Getting around Nha Trang in 2026
You've just walked out of Cam Ranh terminal, you have no Vietnamese SIM yet, and drivers are already tugging your sleeve. It's 35 km to the hotel, and the first mistake — grabbing a car right here — costs double. Nha Trang is compact: 7 bus routes, a handful of ride apps, scooter rentals on every corner. Below: real 2026 prices in VND with a rough USD conversion, timetables and the shortcuts locals use.
For an overview of the resort itself, see our Nha Trang guide.
- Cam Ranh Airport (Sân bay Cam Ranh): 35 km from the centre — Bus #18 and taxis
- Nha Trang railway station (Ga Nha Trang): Trains to Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hanoi
- Southern bus station (Bến xe phía Nam Nha Trang): Buses to Da Lat and Ho Chi Minh City
- Cable car station (Ga Cáp treo Vinpearl): Cable car to Vinpearl
- Po Nagar Cham Towers (Tháp Bà Ponagar): Bus #4 from the centre
From Cam Ranh airport to Nha Trang
Cam Ranh airport sits 35 km south of the centre. With no traffic it is a 30–40 minute drive. You have four options.
| Option | Price (VND) | ~USD | Time | When to pick it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus #18 | 50,000–65,000 | ~$2–2.60 | 50–60 min | Solo, light luggage, before 19:00 |
| Grab | 300,000–350,000 | ~$12–14 | 30–40 min | A couple or a group up to 4 |
| Taxi desk | ~350,000 | ~$14 | 30–40 min | No SIM for Grab yet |
| Private transfer | from 500,000 | from ~$20 | 30–40 min | Night arrival, family with kids |
Bus #18leaves from the stop just outside the terminal. Walk out, turn right, and you'll see a shelter with a "Bus" sign. It terminates on Yersin Street in central Nha Trang. First bus around 05:00, last around 21:55, every 30 to 60 minutes.
On the way it passes Bãi Dàibeach — a shorter ride at a lower fare of 30,000 VND (~$1.20). If your hotel is on the southern edge of Nha Trang, get off at one of the intermediate stops. Just show the conductor your address on your phone and they'll point you to the right stop.
Grabis the usual choice — it's the Uber of Southeast Asia, and to call one you need data. Buy a SIM right in the arrivals hall (Viettel, Mobifone counters) for 100,000–200,000 VND, or set up an eSIM before you fly — bring your passport, it's required for registration. More on staying connected in our Nha Trang guide.
The taxi deskinside the airport gives you a fixed price, no meter to watch. Drivers are in uniform and help with bags. Handy if you have no SIM yet and don't want to fuss with an app.
Landing after 22:00, or travelling with kids? Book a Cam Ranh transfer in advance through KiwiTaxi or GetTransfer — a driver meets you with a name board.
💬 "Airport taxi drivers are polite, in uniform, meter running. But Grab came out about 50,000 dong cheaper for us." — TripAdvisor forum, 2025
Taxis and ride-hailing apps
Skip the street-hailed cabs. A 15-minute ride across town via an app is 75,000–100,000 VND (~$3–4). The same trip flagged off the street can be 200,000 VND.
| App | Price | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grab | Mid | Fast pickup, card payment, ratings | Surges at rush hour |
| Xanh SM | Slightly above Grab | Electric cars, comfortable, uniformed drivers | Cars not always nearby |
| InDrive | You name it | Haggle the fare down | Drivers often decline |
| Be | Similar to Grab | Vietnamese app, decent coverage | App mostly in Vietnamese |
Grab leads the ride-hailing market across Vietnam (around 75% share, per ABI Research). In Nha Trang it's the number-one app for cars and bikes alike.
Xanh SMis Vingroup's electric-taxi fleet. Cars are new and clean, drivers wear a uniform. It costs a touch more than Grab, but it's quiet and the air-con is strong.
InDrive lets you propose your own price and a driver accepts or counters. Handy when Grab is surging, though drivers turn down lowball offers.
Bike taxis(GrabBike) start from 15,000 VND (~$0.60) for a short hop. One passenger, no luggage; the driver hands you a helmet. Faster than a car in traffic, but you'll get soaked in the rain.
Typical taxi fares around Nha Trang
| Route | Grab (car) | Grab (bike) |
|---|---|---|
| Centre — Cham Towers | 40,000–60,000 VND (~$1.60–2.40) | 20,000–30,000 VND |
| Centre — Vinpearl cable car | 100,000–130,000 VND (~$4–5.20) | 50,000–70,000 VND |
| Centre — railway station | 30,000–50,000 VND (~$1.20–2) | 15,000–25,000 VND |
| Centre — Chợ Đầm market | 20,000–40,000 VND (~$0.80–1.60) | 10,000–20,000 VND |
Payment: Grab takes Visa/Mastercard and cash; Xanh SM takes card and cash; InDrive is usually cash. Keep small notes on you — 20,000, 50,000, 100,000 VND. Drivers can't always break a 500,000 note.
