The Skyscanner Ho Chi Minh Travel Guide
Motorbikes 10 deep at crossings. French colonial architecture on every corner. The smell of street food and the noise of traffic. Just breathe it in.
Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon, is an Asian experience like no other. Once you’ve tackled this city, you’ll feel at home anywhere in Asia. With our Ho Chi Minh travel guide, you’ll be covered for visas, currency, how to get into the city from the airport, and where to stay.
Flying into Ho Chi Minh City
You can fly direct into Ho Chi Minh City from various airports in Australia, including Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and the Gold Coast. Direct flights from Sydney to Ho Chi Minh take around 9 hours, whilst the journey is 6 hours 45 minutes from Perth. Airlines include VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines, and JetStar.
Check out the major routes below:
Ho Chi Minh Airport
Airlines operating direct flights from Australia to Ho Chi Minh include:
VietJet Air
Flights from Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane
Vietnam Airlines
Flights from Perth, Sydney
JetStar
Flights from Melbourne
Visas and travel insurance requirements
Visa requirements
You need a visa to travel to Vietnam as there are no Vietnam visas on arrival for Australian citizens. However, the process for applying and receiving a visa is very straightforward.
The easiest way to gain entry is to apply for an e-Visa from the Vietnamese government before travelling. You’ll get a maximum of 90 days to explore the country, with multiple entries allowed, and it should be processed in around two days.
Before booking, it is definitely worth checking that you meet the below requirements:
- Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your arrival date.
- You need two blank pages in your passport for stamps.
Insurance
While you don’t always need travel insurance to fly to Vietnam, you shouldn’t travel without it. A good travel insurance policy will cover you for medical expenses, cancelled flights, loss, or theft of valuables and more. Take your time to shop around for a good deal on the best travel insurance for Vietnam.
Reputable travel insurance companies include:
CoverMore
Allianz
NRMA
Insider tip:
Always apply directly with the Vietnamese government and avoid any “helpful” online sites advertising e-Visas for Vietnam. They’ll charge a service fee on top.
If you’re planning on doing anything extreme like riding a motorbike in Ho Chi Minh or trying your hand at any water sports when you hit the coast in spots like Da Nang, make sure you have travel insurance to cover it.
Getting into Ho Chi Minh from the airport
Tan Son Nhat Airport is the only airport in Ho Chi Minh City, about 7km from the centre of the city and just a 15-minute drive away – depending on the traffic. Your options to get from the airport into the city include:
Taxi
There are nine separate taxi companies licensed to pick up passengers at the airport, including some of the most well-known in the city like VinaSun and Mai Linh. They’re easy to find with a taxi stand outside both the international and domestic terminals. Expect to pay between VND 150,000 and 250,000 for the trip to District 1.
If you’ve already downloaded the Grab App, you can use it to grab a taxi from the airport. It may be slightly cheaper and there won’t be any confusion about your destination with non-English speaking drivers.
Private Car
You can pre-book a private car before you travel, and the driver will meet you in arrivals. It’s a more expensive choice than a local taxi, but you don’t need to wait in a queue after you land or struggle with explaining your destination to the driver. Your hotel may even offer free airport transfers – it’s always worth asking.
Bus
Getting the bus from the airport is cheap and easy, and there are several options to choose from. Most tourists stay in district 1, and if you’re planning to stay in that area too, you can get any of the following buses below:
- Yellow airport bus: This is the quickest bus and goes direct to District 1 without any stops along the way. Tickets cost VND 15,000.
- #152: This local bus stops along the way and will take you direct to District 1. It also stops at Ben Than Market which is just five minutes from Pham Ngu Lao – the haven for backpackers. Tickets cost VND 6,000.
- #49: This will take you to hotels and a variety of downtown locations in District 1 for VND 40,000.
Car Hire
Hiring a car in Ho Chi Minh will roughly cost 67,000VND. per day or 470,000VND per week. The traffic in the city can be a little confronting if you are not used to it, but it’s a great option if you are planning to explore beyond the borders of Ho Chi Minh.
Best places to stay in Ho Chi Minh
Your feet are safely on Vietnamese soil. Now where to stay? Ho Chi Minh City is made up of 24 districts across a sprawling metropolis. The best for tourists include:
District 1
TIP-TOP FOR TOURSITS
The top spot for tourists in the city and home to bustling streets, thousands of motorbikes, plenty of noise, and top Vietnamese vibes. Sights include Notre Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh Square, and Ben Tanh Market. It’s also home to the backpacker district of Ho Chi Minh city, Pham Ngu Lao – you’ll find hostels, cheap places to eat, and the chance to sip Saigon beer on plastic chairs. District 1 isn’t without its high-end hotels and top restaurants either.
Hotels near District 1
District 2
PEACE AND TRANQUILITY
Across the river from District 1, this used to be one of the poorest parts of the city. Now it’s a hub for expats due to its international schools. It’s a good spot to base yourself and promises wide footpaths, more space, and a quieter atmosphere than District 1. There’s a decent split of affordable and high-end hotels too.
Hotels near District 2
District 3
A TOUCH MORE TRADITIONAL
A slice of traditional Vietnamese life away from the madness of District 1. Expect colonial villas, lots of locals, good food, and attractions including the War Remnants Museum. It’s an ideal spot for affordable accommodation away from the backpacker mayhem.
Hotels near District 3
District 4
THE FOODIE QUARTER
Street food, street food, and more street food. If you like authentic Vietnamese cuisine and want to eat like a local, this is the place for you. The seafood is the best in the city and the snails are always popular too. Decent hotels with swimming pools are all the rage here.
Hotels near District 4
District 5
STEP INTO CHINATOWN
Chinatown promises the biggest market in Vietnam, traditional tea houses, top quality Chinese food, and plenty of pagodas. You’ll find affordable accommodation options too.
Hotels near District 5
District 7
A LITTLE LUXURY
Little in the way of nightlife, but much in the way of luxury shopping at the Crescent Shopping Mall. The Crescent Lake with its waterfall and Starlight Bridge offers a little romance and a haven away from the madness of the city.
Hotels near District 7
Vietnam currency and prices
PLAN YOUR BUDGET
The currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND)
You’ll find notes in denominations including:
- 200 đ
- 500 đ
- 1,000 đ
- 5,000 đ
- 10,000 đ
- 20,000 đ
- 50,000 đ
- 100,000 đ
- 200,000 đ
- 500,000 đ
Street food snack $2
Bottle of beer $1.60
Litre of petrol $1.53
Meal for two in a fancy restaurant $50
Night in a hostel $14
You can also use US Dollars in Vietnam to pay at hotels, shops, and restaurants. Local xe om drivers might also take them too, but you can’t be guaranteed the best exchange rate.
Insider tip:
If you have US Dollars, make sure they’re crisp and new. People won’t take old grubby notes.
Your visa’s sorted. You’ve planned your journey and decided where to stay. Now, let’s organise your trip. Discover what to see and do in Ho Chi Minh City, how to get around, and where to spend your holiday cash.
Thinking of travelling to Ho Chi Minh? Skyscanner can help you find the best flights, hotels and car hire deals for your next trip.
