Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City: 5 Ways to Travel

Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon) is the business and financial hub of Vietnam, with a prominent history going back hundreds of years. The city has recovered in the 30 years since then, with the current population is about over 7 million. While Hanoi is the center of government, Ho Chi Minh City is the nation’s, economic heart. Ho Chi Minh City is about 1160 km (on air) and 1630 km (on land) away from Hanoi. With the development of transportation, traveling from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City has never been easier, especially, they are two of the biggest cities in Vietnam.
However, it is sometimes a difficult thing to choose one suitable vehicle to go. This article gives you all the available transport options to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. From all of that information, we hope that you could concern about the pros & cons of each type and make your own best decisions.

I. Getting from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by airplane - The fastest way

1. How to catch Taxi to Noi Bai International Airport

It is easy to get a taxi to travel from Hanoi’s center to Noi Bai International Airport. You can call any taxi brands for you to book one. In the easiest way, you may catch any taxi drivers that you see on the street. They will very happy to accept bringing you to the Airport. Normally, the price will be about VND 200,000-250,000 depending on the taxi and types of vehicles. However, you can deal with the driver to have a better price. Most taxi drivers can speak English and they are also very friendly so you can communicate with them easily. The standard of most of the cab is good because they are usually taken care of by their owners.

2.  The contact information of some taxi brands in Hanoi

3. How to book a flight ticket

There are a lot of flights every day from Hanoi to Tan Son Nhat International Airport. You can choose anytime you want to go because the numbers of Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh flights in one day is so many. The airlines that service Hanoi to Tan Son Nhat International Airport is:

More additional information:

4. How to go to Ho Chi Minh City center from Tan Son Nhat International Airport

One advantage of traveling to Ho Chi Minh City by airplane is that Tan Son Nhat International Airport is just 8 km far away from the center. You can easily catch a taxi or book a 4 seats car to move to your hotel with the price of VND 80,000 – 100,000. There are also some bus routes to bring the customer from the airport to the center with only VND 30,000.

Currently, in Ho Chi Minh City, there are about more than 12,000 cabs and it is the biggest number of cabs all over Vietnam’s cities.

 

5. What are the pros and cons of getting from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by airplane

Nowadays, Airplane is one of the most convenient and comfortable ways to move from place to place, especially the far distance like Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh. Another reason makes airline becomes everyone’s favorite transportation is its speed. An airplane can shorten your trip and allow you to have the best physical fitness. It takes about 2 hours to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by airplane and 60 minutes to transfer.

On the other hand, there are many cases that flights will be delayed for a period of time, or worse, they are delayed without warning. There are a lot of Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh flights in one day. Thus, the rate that you have a delayed flight is also higher than others. Your schedule will be affected slightly so please arrange everything carefully and prepare mentality for this situation. However, the advantages of using airlines still outweigh the disadvantages.

II. Getting from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by train - An interesting experience

1. How to book a train ticket from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

It is very easy to book a train ticket at this moment. You can purchase the train ticket at 12go.asia,duongsatvietnam.com or dailyvetauhoa.com.

On the other hand, you can go to Hanoi Station at no.120 Le Duan Street, Dong Da District to buy one. The procedure to buy tickets is extremely simple, you just need to present your ID or passport to sales staff. Directly payment by cash or through a credit card are both acceptable, there will be a lot of the signs for you to buy tickets quickly. Debit/Credit cards accepted: VISA, MasterCard, JCB only or you can pay through PayPal in 12go.asia.

There are about 5-6 trains every day of Vietnam Railways from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (or called Reunification Express train). There is also a luxury tourist train called Violette Train with a double price.

Some information about the ticket price

2. What are the advantages of getting from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh by train

First of all, it is very easy for you to go to Hanoi Station if your accommodation in the center of Hanoi. Second, the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh railway belongs to North-South Railway (or Unity Railway)-the longest railway in Vietnam. Traveling from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh by train will take you about 35 hours. A train travels along the length of the country and the scenes you are going to see from the window of your cabin and the people you are going to meet en route will definitely enrich your impressions about Vietnam. You are going to see impressive scenery while traveling, and the way between Hue and Da Nang is especially picturesque with mountainous vistas and marine unfolding in front of your eyes as the train runs along the sea coast.

On the other hand, traveling by train is very safe, the rate of serious accidents caused by trains is the lowest among all of the transportation. Moreover, the number of casualties in those accidents is always a little so you can be assured.

