This guide covers whether you’re going from Ho Chi Minh Airport to the City or HCMC to Ho Chi Minh Airport as you’ll need to know the best way to travel between these two destinations. There are several options for transport between Ho Chi Minh Airport and the City of Ho Chi Minh, but what’s the best way to go from Ho Chi Minh Airport to the City? And what are the options for traveling to Ho Chi Minh City from Ho Chi Minh Airport? Here’s our guide on how to get to Saigon from Ho Chi Minh Airport
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Where is Ho Chi Min City?
Ho Chi Minh City lies on the Saigon River, it is the largest city in Vietnam and is the business and financial center of Vietnam. It’s not the capital city, that’s Hanoi. Ho Chi Minh City was previously known as Saigon (and still is sometimes). There are about 7 million residents of the city and the airport here is the main Vietnamese airport where more visitors arrive into. The airport (SGN) or Tan Son Nhat International Airport is located 7.4 kilometers (4.6 miles) to the north of district 1 of the city center.
Ho Chi Minh City is located in the southeast of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City is by road 1484 kilometers from Hanoi. The city is 237 kilometers from Cambodia’s capital city, Phnom Penh.
Our guide on the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City is here.
How to Go from Ho Chi Minh Airport to Ho Chi Minh City – Transport Options
It’s less than 5 miles by road from the Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) to the main district 1 city center of Ho Chi Minh City. It takes between 30 and 45 minutes to go from the airport to the city, depending on traffic. And there are several public buses than run this route. You can take the Yellow Airport Bus 109, the Yellow Airport Bus 49, or the Public Bus 152. You’ll need to pay cash for these buses and the details of their costs are below. You can also take a taxi from the airport and pay cash for that too. To prebook and prepay a transfer from HCMC airport to the city you can check here.
How to get to City from Ho Chi Minh Airport
For transport from Ho Chi Minh Airport to City, then you have several options. You can take a public bus from Ho Chi Minh Airport to City, you can take an airport bus to Ho Chi Minh City from Ho Chi Minh Airport, you can take a taxi from Ho Chi Minh Airport to the City, or you can prebook a transfer.
1. Ho Chi Minh Airport to City Taxi
Taking a taxi to Ho Chi Minh Airport is the quickest (and most comfortable) way to get to the city. It can take as little as 45 minutes to go from Ho Chi Minh Airport to the city by taxi. This is the quickest way to go to HCMC from Ho Chi Minh Airport. You can book a taxi to City from Ho Chi Minh Airport and pay for it here.
You can use a taxi from outside the airport terminal. A taxi from the airport terminal to HCMC will cost about 120,000 VND. You should ask the driver to put the meter on or agree on a rate before you get in the car. You’ll need to pay cash for your taxi.
Alternatively, you can pre-book a taxi from HCMC airport to the center here.
2. The Airport Buses from Ho Chi Minh Airport to HCMC
Two airport buses run from the airport to the city center. They cost from 20,000 VND to 40,000 VND. Airport buses run with English-speaking staff. The buses are the number 49 and the number 109. Bus number 49 has fewer stops, so it’s a little quicker, but it’s also a little more expensive.
Airport Bus #49 from Ho Chi Minh Airport to HCMC
Yellow Bus #49 costs 40,000 VND. This is a fixed fare regardless of where you get off. This bus departs from Column 12 in the international terminal or Column 18 in the Domestic Terminal. The bus stops are easy to spot as they have yellow booths at both the international terminal and the domestic terminal. The bus runs to Dien Bien Phu, but it stops by the backpacker street (Pham Ngu Lao ) and also the Ben Thanh bus station. This bus from SGN airport runs from 5:30 am until 12:30 am and departs every 15-20 minutes. The Yellow #49 bus takes about 45 minutes to go from the airport to HCMC.
The Yellow Bus #49 route from the airport is as follows (these are the stops): Tan Son Nhat Airport International Terminal, Domestic terminal, Truong Son, Tran Quoc Hoan, Hoang Van Thu, Nguyen Van Troi, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Le Duan, Cong Xa Paris, Dong Khoi, Dong Du, Hai Ba Trung, Ton Duc Thang, Ham Nghi, Ben Thanh (Bus Station), Pham Ngu Lao (Backpacker Street), Nguyen Trai, Le Lai, Nguyen Huu Canh, Cach Mang Thang 8, Dien Bien Phu.
You can’t prebook this bus or pay with a card. You’ll need to pay cash. You can buy tickets either on the bus or at the booth at the airport.
Airport Bus #109 from Ho Chi Minh Airport to HCMC
Yellow Bus #109 costs 20,000 VND to go to district one and the backpacker street. Tell the driver where you want to go and he will tell you the price. This bus departs from Column 12 in the international terminal or Column 18 in the Domestic Terminal. The bus stops are easy to spot as they have yellow booths at both the international terminal and the domestic terminal.
The bus runs to Park 23/9, but it stops by the backpacker street (Pham Ngu Lao ) and also the Ben Thanh bus station. This bus from SGN airport runs from 5:30 am until 1 am and departs every 15-20 minutes. The Yellow #49 bus takes about 45 minutes to go from the airport to HCMC.
The Yellow Bus #109 route from the airport is as follows (these are the stops): Tan Son Nhat Airport International Terminal, Domestic terminal, Truong Son, Tran Quoc Hoan, Hoang Van Thu, Nguyen Van Troi, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Cach Mang Thang Tam, Pham Hong Thai, Le Lai, Ben Thanh (Bus Station), Pham Ngu Lao (Backpacker Street), 23/9 Park.
You can’t prebook this bus or pay with a card. You’ll need to pay cash. You can buy tickets either on the bus or at the booth at the airport.
3. Ho Chi Minh Airport to City Bus
The public bus, number 152 is the cheapest way to go from the airport to Ho Chi Minh city. This bus runs only until 6 pm and the cost is 10,000 VND to the center of Ho Chi Minh City. The public bus from Saigon (or Ho Chi Minh) airport to Ho Chi Minh City is easy. The public bus number 152 goes from right outside the arrivals and costs 6,000 VND per person. If you have luggage, then you’ll have to pay for a ticket for your luggage too. (and it’s the same cost for your bag as it is for you). Bus 152 takes about 50 minutes to go from the airport to the city center.
Of course, arriving at the airport means that you probably don’t have any Vietnamese money or small change! There are several ATMs as you exit arrivals, all of which accept foreign cards. And the bus driver is an expert at managing change. Sitting in the front of the bus means you get to see everything. And everything means the sea of motorbikes, the interesting riding, and driving. Of course, if this puts you off, you can just stay on the bus and go back to the airport.
Bus 152 finishes at the roundabout at the Ben Thanh market, this is about 10 minutes walk to the backpacker street (Pham Ngu Lao)
Traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to the Airport
To do this route in reverse, it’s easiest, if you’re taking the buses to go to the bus station.
For Public Bus 152 from Ho Chi Minh to the Airport
Go to the Ben Thanh Bus station, which is a group of bus stops on Ham Nghi. You can see it on our map.
For Airport Buses from Ho Chi Minh to the Airport
The airport buses are the only buses that are yellow colored, so they are easy to spot at the bus station. For the airport buses, you need to go to SAIGON BUS STATION. You can see where that is on our map of bus stops. There is an information counter here for the airport buses, but they do not sell tickets, you’ll need to buy tickets on the bus.
Taxis from Ho Chi Minh to the Airport
It’s easy to take a taxi to the airport from Ho Chi Minh City. If you hail one on the street, then be sure to have them put the meter on or agree on a price before you get in. Alternatively, prebook and prepay your taxi to the airport here.
Map of Bus Stops for going from Ho Chi Minh Airport to City
You can also see the train station and bus stops from Ho Chi Minh Airport to City here
The quickest way to get from Ho Chi Minh Airport to City
The quickest way to get to City from Ho Chi Minh Airport is to take a taxi. It takes as little as 45 minutes to drive from City from Ho Chi Minh Airport and you can book a taxi from Ho Chi Minh Airport to City here.
