How to get from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh

Why visit Ho Chi Minh?

Ho Chi Minh is Vietnam’s largest and probably busiest metropolis. Formerly called Saigon, the city pulsates with energy and organised chaos. Its streets are packed with motorcycles day in and day out, we absolutely have no idea how everyone manages not to bump into each other!

Don’t miss a visit to the War Remnants Museum and Central Post Office, one of the oldest buildings in Ho Chi Minh. Shop (and prepare to haggle) at Ben Thanh Market, and explore the nearby Cu Chi Tunnels. When its bustling streets become too much, know that you can always find solace in one of its many cosy coffee shops.

There are 3 ways to travel the 600 kilometers (373 miles) from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh. You can choose between the bus, train and flight. The journey takes 3 hours 45 minutes to 2 days and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by flight with tickets starting at 891,000 VND ($34).

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh are the largest cities in Vietnam and are located almost end-to-end – Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Minh in the south.

The most sensible way to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh is by flight. You can complete this route by flight in just around 3 hours 45 minutes, already including the transfers to and from the airports.

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

From Hanoi city centre, you’ll have to travel 30 km north to get to Hanoi Airport, also called Noi Bai Airport.

The most cost-efficient way would be to take Express Bus 86, which departs from Hanoi Railway Station and makes several pick-ups around the Old Quarter. A ticket costs 45,000 VND ($1.70) for the journey that takes 1 hour.

You can also take a taxi or catch other buses from Hanoi centre to the airport. Check out our page on Hanoi Airport for a more detailed guide.

You will be spoiled for choice when picking a flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh. Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, Vietnam Airlines, and Vietravel Airlines operate dozens of flights for this route daily.

The flight time is around 2 hours and airfares start from 840,000 VND ($32).

We highly recommend that you book your flight ahead of time. Rates can go as high as 1,500,000 VND ($58) during peak season and when you book close to the travel date.

Ho Chi Minh Airport (Tan Son Nhat International Airport) is located some 8 km north of Ho Chi Minh city centre.

If you’re heading to the backpacker district at Pham Ngu Lao Street, the cheapest way would be to take Public Bus #152 from the airport. A ticket only costs 6,000 VND ($0.20) and travel time is around 45 minutes.

Public Bus #152 makes its final stop across Ben Thanh Market. From here, you can get to Pham Ngu Lao in about 10 minutes on foot.

Alternatively, you can book a taxi with BookAway with rates from 260,000 VND ($10) from Ho Chi Minh Airport to the city centre.

For more transport options, visit our article on Ho Chi Minh International Airport.

You can travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh by direct train, but be aware that it will be a long journey of about 1 day 10 hours to 2 days.

While it’s lengthy, riding the train is an experience in itself and offers scenic rural views along the way.

You can get a second-class seat for around 1,082,000 VND ($42). But for this long journey, we recommend booking a 4-sleeper cabin for more comfort.

Train options from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh

We don’t recommend taking the bus to get from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh. The journey can be exhausting—about 2 days.

Although bus travel might save a night on hotel costs, fares start from 2,147,000 VND ($83) and can be more expensive than flying.

If you still want to travel by bus, you can choose from two bus companies operating on this route: Grouptour and Luxury Van Limousine.

Bus options from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh