Getting around Ho Chi Minh City in 2026
Metro, buses, Grab, taxis and motorbike rental. From the airport to the centre. Buses and boats to Phan Thiet, Mui Ne and Vung Tau. Prices in VND with USD conversions.
Eight million motorbikes, the country's first metro line, and not a single traffic light everyone actually obeys. Ho Chi Minh City looks like transport chaos. In practice it works fine once you know the rules. A Grab motorbike will run you across the centre for 40,000 VND (~$1.60), the metro covers 19 km in half an hour, and an overnight sleeper bus to Phan Thiet costs less than a restaurant dinner.
In December 2024 the first metro line opened. Getting from District 1 to Suoi Tien park now takes 32 minutes instead of an hour and a half in a taxi. For a visitor that changes the whole logistics of the city.
Here is every option: moving around the city, the airport transfer, and buses to Phan Thiet and Vung Tau. Prices are in VND with USD conversions, current as of July 2026 (roughly 25,000 VND to the dollar). If you are planning the trip, the full Ho Chi Minh City guide (ho-chi-minh-general) gives you the big picture.
- Ben Thanh metro station (Ga Bến Thành): Underground, city centre — Bus interchange, start of Line 1
- Opera House metro station (Ga Nhà hát Thành phố): Underground, next to the Opera House
- Thao Dien metro station (Ga Thảo Điền): Elevated, Thao Dien (District 2) — the expat quarter
- Suoi Tien station (Ga Suối Tiên): End of Line 1 — Next to Suoi Tien park
- Tan Son Nhat Airport (Sân bay Tân Sơn Nhất): International airport, 7 km from the centre — Buses 109 and 152
- Bach Dang pier (Bến Bạch Đằng): Start of the waterbus and speedboats to Vung Tau — District 1
- Mien Dong bus station (Bến xe Miền Đông): Buses north: Da Lat, Nha Trang, Da Nang
- Mien Tay bus station (Bến xe Miền Tây): Buses south and west: Phan Thiet, the Mekong Delta
- Saigon railway station (Ga Sài Gòn): Trains to Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hanoi — Reunification Express
The Ho Chi Minh City metro — Line 1
Line 1, the city's first metro, opened on 22 December 2024. It runs from Bến Thành market in the centre (District 1) to Suối Tiên park in the north-east. The line is 19.7 km long and takes 30–32 minutes end to end.
There are 14 stations: three underground (Ben Thanh, Opera House, Ba Son) and eleven elevated. Trains run 5:00–22:00 daily. Signage and announcements are in Vietnamese and English.
| Detail | Data |
|---|---|
| Frequency (peak: 6–8, 11–12, 15:30–18) | Every 8 minutes |
| Frequency (off-peak) | Every 12 minutes |
| Fare (cash) | 7,000–20,000 VND (~$0.30–0.80) |
| Fare (card, MoMo, ZaloPay) | 6,000–19,000 VND (~$0.25–0.75) |
| Payment | Cash, Visa, Mastercard, NAPAS, MoMo, ZaloPay |
The fare scales with distance: up to 5 km is 12,000 VND, over 15 km is 18,000 VND.
When it helps: getting from District 1 to Thao Dien (District 2), the university campus, or Suoi Tien park. At rush hour the metro beats anything on the surface. Ho Chi Minh City traffic reliably jams from 7 to 9 in the morning and 17 to 19 in the evening, while underground the train runs to schedule.
Key stations for a visitor:
- Ben Thanh — the start, next to Ben Thanh market and the backpacker hub of Pham Ngu Lao
- Opera House — the Opera House, the Nguyen Hue walking street, the boutique district
- Ba Son — the riverfront, next to Landmark 81 (Vietnam's tallest tower)
- Thao Dien — the expat quarter, packed with cafes and restaurants
Line 2 (Bến Thành to Tham Lương, fully underground) is under construction, with an opening not expected before 2028. There is no metro to the airport yet; a line to Tan Son Nhat is planned but without a firm date.