The cheapest way to go from Ho Chi Minh Airport to City
The cheapest way to get to City from Ho Chi Minh Airport is to take a bus, –the public bus 152 is the cheapest.
The best way to go from Ho Chi Minh Airport to City
If it’s your first time in Vietnam then I’d recommend either going all in and taking the 152 public bus (it’s great fun) or prebooking a taxi. The traffic is as wild as you imagine it is.
Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City
There are some great places to stay in Ho Chi Minh City – here’s our pick of the luxury places to stay in Ho Chi Minh City, mid-range places to stay in Ho Chi Minh City, and budget accommodations in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Myst Dong Khoi, Ho Chi Minh City: The Myst Dong Khoi luxury hotel is perfectly located in central Ho Chi Minh City and near the Song Sai Gon River. The rooms at this luxury HCMC hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV, air-conditioning, an in-room safe, a private bathroom with a deep stone bathtub, a Bluetooth music player, and complimentary WiFi, while selected rooms have a view of the Song Sai Gon River. This luxury hotel in Ho Chi Minh City has a unique design reminiscent of old Saigon and Vietnamese culture and is ideal for those looking to immerse themselves in Vietnam’s rich culture. Enjoy Vietnamese cuisine at the in-house restaurant, The Nest, sip coffee at Bason Café, and enjoy the night admiring the view of the city at the rooftop lounge, Bar Bleu. This top hotel in Ho Chi Minh City also has a rooftop pool, a spa service, and a fitness center. The Myst Dong Khoi Hotel is the perfect place for a world-class stay in Ho Chi Minh City. Read more reviews and check availability and rates here.
Silverland Jolie Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City: The Silverland Jolie Hotel is situated in Ho Chi Minh City’s busy center, surrounded by the main things to see in HCMC. Each room here has a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom with a bathroom and toiletries, complimentary WiFi, a seating area, and a view of the river. Enjoy buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the restaurant, and drinks at the rooftop garden bar. The rooftop Jacuzzi pool is perfect for relaxing, and there’s also an exercise area, a sauna, and a steam room. The Silverland Jolie Hotel is a fantastic place to stay when visiting Ho Chi Minh City. This mid-range HCMC hotel is pretty popular, so check out the availability and room rates here.
Motel Ben Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City: The Motel Ben Thanh is located right in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, perfect for a budget place to stay while being close to the popular attractions of the city. This budget HCMC motel offers rooms with a flat-screen TV, a fridge, air-conditioning, a private bathroom with a hairdryer, an iron and ironing board, a desk, and a balcony. There’s room service and a shared kitchen here and there’s also a laundry service. Free WiFi is also available throughout the motel. The Motel Ben Thanh is a good budget-friendly place to stay in Ho Chi Minh City. See room rates and availability here.
Key Routes to Travel in Vietnam
Want to know more about different forms of transport in Vietnam? Our guide to Vietnam transport is here. And here’s how to travel some of the popular routes around Vietnam, your options, and how we did it.
- How to go from Ho Chi Minh Airport to HCMC
- How to go from Hanoi Airport to the City
- How to go from Phong Nha to Hanoi
- Best way to go from Mui Ne to Dalat
- How to go from Hanoi to Hue
- How to go from Hoi An to Hue
- How to go from Ho Chi Minh City to the Cu Chi Tunnels
- How to get to Phu Quoc Island
- How to go from Hoi An to Danang
- How to go from Vietnam to Cambodia
- How to go from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh
- How to go to Mui Ne from Ho Chi Minh City
- How to go from Hanoi to Sapa
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Final Words on How to Go from Ho Chi Minh Airport to City
It is a short journey from the airport to Ho Chi Minh City and it’s an easy one. If you want to take a bus you’ll need to pay cash, so use the ATMs in the arrival hall. If you want to take a taxi from the airport to HCMC, then either agree on the price upfront or ask the driver to put the meter on. Alternatively, make for an easy ride and prebook and prepay a transfer. Enjoy!
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