Getting Around and Airport Links in Ho Chi Minh City
Part of the Ho Chi Minh City travel guide — see every topic in All Ho Chi Minh City Guides.
Ho Chi Minh City is large and busy, with millions of motorbikes on the roads. Getting around is still easy, thanks to cheap ride-hailing apps, a new metro line and city buses. This guide explains your options in the city and how to travel between Tan Son Nhat airport and the centre, including which terminal you need.
Grab and taxis
Ride-hailing apps are the most popular way for visitors to get around. Grab is the best known, and there are local apps such as Be and Xanh SM. You can book a car or a motorbike taxi and see the price before you ride. You can pay in cash or link a card. Motorbike taxis are the fastest way through traffic, and the driver gives you a helmet. Metered taxis are also common. Use well-known taxi companies and make sure the meter is on. Traffic is very heavy at rush hour, about 7 to 9 am and 4 to 7 pm, so allow extra time.
Metro, buses and waterbus
Metro Line 1 runs from Ben Thanh in the centre to Suoi Tien in the east. It is fast, cool and cheap, and accepts contactless bank cards. It is the only metro line open for now. City buses cover most of the city and are very cheap, but routes can be hard to follow, so use a bus map app. Many buses start from the bus station near Ben Thanh. The Saigon Waterbus runs on the Saigon River from Bach Dang wharf in the centre to the north-east, with stops near Thao Dien. It is a slow but scenic ride. Check the timetable before you go.
Tan Son Nhat airport
Tan Son Nhat International Airport is inside the city, about 6 to 8 km north of the centre. A car ride takes about 30 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic. The airport has three terminals. Terminal 2 is for international flights. Terminal 3 opened in 2025 and is for domestic flights, and many domestic airlines have moved there. Terminal 1 also handles some domestic flights. Terminal assignments can change, so always check your ticket or the airline website. A walkway and shuttle buses link the terminals, but leave time to move between them.
Airport to the city
Grab and taxis are the easiest way from the airport to your hotel. There are official pick-up points outside the terminals. Follow the signs and avoid people offering rides inside the hall. Public buses are much cheaper. Bus 109 is an airport bus to the bus station near Ben Thanh Market, with space for luggage. Bus 152 is a slower city bus. Routes and stops can change, especially since Terminal 3 opened, so check the signs at the airport. Many hotels can also book a private car pick-up. A new, larger airport at Long Thanh is being built east of the city for the future.
Practical tips
Get a local SIM or eSIM at the airport, so you can use ride-hailing and maps right away. Save your hotel address in Vietnamese on your phone. Keep some small notes for buses and street food. QR payment is very common. To cross the road, walk slowly and steadily, and do not run or stop suddenly. Hold your phone tight near the road, because snatch theft from motorbikes can happen. Ward names changed in 2025, when districts were removed, so addresses and maps may show both old district names and new ward names. Drivers usually know both.
Getting Around and Airport Links at a glance
| Airport | Tan Son Nhat, about 6 to 8 km north; about 30 to 60 minutes by car; bus 109 to Ben Thanh |
|---|---|
| Terminals | T2 international; T3 (opened 2025) and T1 domestic; check your ticket |
| Hours | Metro about 5 am to 10 pm; Grab runs all day |
| Cost | Metro and buses are cheap; Grab shows the price before you ride |
| Best time | Avoid rush hour, about 7 to 9 am and 4 to 7 pm |