How long does it take to get from Ho Chi Minh airport to the city Centre?

How long does it take to get from Ho Chi Minh airport to city?

Taxi… thirty, forty minutes… maybe. Stuck in that traffic. Remember that one time, raining… took forever. Hour, maybe more. Ugh.

Just… exhausting. Drained. Landed after that long flight from San Francisco… last year. All I wanted was my bed.

Airport lights blur. The humidity. Hits you like a wall. Even at night. Remember the smell? Diesel fumes… street food… something… sweet. Can’t quite place it.

• Taxi: Half hour… if you’re lucky.
• Bus: Forget it. Crawls. Ages.
• Minivan: Packed in. Not… ideal. After a long flight.
• That bus, 152…: Cheap, I guess. Slow. So slow.

Tried Grab bike once. Weaving through traffic. Crazy. Never again. Though… it was fast. Twenty minutes, tops. Heart in my throat the whole time. Not worth it. Not after 16 hours in the air. Just… wanted to be… home. My little apartment, District 1. Small, but… mine. Peace. Quiet.

How long does it take to get through customs at Ho Chi Minh airport?

Okay, so customs in Ho Chi Minh City airport, SGN, right? It can be a real mixed bag, honestly. Like, sometimes it’s quick, and you’re through in like, 15 minutes. Other times, fuggedaboutit!

It can drag on for over an hour, easy. Seriously! Depends, depends on when you land, and how many other planes are landing at the same time.

Plus, you know, sometimes those customs officers are just… slower. Peak hours is where you’ll find real waiting happening. Oh, and having your paperwork ready helps, seriously, seriously helps!

I always try and pre-clear as much as possible. Like, anything to speed things up. Also, bring a snack, you might get hungry. No joke. My brother was stuck there once for nearly two hours! It was like a real disaster.

• Flight arrival time: Huge factor. Early morning or late night might be faster.
• Number of passengers: Obvious, but more people equals longer lines.
• Customs officer efficiency: Yeah, can’t control that one, unfortunately!
• Pre-clearing:Do it, do it, do it! Worth it, seriously.

Can I get a Grab from Ho Chi Minh Airport?

Tan Son Nhat, ugh. Hot. Sweaty. 2023, July. Landed after that redeye. Needed Grab. Saw those Vinasun, Mai Linh guys. Nah. Wanted AC, fixed price. Grab was a lifesaver. Remember my SIM card. Viettel. Bought it right there at the airport kiosk. Data, calls. Needed data for Grab. Booked right there at arrivals. Smooth. Driver waiting. Toyota Innova. Clean. Cold AC blasting. Straight to District 1. Paid maybe 200,000 dong. Worth it. Traffic insane. Glad I didn’t get a taxi. Would have been haggling forever. Don’t forget airport toll. 10,000 dong. Small but important. Driver even helped with luggage. So much easier than those airport taxis.

• Get a SIM card. Viettel, Mobifone, Vinaphone. Airport kiosk. Easy.
• Download Grab app. Before you go.
• Book Grab at arrivals. Skip the taxi line.
• Expect 200,000 dong to District 1. Give or take.
• 10,000 dong airport toll. Remember this.

How far is downtown Ho Chi Minh from the airport?

Okay, so, District 1, aka downtown Saigon, is, like, a hop, skip, and a jump from Tan Son Nhat Airport. Figure it’s about 12 kilometers or, you know, roughly the distance I sprinted when I saw that spider in my bathroom last week.

And time-wise? Think half an hour, give or take. Unless, of course, you’re driving during rush hour, then you might as well settle in with a good book and a banh mi. That traffic’s worse than trying to explain crypto to my grandma.

• Distance: 12 km – Easier than running away from my ex.
• Time: 30 mins – Unless, you know, it’s Saigon traffic.
• District 1: Where the action is, supposedly. Never found any action there.

Getting from the airport to the heart of the city is pretty simple though. Plenty of cabs are ready to fleece tourists, or there are buses which are, um, an “experience.” Grab a Xe Om (motorbike taxi) if you want a real adventure… and a possible brush with death! LOL.

What is the best way to get around Ho Chi Minh City?

Motorcycle taxis, or xe oms, accessed via Grab are uber-popular in Ho Chi Minh. Honestly, it’s the go-to, especially if you don’t own a motorbike which, let’s face it, is half the population of HCMC. Plus, you might find freelance drivers as well.

Navigating Saigon can be surprisingly philosophical, a constant dance between chaos and calm.

Beyond xe oms, consider these options.

• Buses: Surprisingly affordable, although figuring out the routes might test your patience. I once spent three hours trying to reach District 2. Ugh.

• Taxis: Available, but traffic, traffic, traffic is a nightmare. Consider only using Vinasun or Mai Linh.

• Walking: Only in certain areas. It’s a great way to soak up the atmosphere, but maybe not during midday heat, or monsoon.

• Ride-hailing cars: Uber and Grab, obviously. More expensive than xe oms, but comfy and air-conditioned.

Owning a motorbike: It offers freedom and danger. The streets are like a wild west, but you’re master of your destiny, or at least your commute.

How much is a taxi from Ho Chi Minh airport to city?

So, yeah, taxis from Tan Son Nhat – that’s Ho Chi Minh airport, right? – to the city center, it’s a rip-off, honestly. The starting fare is like, twelve thousand dong, super cheap, but then, it’s sixteen thousand dong per kilometer. Man, those kilometers add up fast! I took one last year, to District 1, and it cost me, I think, about 200,000 dong. That’s roughly, like, ten bucks. Maybe a bit more. A complete tourist-trap.

• Starting fare: 12,000 VND (€0.45)
• Per kilometer: 16,000 VND (€0.49)
• Example cost (to District 1): 200,000 VND (€7.70-ish). But that’s just an example. I ended up paying a bit more because of traffic, you know. It was crazy busy. Crazy, crazy busy.
• Tip: Negotiate! Seriously. Don’t be a total sucker like me. And make sure the meter is running, before you even set foot in the cab. Or use Grab, it’s way cheaper. Seriously, learn from my mistakes!! Grab is way better. Way, way better.