Nha Trang city buses
A city bus fare is 8,000 VND (~$0.30). It's the cheapest way to move around Nha Trang — only walking beats it. There are 7 routes, running roughly 05:00 to 19:00 at 20–30 minute intervals.
| Route | Where it goes | Fare | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| #3 (white) | Around central Nha Trang | 8,000 VND (~$0.30) | Markets, shops |
| #3 (yellow) | To Bãi Dốc Lết beach | 24,000 VND (~$1) | White-sand beach, 1.5 h |
| #4 | Across town to Vinpearl | 8,000 VND (~$0.30) | Cham Towers, cable car |
| #18 | Nha Trang — Cam Ranh airport | 50,000–65,000 VND | Airport, Bãi Dài beach |
Bus #4 is the key route for visitors. It runs past the Po Nagar Cham Towers (Tháp Bà Ponagar), along the Trần Phú seafront and out to the Vinpearl cable car station, terminating at the VinWonders park.
The yellow #3 is the only way to reach Dốc Lết beach (Dốc Lết) for about $1. It's 90 minutes each way, and the last return runs around 17:00 — don't miss it, or you're looking at a 500,000+ VND taxi back.
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 scooter in Nha Trang
Locals ride scooters. Expats ride scooters. Travellers who stay in Nha Trang longer than a week tend to switch to one too. From ~$6 a day, and traffic stops being a problem.
| Rental period | Price (VND) | ~USD |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 150,000–250,000 | ~$6–10 |
| 1 week | 1,300,000–1,600,000 | ~$52–64 |
| 1 month | 2,300,000–3,000,000 | ~$92–120 |
| 3 months plus | from 625,000/mo | from ~$25/mo |
Popular models: the Sym Priti 50cc for beginners, and the Honda Vision or Air Blade 125cc for the more confident. Fifty-cc scooters technically don't require a licence under Vietnamese law, but police don't always read the rules that way.
What a foreigner needs to know:
- Deposit — a passport or copy plus cash. Leaving your original passport is risky; look for a shop that accepts a copy.
- To ride legally you need an International Driving Permit (IDP) with the motorcycle category (A), issued at home alongside your national licence. A licence from home alone isn't valid here, and neither is an IDP without the bike category. Police stop foreigners rarely, but the fine is 800,000–1,200,000 VND (~$32–48).
- Check your travel insurance covers riding a motorbike — many policies exclude it, or void the cover if you have no valid licence.
- Helmets are mandatory — riding without one is a ~200,000 VND fine.
- Pavement parking costs 5,000–10,000 VND.
Where to rent: nhatrangmotorent.com, Motorbikes4Rent and the many shops on the tourist streets (prices there run 20–30% higher, but you don't have to hunt). Read reviews first and photograph any existing scratches before you ride off.
💬 "On a long stay we rented a scooter for about 25 dollars a month — but only by asking around locally, not off the rental stands on the tourist streets." — expat reviews, 2025
Not comfortable riding? That's fine. Grab, the buses and taxis cover the whole city. A scooter is convenient, not compulsory.
Hiring a car with a driver
Vietnam won't rent a self-drive car to a foreigner — and a foreign licence isn't valid to drive one anyway. A car with a driver, though, is easy. It suits day trips out of town, or travelling with kids and lots of luggage.
| Class | Per day | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Economy (sedan) | from ~$25 | 4 |
| Comfort | from ~$35 | 4 |
| Minivan | from ~$50 | 7 |
Above 100 km/day there's usually a surcharge of about $0.70 per km. Fuel is normally included, but confirm before booking. Arrange it through GetMeCar, KiwiTaxi or your hotel reception.
For a day trip to Da Lat or the waterfalls, a car with a driver beats the bus: stop where you like, air-con on, no timetable to chase. The catch: your driver usually speaks little English. Write addresses in Vietnamese in advance, or drop a pin on Google Maps.
Getting from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang
It's 430 km from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Nha Trang. You can fly it in an hour, or grind out 10 hours on a sleeper bus and save the price of a lunch.
| Option | Price | ~USD | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | from 750,000 VND | from ~$30 | 1 h |
| Train | from 350,000 VND | from ~$14 | 7–8 h |
| Sleeper bus | from 140,000 VND | from ~$6 | 9–10 h |
| Private transfer | — | from ~$185 | 8 h |
Flights run on VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways — 5–8 a day, from 750,000 VND if you book two or three weeks ahead. Check the Ho Chi Minh City guide for airport tips.