City buses
Ho Chi Minh City runs 158 bus routes. The buses are white with a green stripe and air-conditioned. Fares are 5,000–15,000 VND (~$0.20–0.60) depending on distance.
You pay cash: drop the money in the plastic box by the driver and take your change. A 10,000 or 20,000 VND note is fine; anything bigger than 50,000 is a nuisance. There is also UniPass, a transport card topped up at kiosks at the terminals — but for a visitor cash is simpler.
Buses run roughly 5:00–20:30, though the busy central routes go until 21:00. Frequency is 10–15 minutes at peak and up to 30 minutes in the evening.
Three routes worth knowing:
- Bus 152 — Tan Son Nhat Airport to Ben Thanh market (District 1). 5,000–6,000 VND (~$0.20–0.25), runs 6:00–18:00
- Bus 109 — airport to the centre. 15,000 VND (~$0.60), runs until 1:30, air-conditioned, signs in English. The only cheap late-night option
- Bus 147 — airport to Cholon (District 5, Chinatown)
Nothing in the city is cheaper than the bus. Nothing is slower, either: traffic, a stop every 500 metres. It is the option for those with time to spare.
Grab and taxis — getting around cheaper
For a foreigner, Grab solves the one real problem: you see the price before the ride, you type the address into the app, and there is no haggling. The interface is in English and you pay by cash or card (Visa, Mastercard).
GrabBike and GrabCar
| Service | Base | Per km | Airport to District 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GrabBike | 10,000 VND | 4,000 VND/km | 40,000–70,000 VND (~$1.60–2.80) |
| GrabCar | ~12,000 VND | ~12,000 VND/km | 70,000–150,000 VND (~$3–6) |
GrabBike is a motorbike taxi — cheap and quick, weaving between cars so a ride across the whole centre takes 10–15 minutes. The catch: you can't bring a large suitcase.
GrabCar is a normal car — pricier, but you get air-con and a boot. In the rain and at rush hour surge pricing kicks in and the fare can jump 1.5–2x. Rain in Ho Chi Minh City means a 20–40 minute tropical downpour that floods the roads afterwards, and everyone opens Grab at once — that is when the surge peaks.
Alternatives to Grab:
- Be — a Vietnamese rival, sometimes 10–15% cheaper
- Xanh SM — VinFast's electric ride-hailing, which took 51.5% of the HCMC market in 2025. New cars, clean interiors, and the app works in English
Xanh SM (pronounced "san SM") is worth installing alongside Grab: on a bad-surge Grab day, its flat-rate electric cars often come out cheaper, and drivers here are used to foreign passengers.
Metered taxis (Vinasun, Mai Linh)
Two trustworthy operators: Vinasun (white with a green stripe) and Mai Linh (green).
| Detail | Vinasun | Mai Linh |
|---|---|---|
| Flag-fall (0.5–0.7 km) | 11,000–12,000 VND | 12,000–15,000 VND |
| Per km | 14,000–17,000 VND | 14,000–17,000 VND |
| 7-seaters | no | Toyota Innova |
Typical rides:
- District 1 to Cholon (District 5): 60,000–80,000 VND (~$2.40–3.20), 20 min
- District 1 to Thu Duc: 120,000–160,000 VND (~$4.80–6.40), 30–50 min
How not to overpay:
- Only get into a Vinasun or Mai Linh car — logos on the doors
- Check that the meter is running
- If the driver "doesn't understand" the address, show the pin on Google Maps
- Since 1 January 2025 Vietnam allows negotiating a fixed taxi fare directly (Decree 158/2024), but for a visitor the meter is the safer bet
Skip the airport queue in 5–10 min
In winter, immigration lines run 60–90 min. With Fast Track you’re met at the aircraft and taken through the priority lane. Arrange it before you fly.
Telegram managerRenting a motorbike
A scooter in Ho Chi Minh City rents for about $5/day (130,000 VND). Long-term (a month or more) it runs $100–150/month.