Saigon railway station is in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, about 1 km from the city center. Thus, you can easily catch a taxi or a bus to go to your destination in the city after the train stops.

3. What are the disadvantages of traveling from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by train

Traveling by train in Vietnam is an interesting experience, but not so fast. Transferring from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City is taking 35 hours. It is too long if you want to compare with 2 hours of using airlane. In addition, the ticket price is also high. It is almost as expensive as the normal airplane ticket, however, the train ticket has never had some big sale-off like the airplane. Another disadvantage of railway transport is its inflexibility. Its routes and timings cannot be tailored to a single individual. Last but not the least, toilets, bathrooms and other public areas on trains can often be dirty or non-functional. Moreover, on holiday vacation, the traveling need of people is very high, so the volume of booking a train ticket is huge. You should make your decision as soon as possible and book one ticket for your own.

III. Getting from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh by sleeper bus - An comfortable way

1. How to catch a sleeper bus from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh

The distance from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City is about 1,600 km. There are more than 10 high-quality bus lines run on the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh route which belong to many bus providers like Hoang Long, Mai Linh, Tam Hong, Tuan Duyen, etc. Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh sleeper buses start from Nuoc Ngam Station or Yen Nghia Station. The earliest bus starts at 02:40 AM, the latest departure is at 23:00 PM. The journey time by sleeper bus takes about 39 hours. Bus fare to Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh journey is the average of VND 700,000 per ticket. The cheapest fare is VND 600,000/ticket, the highest fare is VND 800,000/ticket. To purchase the online ticket, please click here.

Some information about Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh route

•  Distance: About 1600 km
• Travel time: 37 hours
• Average ticket price: VND 700,000 – Number of buses/day: 12 buses
• Number of bus providers: 12 providers

2. What are the advantages of sleeper bus

The sleeping bus is also known as the tourist bus. It is usually a small high-quality bus including which have from 40 to 45 seats. There three breaks which is about 1 hour per break for the passengers to have a meal in the restaurant that is familiar with bus providers. Furthermore, it also includes some advanced services such as wifi, water, air conditional, DVD, blankets, and pillows on the bus.

3. Some Information about sleeper buses from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh:

4. What are the disadvantages of sleeper bus

Traveling from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh by sleeping bus has some problems. First of all, it takes you one and a half-day to move and it is not a good choice for those who want to have a short trip. When you feel hungry or thirsty, it extremely hard to find some food or drink on this bus so remember to prepare some fruits or snacks for your travel. Second, the area in the bus is very narrow, you must stay in your bed almost all the traveling time. It is not so comfortable and you really need good health to deal with it. Last but not the least, you can not take a leak easily. There is one toilet in the sleeping bus, however, it serves 45 people at the same time so you will feel very terrible if you have some problem with your stomach.

IV. Getting from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by motorbike - An adventurous way

1. What are the advantages of traveling motorbike from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh

Motorbikes are very common in Vietnam, you can see them anywhere, anytime in here. So, the road is also built for serving the travel demand that suitable for motorbikes. Traveling by motorbike is very easy and comfortable. There is no need to wait for a bus or other traveling source in an emergency. Motorbikes have powerful engines that allow them to reach very high speed on motorways. They are also smaller than cars, so they don’t need to spend a lot of time in traffic jams.

But, most importantly, riding a bike is very exciting. Having a tour with a motorbike is much more flexible than doing tours by cars, buses, airplanes or trains…. You can go fast or slow as long as you want, you can stop anywhere, take some pictures, do memorable things with friends. You need to know that doing motorcycle tours in Vietnam offers something totally different from a regular bus and car tours can offer. Traveling by motorbike is not just a journey – it’s an adventure. The fact that not many people own this machine gives bikers a feeling of uniqueness and affinity with a subculture

2. What are the disadvantages of traveling motorbike from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh

The main disadvantage of driving a motorcycle is that you are not safe. That is the reason why many drivers do not notice motorcycles.  A biker is not protected by seatbelts nor airbags like the car owners are. An accident, especially if it happens at great speed, results in throwing the biker in the air with great force. Accidents involving bike riders are often fatal. In other words, bikers need to be very careful when driving.

Another disadvantage is the fact that a motorbike will not shelter the traveler from rain or sun, nor will it keep him or her cool or warm. It is easy to catch a cold if you are traveling in this way. One of the disadvantages of driving a motorcycle is that you have limited luggage space. Although you can place some baggage on your bike, a car is certainly a better option if you want to take a lot of things with you. With bikes, you can only take the most important things. Certainly traveling on a motorbike is exciting and fun. Still, bikers need to face many difficulties that this mean of transport present.