Trains — 9 departures daily on the Reunification Express (Đường sắt Thống Nhất). They leave from Ga Sài Gòn (District 3) and arrive at Ga Nha Trang in the centre, a 5-minute taxi from the seafront.
Seat types:
- Soft seat — from ~$14, like a commuter train but with air-con.
- Hard sleeper — from ~$18, six berths, bedding provided.
- Soft sleeper with air-con — from ~$25–30, four berths, more comfortable.
Book on Vietnam Railways (dsvn.vn) or via 12go.asia. Reserve at least 3–5 days out — soft sleepers sell fast, especially on weekends.
Sleeper buses — Futa Bus (the popular orange ones) and The Sinh Tourist. Two tiers of reclining berths, air-con, Wi-Fi, a blanket and a bottle of water. You take your shoes off and bag them at boarding. Cheap, but 9–10 hours wears on you.
Getting set up in Vietnam?
SIM, visas, transfers, tours — our manager sorts it out for you, in English.
Message the managerGetting from Nha Trang to Da Lat
It's 140 km over the Khánh Lê pass, from sea level up to 1,500 metres. The road is a switchback — hairpin turns and fog at the top.
| Option | Price | ~USD | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus | 150,000–250,000 VND | ~$6–10 | 3.5–5 h |
| Taxi / transfer | — | from ~$60 | 3–3.5 h |
| By bike | fuel ~150,000 VND | ~$6 | 4–5 h |
The bus is the popular pick — Futa Bus, Hanh Cafe, Kumho Samco. They leave the southern bus station (Bến xe phía Nam) every 1–2 hours from morning to midday. VIP limousine vans (9 seats, leather chairs, Wi-Fi) run 200,000–250,000 VND.
By bike the route climbs the Khánh Lê pass past coffee plantations, pine forest and clouds below your feet. But the bends are sharp and the trucks don't yield. Only for confident 125cc riders. More on Da Lat in our guide.
Getting from Nha Trang to Da Nang and Hoi An
It's 530 km north along the coast. This stretch of the Vietnamese railway is the most scenic of all.
| Option | Price (~USD) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Flight | from ~$30 | 1 h |
| Train | from ~$18 | 9–10 h |
| Night bus | from ~$13 | 12–14 h |
The train — the Reunification Express hugs the sea. Rice paddies, fishing villages and the Hải Vân pass — one of the most photographed rail sections in Asia. Take a window seat on the east side for the coast.
The bus — night sleeper only. Twelve to fourteen hours: you fall asleep in Nha Trang and wake up in Da Nang, saving a night's hotel.
There are no direct services to Hoi An. Get to Da Nang, then it's 30 km on by taxi (150,000 VND, ~$6) or the yellow bus.
Other routes from Nha Trang
Nha Trang — Phan Thiet / Mui Ne (230 km). Bus ~200,000 VND (~$8), 5–6 hours down the coast; a transfer from ~$50, 4 hours. Futa Bus runs several times a day. More on the resort in our Phan Thiet guide.
Nha Trang — Hue (630 km). The Reunification Express takes 12–14 hours (from ~$25). Board in the evening, arrive in the morning.
Nha Trang — Hanoi / Ha Long.There's no direct link to Ha Long Bay. Fly to Hanoi(2.5 hours, from ~$40), then it's 3–4 hours by bus to Ha Long. The Nha Trang — Hanoi train takes 25–30 hours.
Getting to Nha Trang's sights
Most places in Nha Trang sit within 10 km of the centre. Bus #4 covers the main points; everything else is a taxi for ~$1–2.
| Place | Transport | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinpearl / VinWonders | Bus #4 + cable car | 8,000 VND + park ticket | 20 min + 15 min |
| Ponagar Cham Towers | Bus #4 or taxi | 8,000 / ~50,000 VND | 10 min |
| Dốc Lết beach | Yellow bus #3 | 24,000 VND (~$1) | 1.5 h |
| Bãi Dài beach | Bus #18 | 30,000 VND (~$1.20) | 30–40 min |
Vinpearl / VinWonders— bus #4 drops you at the cable car station. The cable car runs 08:00–20:00 and spans 3,320 m over the sea. The park ticket includes the round trip: 880,000 VND (~$35) adult, 700,000 VND (~$28) child. After 16:00 there's a discounted rate of 450,000 VND (~$18).
Po Nagar Cham Towers — 10 minutes from the centre on bus #4 or a 40,000–60,000 VND taxi. An 8th-century temple on a hill above the Sông Cái river. Entry 22,000 VND.