Where to rent:
- Tigit Motorbikes — one of Vietnam's largest rental firms, with an HCMC office. Newer Hondas, insurance included, English-speaking staff
- BikesBooking — an online aggregator for comparing prices
- Small street shops — cheaper, but no insurance
Ho Chi Minh City is not the place to learn to ride. Eight million motorbikes, a chaotic flow, no lanes, junctions with no lights, everyone leaning on the horn. If you have never ridden a scooter, start on Phu Quoc or in Da Lat, where the traffic is calmer. Even experienced riders take it slow here for the first few days.
For short runs out of town, though (Cu Chi, Binh Duong, Tay Ninh), a rented bike is ideal. Traffic thins out, the roads are smooth, and you can stop wherever you like.
💬 "Rented a bike in Saigon on day two and handed it back within the hour. The traffic is survival-of-the-fittest and every junction stops your heart." — traveller reviews, r/VietnamTravel, 2025
The waterbus and speedboats
The Saigon Waterbus is a river route along the Saigon River — 11 km, six stops: Bach Dang (District 1) to Thu Thiem, Binh An, Thanh Da, Hiep Binh Chanh and Linh Dong.
A ticket is 15,000 VND (~$0.60) to any stop. Four sailings a day on weekdays, six at weekends. The short Bach Dang to Thu Thiem to Binh An run goes more often.
As actual transport it is useless — three to four times slower than Grab. As a cheap thrill, though, it is hard to beat: 45 minutes on the water, the riverfront skyline, a breeze off the river. It costs less than a coffee in a tourist cafe.
Speedboats: Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau
Greenlines DP runs speedboats from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau in 1.5 hours, from 200,000 VND (~$8). They leave from Bach Dang pier (District 1); there is also a route to Can Gio.
By water it beats the bus by about an hour. Book on the Greenlines DP site or through 12go.asia.
Getting set up in Vietnam?
SIM, visas, transfers, tours — our manager sorts it out for you, in English.
Message the managerFrom Tan Son Nhat Airport to the city centre
Tân Sơn Nhất Airport (SGN) sits just 7 km from District 1. The trip takes anywhere from 15 minutes at night to 45 at rush hour.
| Option | Price | Time | When to pick it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 152 | 5,000–6,000 VND (~$0.20–0.25) | 20–40 min | Daytime, light luggage, max saving |
| Bus 109 | 15,000 VND (~$0.60) | 30–45 min | Late arrival — runs until 1:30 |
| GrabBike | 40,000–70,000 VND (~$1.60–2.80) | 15–25 min | Solo, a backpack, daytime |
| GrabCar | 70,000–150,000 VND (~$3–6) | 15–30 min | With a suitcase, any time |
| Taxi (Vinasun/Mai Linh) | 150,000–200,000 VND (~$6–8) | 15–45 min | No Grab, want a meter |
| Pre-booked transfer | 200,000–350,000 VND (~$8–14) | 15–30 min | Met with a name sign, fixed price |
Add 10,000 VND to the taxi fare for the toll road.
What to choose depends on the situation:
- Daytime arrival (6:00–18:00): bus 152 for ~$0.20 if you travel light. With a suitcase, a GrabCar
- Evening or late arrival: bus 109 (until 1:30) or a GrabCar. After 1:30 it is Grab or a taxi only
- Family with kids / lots of luggage: a pre-booked transfer (KiwiTaxi, 12go.asia). The driver waits in arrivals with a name sign
- Solo, travelling light: a GrabBike is the fastest option. The driver gives you a helmet
💬 "Booked a GrabCar right at the airport and the driver only spoke Vietnamese. I walked out to the car park, dropped my location in the Grab chat, and he found me in a minute." — traveller reports, 2025
There is no metro to the airport yet. Plans exist; dates don't.
From Ho Chi Minh City to other cities
Buses leave Ho Chi Minh City for every southern resort, trains run up the coast all the way to Hanoi, and speedboats cross to Vung Tau. Book online (12go.asia, Vexere) or at the agencies on Pham Ngu Lao (District 1). 12go.asia is the easy one for foreigners — English interface, card payment, e-tickets.
Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet and Mui Ne
The distance is 198–220 km. This is the most popular run to the sea from the city. Most buses go to Phan Thiet, and from there a minibus shuttles you to the Mui Ne hotels (included in the VIP fare).
| Option | Price | Time | Upside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus (seated) | 140,000–160,000 VND (~$5.60–6.40) | 4–4.5 hours | Cheap, frequent |
| Sleeper bus (VIP) | 380,000 VND (~$15) | 4–4.5 hours | Lie-flat berths, hotel drop-off |
| Private transfer | from $150 | 3.5–4 hours | Door to door, better value for a group |
Buses leave from Bến xe Miền Đông (Mien Dong) station and from the Pham Ngu Lao agencies. The sleeper bus beats the standard one: you lie on a berth, with air-con, Wi-Fi, and water and wet wipes handed out.
Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau
The distance is 125 km — the nearest beach resort to the city.
| Option | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | 220,000 VND (~$8.80) | 2–2.5 hours |
| Greenlines DP speedboat | from 200,000 VND (~$8) | 1.5 hours |
The boat leaves from Bach Dang pier (District 1), next to the Opera House metro station. It is the easy one: board in the centre, step off on the beach 90 minutes later. Tickets sell out fast on Fridays and Sundays, so book a couple of days ahead.
Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat
The distance is 300 km. Bus: 250,000–350,000 VND (~$10–14), 6–7 hours. Take the overnight sleeper — leave at 22:00, wake up in Da Lat at 5 a.m. at +18°C (pack a jacket in your bag: you won't need it in the south, but you will in Da Lat).
A VietJet Air or Vietnam Airlines flight is from 500,000 VND (~$20), 50 minutes. If your time is worth more than the money, fly.
Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang
The distance is 430 km. Two main options:
- Overnight sleeper bus: 250,000–400,000 VND (~$10–16), 8–9 hours. Sleep the whole way and wake up there
- Train: from ~195,000 VND (~$8), 7–9 hours. The coastal railway is a beautiful ride
The train leaves from Ga Sài Gòn station in District 3.
Trains from Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon railway station (Ga Sài Gòn) is in District 3, on Nguyen Thong street. It is 15 minutes from Ben Thanh by GrabBike.
| Route | Price (from) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang | 195,000 VND (~$8) | 7–9 hours |
| Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang | 420,000 VND (~$17) | 15–17 hours |
| Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi | 420,000 VND (~$17) | 30–33 hours |
The Reunification Express (Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi) is a cult ride along the entire coast — 33 hours, 1,726 km. An air-conditioned sleeper berth is from 1,200,000 VND (~$48). The Hai Van Pass between Hue and Da Nang is rated one of the most scenic stretches of railway in Southeast Asia.
Cyclos and walking
The xích lô (cyclo, a pedalled rickshaw) is not transport — it is a ride for the fun of it. They loop around District 1, along the riverfront and past Notre-Dame. The price is negotiable: 100,000–200,000 VND (~$4–8) for 20–30 minutes. Always fix the price and route before you set off, or the number will grow at the finish.
You can walk around Ho Chi Minh City, but the roads take getting used to. Motorbikes don't stop at crossings. The zebra here is decoration, not a guarantee.
District 1 is compact. From Ben Thanh market to the Opera House is 15 minutes on foot; from Notre-Dame to the Reunification Palace is 5. If you are staying in the centre, your feet beat any transport for reaching the sights (ho-chi-minh-attractions).
A tip on where to stay: pick a place in District 1 near Ben Thanh or Pham Ngu Lao. From there everything major is walkable, the metro is next door, and a Grab arrives in two minutes. The outlying districts (Binh Thanh, Thu Duc) are cheaper, but you will spend more on getting around. Check the neighbourhoods first in the districts guide (ho-chi-minh-districts).