3. How to rent the motorbike in Hanoi

It’s not difficult for you to rent a motorbike. There are a lot of motorbikes renting a store all over Hanoi. Many of them are available in the Old Quarter and West Lake area. The owners are very enthusiastic and affable. Most of them do not know English, however, they can fully understand what you want. They will also give you some suggestions on which one is suitable for your driving experience and aim or just due to your body size.

There are many kinds of motorbike. After having chosen the one that will accompany you, the owner will ask you for the photocopy of your passport, the deposit, and the rental fee. Some owners may require you for the original passport. However, it’s recommended to try to make a deal with them. Some motorbike rental shops

4. Some tips you need to notice when driving a motorbike from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh

If you want to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, there are a lot of things to know. One of the most important things, if you want to stay alive, is that you slow down on big busy roundabouts and intersections. The best advice for driving in Vietnam is following what people around you are doing. Do not try to be the first person through an intersection, and do not be the only motorbike on a highway with transport trucks. Just do not make you be the only person doing anything.

Remember to watch the traffic lights and look around if the light turns green because sometimes the people still try to pass over the red light in the corner. The average speed limit is around 25-60 km/h, try to maintain it on the road. There will often be animals, hold points to avoid, oil spills from trucks, dirt roads and debris on the road, so you need to be in control at all times. The most important thing is wearing a helmet. For a long journey like from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh, a good quality helmet is vital.

You’ll see a lot of places where you can get fuel and repair your motorbike. But what when there is no mechanic around? Look for people and check if they can help you. Vietnamese are friendly people and want to make you happy. A lot of them are driving a motorbike and know how to fix the problem.

5. What do you need to drive a motorbike from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh?

– Helmet (obviously)

– Money (must be VND)

– Map (or using google map but the battery of your phone is limited so you need to have a very detailed map)

– Drive license (in case you meet the police)

– Jacket (it can be cold)

– Raincoat (sometimes its raining)

– Lock (to prevent robber)

– Sunglasses (also for the dust and little stones)

– Suncream (for when the sun is shining)

– Bungee cords (for securing your backpack to your bike)

– Multitool and ducktape (for quick fixes)

– Plastic or raincoat for your backpack (so everything stays dry and clean)

– Some snack, fast-food and water for a break in the journey

V. How to choose the suitable transportation option

All of these transportations are having their own pros and cons. Nevertheless, choosing the most suitable choice for each person is actually very difficult. Electing the best means not only to take you from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City but also affect a lot to the overall quality of your journal. How to choose a proper one while every transport has its own strengthens and weaknesses may be difficult than you thought. There are some questions that you need to notice to find a solution. Remember our suggestion cause it will be helpful for you.

1. In which season do you have your trip from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh City has been divided into two different seasons: the rainy season from May to November, the dry season from December to April. If you come here in the rainy season, you should bring an umbrella or raincoat when you are out because Ho Chi Minh City is famous for a lots of sudden rain. Rain, stop raining and keep raining are the refrain of Ho Chi Minh City on this season. Besides that, Ho Chi Minh City is also flooded with yellow sunshine in the dry season. Due to estimates, there are up to 270 hours of sunshine per month, the average temperature is 27°C, the highest up to 40°C but not too harsh as other places. You can travel to Ho Chi Minh City any time over the year to try the different experiments of each season here.

2. What is your budget

All journeys must require the amount of money and it can’t be denied that money is the main and decisive factor. Nevertheless, the greater or less amount depends on how and what your spending is. In addition, you should take care of a lot of your budget to balance the expenses for the whole journey. If you do not have a big budget, the suitable transports for you are the sleeping bus or motorbike. Airplane and train request more money but the service is also better.

3. How much luggage do you bring along

It is also the necessary thing that you need to notice. A small bag will let you fit in any vehicle. If you decide to travel by airplane, you can bring as much as you want, however, the additional price for your baggage is not cheap. Traveling by train or sleeping bus will suitable for 2 or 3 big bags. About driving a motorbike, one small bag with 3-4 clothes and personal equipment is enough.

VI. A brief summary of all vehicles to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh

The above are 4 ways to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh city, which will give you unforgettable experiences when going to Ho Chi Minh. It is a wonderful city waiting for your exploration. Hope you will have a memorable trip to Ho Chi Minh, the biggest city in Vietnam. No matter what you choose, enjoy your time, enjoy your life and remember that “The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see."