Dốc Lết beach — yellow bus #3, 1.5 hours, 24,000 VND (~$1). White sand, shallow warm water, quiet on weekdays. More in our Nha Trang beaches guide.
Dam Market (Chợ Đầm) — in the city centre, 5 minutes by taxi or a walk from the seafront. Good for a first look at local life and cheap eats.
You'll reach most sights by bus or a ~$1–2 taxi. The exceptions are the wild beaches and mountain waterfalls: for those it's a scooter or a car with a driver.
Prices current as of July 2026. Fares and conditions change — confirm on official sources before you travel.
Common transport mistakes in Nha Trang
Taking a cab without an app.Cars without a meter park along the seafront and by the malls. The driver quotes 200,000 VND for a ride that's 60,000 on Grab.
Not checking the bus times. Every route stops by 19:00–20:00. Take the bus to Dốc Lết, linger till sunset, and the way back is a 500,000 VND taxi instead of a 24,000 VND fare.
Leaving your original passport at the scooter shop. If the shop closes or you have a dispute, getting the document back is hard. Find one that takes a passport copy plus a cash deposit.
Leaving the airport with no SIM.Grab doesn't work without data. Buy a SIM in the arrivals hall for 100,000–200,000 VND, or set up an eSIM before you fly.
Not booking the train ahead. Soft sleepers on the Ho Chi Minh City — Nha Trang line sell out 3–5 days out, faster on weekends and holidays.
Riding to Da Lat without experience. The Khánh Lê pass is no seafront cruise — sharp bends, trucks on your side of the line, fog after midday. Under six months on a scooter? Take the bus.
Riding without an IDP or insurance.A stop with no International Driving Permit means a fine — and if you crash, a policy that excludes unlicensed riding won't pay out. Sort both before you rent.
FAQ
How much is a taxi from Cam Ranh airport to Nha Trang?
Via Grab it's 300,000–350,000 VND (~$12–14). The fixed-price taxi desk at the airport is around 350,000 VND. Bus #18 does it for 50,000–65,000 VND (~$2–2.60), but it's slower and stops on the way. Buses don't run at night, so late arrivals need a taxi or a pre-booked transfer.
Does Grab work in Nha Trang?
Yes, Grab runs reliably — it's the Uber of Southeast Asia. Alongside it you'll find Xanh SM (electric cars) and InDrive (name your price). Install at least two apps: in the rain or at rush hour a single one may not find you a car quickly.
Which bus goes from Nha Trang to the airport?
Route #18. It leaves from Yersin Street in the centre and terminates at Cam Ranh airport. Ticket 50,000–65,000 VND. First bus around 04:30, last around 19:55, every 30–60 minutes, roughly an hour on the road. Nothing after 20:00.
How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Nha Trang?
From 150,000 VND (~$6) a day. Monthly it's 2,300,000–3,000,000 VND (~$92–120), and long-term (3 months plus) can drop to around 625,000 VND a month (~$25). Shops ask for a passport or a cash deposit. To ride legally you need an International Driving Permit with the motorcycle category.
How do I get from Nha Trang to Da Lat?
By bus (Futa Bus, Hanh Cafe) — 150,000–250,000 VND (~$6–10), 3.5–5 hours over a mountain pass. By taxi or transfer — from ~$60, 3–3.5 hours. By bike — 4–5 hours over a scenic but serious pass. Buses leave the southern bus station every 1–2 hours in the morning.
Can I rent a self-drive car in Nha Trang?
No. Vietnam doesn't rent self-drive cars to foreigners, and a foreign licence alone isn't valid to drive here anyway. A car with a driver starts at ~$25 a day. To get around on your own, use a scooter or the ride apps.
How do I reach Vinpearl from central Nha Trang?
Bus #4 runs to the cable car station for 8,000 VND (~$0.30) in about 20 minutes. A taxi from the centre is around 120,000 VND (~$4.80). The cable car runs 08:00–20:00 and the ride is included in the VinWonders park ticket.
How do I pay for taxis as a foreigner?
Grab and Xanh SM take international Visa/Mastercard or cash in VND. Many street cabs and smaller apps are cash-only, so carry small notes. Withdraw dong at an ATM (fees of 22,000–66,000 VND per transaction are common) or bring US dollars and change them locally.
Is it safe to ride a scooter in Nha Trang?
In town, yes — roads are flat and wide. Out of town, especially the Da Lat pass, it's for experienced riders only. The main risks: oncoming trucks, wet roads in the rainy season and sand on the bends. Helmets are mandatory, and carry an IDP.