so it is very convenient to travel.
Airfares to Saigon are also quite cheap and many flights of the day, visitors can choose comfortably suitable for individual schedules. Furthest fly from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City has a price of from 1.500.000VND, depending on the levels and aviation companies.
2. Come to Saigon by train
The next means that tourists can choose to travel to Ho Chi Minh City is the train. This is a choice for leisure travellers who want to see the mountains and rivers along the way. Certainly, visitors will have an enjoyable experience with choosing trains to go to Saigon.
HCMC has a stop for many train routes such as North-South train, specialized trains running from Phu Yen, Nha Trang, Da Nang … The train price ranges from 200,000 to 1,000,000 VND / time. Therefore, choosing to travel by train to Saigon City is also an appropriate choice for travellers.
However, Exotic Travel Vietnam do not recommend you to travel by train all way long from Hanoi or Ninh Binh to Ho Chi Minh City. It takes too long on the trains with 30 hours. So, using trains from Central Vietnam (such as from Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet) is a good choice.
3. Travel to HCMC by coach
Buses are the vehicle chosen by most guests because most of the provinces and cities now have buses to Saigon.
HCMC has two big bus stations, the Eastern Bus Station and the Western Bus Station with a convenient location and spacious space. These stations gather all buses from all provinces and cities in Vietnam.
Passenger coaches today are quite diverse and also fully equipped so tourists can be in mind to choose. The majority of travellers from the Central and Southern provinces travel by coach to Saigon for their holidays.
Coaches are also quite cost-effective for tickets from Central to Ho Chi Minh City. HCM only about 300,000 VND / trip. The guests just need to take a nap from 8-9 hours to arrive. However, you should choose a sleeping bus, not sitting bus. With sleeping, you can lie on a comfortable bed to sleep.
4. Travelling to Saigon in a private car.
Many tourists from the neighbouring provinces such as Vung Tau, Mui Ne, Da Lat, Can Tho, Ben Tre… often use a private car to move to Ho Chi Min City. This mean is the most expensive transportation to Saigon, but it’s very flexible and comfortable. You can get door-to-door service.
This vehicle can be considered as the most convenient to move for foreign tourists in Vietnam. Depending on small or big cars you choose has different prices.
Transportation to tourist destinations within Saigon
HCMC is a prosperous, beautiful city with many interesting destinations to visit for domestic and foreign tourists. The magnificent and shimmering buildings to the simple rustic houses all make Saigon with mysterious and impressive beauty. Many tourists have loved it.
When travelling to Saigon, moving the tourist destinations in Saigon by which means is asked a lot.
If you visit HCMC with a tour, you do not have to worry about this. But if going by yourself, there will be many options of transportation to be able to enjoy your trip to this city in the most comfortable way as below.
1. Taxi or a private car
Guests can choose a taxi or a private car to go to tourist destinations in Saigon. Tourists have just avoided the scorching heat, can move quickly.
When tripping with a group of the whole family, this mean can be safe compared to other transport facilities. Therefore, a taxi or a private car would be the first choice when travelling to anywhere.
However, if you just need a transfer from point to point, you can choose a taxi because taxi’s price is counted per km. Mai Linh taxi is a nice one with the green colour of cars and phone: 028 3838 3838.
But, if you need to move many destinations and wait for you, selecting a private car with a driver is a better choice.
2. Motorcycle
Moving to Saigon tourist destinations by motorbike is also a choice of many young tourists. You can rent a motorbike at the hotels or some shops near their accommodation. This vehicle is very economic, but it’s a dangerous one because of traffic in Saigon as well as other cities in Vietnam are very chaotic. Riding a motorcycle is not recommended for foreign tourists, so you can hire someone to ride you while you can enjoy the views at the back.
Tent a motorbike is more active in time and to save money than the others. Many young visitors still use it. When riding a motorbike, download a smart map or carry a paper map is a need.
Try the feeling of exploring new routes together, the feelings of going through busy streets will become a new and unforgettable experience for the young.
3. Bus
Visit HCMC, visitors can also choose a local bus, this is the cheapest public transport in Saigon. It is very different for you to get feelings of sitting on the bus watching the crowded streets if there are rains, it is a really romantic setting.
Local buses in Saigon have many routes to welcome guests, so you can easily find a bus that is the closest to you.
Another kind of bus is Hop On Hop Off buses (route code 120) is highlighted by stopping and dropping off at the famous attractions in Ho Chi Minh City.
The 29-seat coach has air conditioning. Also, each seat is equipped with a set of speakers to introduce sights and tours that the bus is passing or coming in English, French, Russian … Especially, the wifi network connection is available on service.
The bus 120 has a route from 23-9 Park through 10 stops such as Ben Thanh market, Tran Hung Dao monument on Bach Dang wharf, Nguyen Hue walking street, headquarters of the City People’s Committee, Independence Palace, Thien Hau Pagoda, Bac Hai Thuong Lan Ong street, Soai Kinh Lam cloth market, Father Tam’s church (Francis Xavier Church), Binh Tay market …
3.4. Cyclo
Cyclo is also a tourist vehicle that many people choose when visiting attractions within a short distance. Not only domestic tourists but also foreign tourists like this vehicle.
Looking at the beautiful city and the crowded cars and people, and enjoying the slow ride of cyclo help you feel like you are in the slow-motion of movies of Saigon.
But, remember asking price correctly before getting on cyclo to avoid being disappointed later. You make sure the cost in AUD, USD or VND for how long to ride or how far to ride for one each. And, the price for reference is 1 km for max 60,000VND, or 30 minutes is 100,000VND per person per cyclo.
If you have any questions about transportation to or in Ho Chi Minh City, please contact us! We are happy to answer your questions to make your holidays more comfortable in Saigon as well as in Vietnam.