Common mistakes and tips
Mistakes that cost money and nerves:
- Getting into an unmarked taxi at the airport. The driver will quote 500,000 VND for a 150,000 ride. They are easy to spot: no logo on the door, no meter. Use Grab or find the Vinasun/Mai Linh desk
- Not fixing the price with a cyclo. Without an agreement, a "10-minute ride" turns into 300,000 VND. Ask "how much?" and show the route on the map before you sit down
- Renting a bike with no experience. In Ho Chi Minh City every junction tests your nerves. A mistake here costs more than on an island
- Taking bus 152 at night. The last one leaves at 18:00. For late arrivals it is bus 109 (until 1:30) or Grab
- Changing money at the airport before the bus. The airport rate is 5–7% worse. Have small notes ready in advance
Tips:
- Install Grab, Be and BusMap before you land, and add a card so you can pay in-app. Get an eSIM or local SIM at the airport so everything works right away
- Around the centre, GrabBike is 2–3x faster and cheaper than GrabCar. Even for two people, two GrabBikes still beat one GrabCar
- Keep small notes (10,000–50,000 VND) for buses and street motorbike taxis
- Grab rides at 6:30–8:30 and 17:00–19:00 cost 30–50% more (surge). Shift your departure by half an hour and save
- Google Maps works in Vietnam without a VPN. Pin every address in advance and save an offline map
- For eating around town (ho-chi-minh-food), your feet are the best transport — most street food clusters within walking distance of Ben Thanh
The Mekong Delta, the Cu Chi Tunnels and other day trips are best done as a booked tour or private transfer — worth lining up before you arrive if your dates are tight.
Prices current as of July 2026. Prices and conditions change — check official sources before you travel.
FAQ
Does Ho Chi Minh City have a metro?
Yes. The first metro line opened on 22 December 2024, running from Ben Thanh market (District 1) to Suoi Tien park — 14 stations over 19.7 km. A ticket costs 7,000–20,000 VND (~$0.30–0.80). Trains run 5:00–22:00 every 8–12 minutes. Line 2 is under construction, opening no earlier than 2028.
How do I get from Tan Son Nhat Airport to the city centre?
The cheapest option is bus 152 for 5,000 VND (~$0.20), running until 18:00. At night, bus 109 costs 15,000 VND (~$0.60) and runs until 1:30. A GrabCar is 70,000–150,000 VND (~$3–6) and takes 15–30 minutes. A Vinasun/Mai Linh taxi is 150,000–200,000 VND plus a 10,000 VND toll.
How much is a taxi in Ho Chi Minh City?
The flag-fall is 11,000–15,000 VND (~$0.45–0.60), then 14,000–17,000 VND (~$0.55–0.70) per km. A ride across the centre (District 1 to District 5) is about 60,000–80,000 VND (~$2.40–3.20). Reliable meters: Vinasun and Mai Linh. Grab is usually 10–20% cheaper than the meter.
How much does Grab cost in Ho Chi Minh City?
GrabBike (motorbike taxi) starts at 10,000 VND plus 4,000 VND/km — an average city ride is 20,000–40,000 VND (~$0.80–1.60). GrabCar starts at ~12,000 VND plus ~12,000 VND/km, with an average ride of 50,000–100,000 VND (~$2–4). In rain and at rush hour the price rises 1.5–2x.
How do I get from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne?
Three ways: a seated bus for 160,000 VND (~$6.40, 4.5 hours), a VIP sleeper bus for 380,000 VND (~$15, lie-flat berths), or a private transfer from $150 (3.5–4 hours). Buses leave from Mien Dong station and from agencies on Pham Ngu Lao. Book online through 12go.asia or Vexere.
Can I rent a motorbike in Ho Chi Minh City without a licence?
Legally you need a Vietnamese licence or an IDP (1968 Vienna Convention version) with your home licence. In practice shops rent to anyone with a passport or deposit. But if you crash without a valid licence, insurance won't pay out and the police can fine you 800,000–1,200,000 VND (~$32–48). Sort out the IDP at home before you fly.
How long is the trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet?
By bus, about 4 hours (198 km). By transfer or taxi, 3.5–4 hours. A sleeper bus (lie-flat berths) is 380,000 VND (~$15); a standard bus is 140,000 VND (~$5.60). Tickets are sold on Pham Ngu Lao and online.