How to Get from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Airport to the City Centre

Tan Son Nhat at night. Photo: Bem photography, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) sits inside Ho Chi Minh City, only 7 to 8 km from the centre. That makes it one of the closest big-city airports in Southeast Asia, but the short distance can still take an hour in Saigon traffic, and the price of the same ride can vary a lot depending on how you go.

Quick answer: the easiest way from the airport to the city centre is a ride-hailing car (Grab, Be or Xanh SM), which costs about 150,000 to 250,000 VND (6 to 10 USD) and takes 25 to 45 minutes. The cheapest way is airport bus 109, at about 15,000 to 20,000 VND. Metered Vinasun and Mai Linh taxis are a good backup if your phone has no data.

Your first 30 minutes after landing at T2

1. Get online before you leave the building. SIM kiosks for Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone sit in the T2 arrivals hall right after customs. A tourist data SIM at the airport usually costs about 250,000 to 400,000 VND, a little more than in town. The free airport Wi-Fi works inside the terminal but drops once you step outside, so an eSIM set up at home is the smoothest option.
2. Say no to anyone offering a taxi inside the hall. Genuine Vinasun and Mai Linh drivers wait at the official rank outside and do not approach you in arrivals.
3. Open the app once you are outside. At T2, Grab, Be and Xanh SM cars pick up in the multi-storey car park next to arrivals, not at the kerb. Follow the pick-up marker in the app.
4. Or head to pillar 12 for bus 109. The yellow airport bus stops outside T2 arrivals and costs 15,000 to 20,000 VND in cash.
5. Expect about 25 minutes to the centre in light traffic, and 45 minutes or more at rush hour or in heavy rain.

Airport to city centre at a glance

Prices are typical ranges for Saigon Ward (the old District 1) and change with traffic, time of day and demand.

First, check your terminal

Tan Son Nhat has three passenger terminals, and each has its own pick-up points:

• Terminal 2 (T2): all international arrivals.
• Terminal 1 (T1): domestic flights for some airlines.
• Terminal 3 (T3): the newer domestic terminal, opened in 2025, used by many Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet domestic flights.

Check your arrival terminal in your airline app before you land, especially if you are connecting from another Vietnamese city.

Grab, Be and Xanh SM: the easiest option

Ride-hailing apps are the simplest choice for most visitors. You see the price before you book, the route is tracked and there is no meter to argue about. A car to the centre usually costs about 150,000 to 250,000 VND in normal traffic. A motorbike ride (GrabBike) is cheaper but only works with a small bag.

• Where to meet your driver at T2: app cars do not pick up at the arrivals kerb. Walk out of arrivals and follow the signs to the ride-hailing pick-up area in the car park next to the terminal, then check the pick-up point in the app.
• Xanh SM uses an all-electric fleet with steady pricing, though waits can be a little longer.
• Be is a local app and is sometimes slightly cheaper than Grab.
• Book from the pick-up zone, not from the gate, so your driver does not have to circle the airport.

Airport taxis: what to know

If you prefer a taxi, use the official taxi queue outside arrivals and choose a well-known company:

• Vinasun: white cars with red and green stripes.
• Mai Linh: green cars with white lettering.

A metered ride to the centre usually comes to about 170,000 to 280,000 VND, plus a small airport entry fee of around 10,000 to 15,000 VND. Prepaid taxi counters inside arrivals are easy but normally cost more than the meter. Check the meter starts at the normal flag-fall price when you set off.

Need to call a taxi instead? Vinasun: 028 38 27 27 27. Mai Linh: 028 38 38 38 38.

Bus 109 and bus 152: the cheapest way

The road into Tan Son Nhat, a short ride from the city centre. Photo: Lưu Ly, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bus 109 (airport bus)

• Fare: 15,000 VND for short trips and 20,000 VND for the full ride into the centre, paid in cash on board. Carry small notes.
• Route: from the airport into Saigon Ward via Nam Ky Khoi Nghia and Ham Nghi streets, past Ben Thanh Market, ending at Saigon Bus Station by 23/9 Park near Pham Ngu Lao.
• Where to board: pillar 12 outside T2 arrivals, and the bus stops by T1 and T3.
• Hours: roughly 5:30am to 10pm, about every 40 to 45 minutes. Timetables change, so check the last departure when you land.
• Going back to the airport: catch it at the Ham Nghi stop across the road from Ben Thanh Market.
• Luggage: one large suitcase per person is usually fine.

Bus 152

Bus 152 is the cheapest option at about 6,000 to 10,000 VND plus a small luggage fee. It stops more often and runs only in the daytime, roughly 5am to 6pm, so it suits travellers with light bags and time to spare.

Good to know: Saigon Metro Line 1 does not go to the airport yet, so you cannot take the metro from Tan Son Nhat.

Hotel and private transfers

A pre-booked car is worth it if you land late at night, travel with children or carry a lot of luggage. Expect about 400,000 to 700,000 VND to the centre. When you book, check that the price includes the airport fee, that the driver will wait with a name sign and that the car fits your bags. Many hotels can arrange this for you, including KiN Hotel Dong Du, which lists airport transfers among its services.

Tips to avoid airport scams

• Ignore offers inside the terminal. People offering a taxi, a flat rate or help with your bags in the arrivals hall usually charge far more.
• Check the taxi brand closely. Fake taxis copy the colours of Vinasun and Mai Linh. Use the official queue or an app.
• Watch the meter. If the meter already shows a high fare before you move, get out.
• Get mobile data before you land. An eSIM set up at home means Grab works as soon as you step outside.
• Carry small notes. 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 VND notes help with buses and small fees. You can break a large note at the airport convenience stores.

Going back to the airport

Traffic around Tan Son Nhat can be heavy, especially at rush hour and in afternoon rain from May to November. Leave the centre about 3 hours before an international flight and 2 hours before a domestic one, and allow more time during Tet. Rides at night and in heavy rain can cost 20 to 30 percent more.

What about Long Thanh airport?

Ho Chi Minh City is opening a second airport, Long Thanh International Airport (LTH), about 40 km east of the centre. Commercial flights are currently targeted to start on 24 December 2026, with about 366 flights a week at first, most of them domestic, with more international flights moving there in phases. Tan Son Nhat stays open.

Always check the airport code on your ticket: SGN is Tan Son Nhat and LTH is Long Thanh. From Long Thanh, the trip to the centre is by road and takes about 45 to 90 minutes, so allow extra time and budget.

Where to stay after you land

A guest room at KiN Hotel Dong Du, 25 to 45 minutes from the airport by car.

Most visitors base themselves in the old District 1 (now Saigon Ward and Ben Thanh Ward), 25 to 45 minutes from the airport by car. KiN Hotel Group has hotels for every budget there:

• KiN Hotel Dong Du (8.2 km from T2): steps from the Opera House and Nguyen Hue Walking Street, with airport transfers available.
• KiN Hotel Thi Sach Edition (8.3 km): a 4-star stay in one of Saigon's liveliest neighbourhoods.
• NiK Hotel Nguyen Trai (8.4 km): great value steps from Ben Thanh Market, close to the end of the bus 109 route.
• NiK Hotel Thi Sach (8.3 km): a simple, central base for short stays.

Road distances from Terminal 2 are from Google Maps. With light traffic, the drive to any of these hotels takes about 25 minutes.

Still choosing an area? Read our guide to where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City, and see what a day in Saigon costs. First time in Vietnam? Our first-trip tips will help too.

🛎️ Check rates at KiN Hotels

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