How to get from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang

Why visit Nha Trang?

Nha Trang is a high-rise resort town in southeast Vietnam. Its sandy coast is regarded as one of the most beautiful bays in the world — thanks to its crescent-shaped white sand beach and clear turquoise waters.

Also known as the country’s seafood capital, Nha Trang is bustling with many offerings — from dining choices to pagodas and sculpture gardens as well as a vibrant nightlife. But if those are not enough, you can always visit the many islands nearby via boat or by cable car from Nha Trang.

There are 4 ways to travel the 435 kilometers (270 miles) from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang. You can choose between the bus, private transport, train and flight. The journey takes 2 hours 55 minutes to 10 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 373,000 VND ($14.40).

On a budget? The bus is the most affordable choice when travelling from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang.

Bus rates start from 373,000 VND ($14.40). You can choose from a variety of companies. Among these are GoEz Travel and Futa Bus.

The bus journey from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang takes around 6 hours 30 minutes to 10 hours 30 minutes, but you can travel overnight so that you won’t lose a full day on the bus ride. It’s still worth noting that bus travel is neither as safe nor as comfortable as a train ride.

We think that a few dollars more on the train is well worth the money when travelling from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang!

Departure and arrival station

When booking your ride, make sure to take note of the departure and arrival points.

Buses depart and arrive at varying locations in Ho Chi Minh and Nha Trang. Usually, that’s at their own headquarters in the two cities. If you’re staying in Pham Ngu Lao, Viet Nhat and Phuc An Express depart from the backpacker area.

Sometimes, one bus company has several pick-up locations. It’s very important to pick a bus with the most convenient bus stops for you. This way, you won’t have to spend unnecessary costs and time on finding your way to and from bus stations!

Taking the train is a very picturesque way to get from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang.

The train journey takes around 8 to 10 hours. And although this looks more than double the travel time with a flight, it will be time well spent. Train fares start from 404,000 VND ($15.60).

When you want to catch up on some sleep, you can take an overnight train from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang. This way, you won’t lose a day on travelling and can also save a night on accommodation.

Travelling by day is not a bad idea too. The train ride from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang passes along the coast and is very scenic!

We recommend booking a 4-sleeper cabin for a comfortable ride. You can also consider booking a soft seat or a 6-sleeper berth if you want to save on costs.

Departure and arrival station

Trains depart from Saigon Railway Station in District 3 of Ho Chi Minh, some 3.5 km northwest of Pham Ngu Lao Street.

You are to get off at Nha Trang Train Station, located 2 km west of the main beach.

Travelling by flight is the fastest option from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang, at least on paper.

But when you consider the travel time when going to and from the airports, the waiting time for your flight, and the time you spend on getting your luggage, then we’re looking at about 6 hours on this flight journey.

We think that taking a direct train would be a better value for money when travelling from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang.

But if you still prefer to take a flight, read on for a step-by-step guide.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

Ho Chi Minh Airport (also called Tan Son Nhat) is located 45 minutes from the city centre. We recommend taking Public Bus #152 to the airport. A ticket only costs 6,000 VND ($0.20) and the buses offer a good level of comfort.

Public Bus #152 departs from across Ben Thanh Market, which you can reach in just 10 minutes on foot from the backpacker area in Pham Ngu Lao.

Alternatively, you can book a private transfer online via BookAway. Rates start from 260,000 VND ($10) for a 3-seater car.

Visit our guide on Ho Chi Minh Airport for more transport options.

There are many flights leaving from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang every day. These are operated by Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, and Vietnam Airlines.

Flight fares start from 570,000 VND ($22). Do note that ticket prices can go over 1,000,000 VND ($38.50) when you book close to your desired date. This is why we highly recommend always buying your plane tickets well in advance.

The plane ride from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang takes 1hour 10minutes.

Cam Ranh Airport and Nha Trang city centre are separated by a 35 km distance.

To get to your hotel, you can either take the airport bus for 74,000 VND ($2.90) or a taxi for 226,000 VND ($8.70). Travel time is 45 minutes to 1 hour

To skip the lines at the airport as well as avoid touts trying to offer expensive taxi rides, it’s best to pre-book your bus or private transfer online through BookAway.

See our page on Cam Ranh Airport for more details.

A private transfer is a convenient option when travelling in a group from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang.

Rates start from 3,708,000 VND ($145) for a 3-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s just about 1,236,000 VND ($47.50) per person. Travel time is around 6 to 9 hours.

Private Transport options from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang