Take a Bus to Ho Chi Minh Airport
Editor’s Note: Update – May 2016
So much has changed since I first wrote this post back in 2014, and all of it’s good for tourists and locals alike. Ho Chi Minh city has finally got itself not one, but two, airport shuttle buses, to rival those in other popular destinations around the world. I’ve also discovered a crazy useful App that replaces all those paper and online route maps (that always seemed to be down!!) So now a decision to take a bus to Ho Chi Minh Airport has never been so easy. And there’s a new Hop On – Hop Off Service to get around District 1 and China Town. Although, I’m not as enthusiastic about that one. You can read my reasons below.
Most tourists wouldn’t even consider taking a public bus when visiting Saigon, but there are lots of reasons why you should make it an option. As well as the comfortable 152 bus to Ho Chi Minh airport, there’s also two dedicated Airport Shuttle buses to popular District 1 destinations including to Ben Thanh bus station near the market. The 152 costs between 30 cents and a dollar, depending on the amount of luggage you have. And the new airport shuttles cost between 12 000 and 40 000 VND (< $2), regardless of how much luggage you have. That’s much, much cheaper than the already inexpensive taxi option.
Check out the pros and cons of taking a bus and some handy tips here.
Online Resources
I’ve totally scrapped the links to all the other online routes and timetables. They were forever going down and creating frustration for my readers and me. The absolutely best way to find a bus route to where you want to go is to either download this fantastic FREE App or use the web version. It’s in both Vietnamese and English and is incredibly easy to use. CLICK HERE to access the APP.
The only downside at this point is it doesn’t have the details of the new SHUTTLE BUS. I’ll give you more on that below.
Here’re a couple of screen shots to help you find your way:
Crazy, helpful bus APP to help you find your way around Ho Chi Minh City
Look up the entire route including each stop along the way
Use the navigation function to find transfer point and connecting buses.
New HCMC Airport Shuttle Buses
The bright yellow buses are easy to spot – New, modern, spacious, comfortable, regular, convenient
The trip costs 20 000 VND (<$1 USD) to District 1 and only 12 000 VND if you don’t go all the way. Just tell the staff where you want to get off and they’ll tell you the price) And, there’s no extra charge for luggage. The buses are air conditioned, have non-slip floors, brand new modern interiors and large open areas to put your bags. And for your safety and security, video cameras have been installed. Only drivers with 5 to 6 years experience are allowed to drive the bus which hopefully makes for a smoother and safer ride.
Written information on the bus is in both Vietnamese and English, and staff speak adequate English to help out.
The bus leaves every 15 to 20 minutes between the hours of 5.30 am and 1.30 am. Time to the city depends on traffic but should be under 50 minutes.
Route 49, launched on the 19th May and is slightly more expensive but has more stops near the big hotels. Like route 109, the route 49 is operated with modern buses and trained staff with English and communication skills. It charges passengers a flat fare of VND40,000 and takes 30-40 minutes to complete the whole journey. The service is available between 5 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. the next day.
Route 49 goes via Tan Son Nhat Airport’s international terminal – domestic terminal – Truong Son – Tran Quoc Hoan – Hoang Van Thu – Nguyen Van Troi – Nam Ky Khoi Nghia – Le Duan – Cong Xa Paris – Dong Khoi – Dong Du – Hai Ba Trung – Ton Duc Thang – Ham Nghi – Ben Thanh – Pham Ngu Lao – Nguyen Trai – Le Lai – Nguyen Huu Canh – Cach Mang Thang 8 – Dien Bien Phu – Nam Ky Khoi Nghia – Nguyen Van Troi – Phan Dinh Giot – Truong Son – International terminal
The bright yellow buses are easy to spot, and the ones I’ve seen are very spacious and uncrowded. This might change as the service becomes more widely known.
Les than 1 USD to get to the city in comfort.
Note: Some locals still prefer the 152 as it has a broader reach around the city and is cheaper if you have little or no luggage. But for most visitors to town, this new service is a clear winner for cost, comfort, and convenience.
Key Bus Stations and Transfer Points.
For tourists wanting to get to the main sights around Ho Chi Minh City, the bus station near Ben Thanh Market will be the most useful hub. The station is right across the roundabout from Ben Thanh Market and is called Ga HKXB Sai Gon. The actual address is Pham Ngu Lao Street.
Ben Thanh Bus Station is just across the roundabout from the iconic market
Transfer points around the city facilitate a wider coverage by connecting buses. Two of these include
- Cho Lon Station District 5 and
- Mien Dong Station District Binh Thanh
For catching buses to other destinations in Vietnam, – See THIS POST that has information on intercity buses and bus stations.
Popular Routes for Tourists
Bus to Ho Chi Minh Airport (Tan Son Nhat)
Route 152 – This bus to Ho Chi Minh Airport is air-conditioned and the cheapest way to and from the city from Tan Son Nhat if you travel before 6 pm. The new Shuttle Bus (see above) has much broader hours of operation and is almost as cheap, especially if you have luggage. The cost is 6,000 VND (~30 cents) per person plus a fee for bags that varies from about 4000 VND for a smaller bag to 14 000 VND (70 cents) for two larger ones. The Airport is Stop 36, Ben Thanh Market Stop 13 and Pham Ngu Lao-Bui Vien area, Stop 12.
Upon exiting the airport, turn right and you will see the bus waiting there. If not, walk down to the domestic terminal – about a 5-minute walk. The bus waits across a small road. There is no signage indicating where the bus stop is.
Unless it is after 6 pm, IGNORE Taxi drivers and scammers that will try and tell you there are no more airport buses. The taxi rank attendants, easily identifiable by their uniforms will usually point out the spot to stand and wait if you ask politely.
You can also use this route to get close to Reunification Palace, The War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Central Post Office.
Other Handy Bus Routes
Get THIS APP to find exact locations of the stops.
Route 38, – New World Hotel (The stop (nr 8) is in Nguyen Thi Nghia) near Ben Thanh Market to Damsen Water Park (Last Stop)
Routes 35– Ben Thanh Market to the Jade Emperor Pagoda. Get off at stop 29 at 87 Dien Ben Phu just before Victoria Healthcare. Cross the road and walk down the other side of the street (against the traffic) until you reach Mai Thi Luu and turn left.
Route 18 – Ben Thanh Market to Saigon Zoo. Get off at stop 13 on Le Duan, at Sofitel Plaza. Walk straight up the street to reach the main entrance.
Route 1 – Ben Thanh Market to Cholon (District 5 -China Town)
Route 102 – Ben Thanh Market to District 4 – Dragon House Wharf and the Ho Chi Minh Museum. The bus stop is on the corner of Pham Hong Thai and Le Lai street rather than the actual Ben Thanh bus station.The museum is about a 450m walk from stop 5, (first stop over the canal). Walk straight towards the river. Cross over Nguyen That Tan and turn left.
Routes 65 will get you close to the Saigon Train Station from Ben Thanh Market, but you’ll still have a little bit of a walk. Get off at stop 10 or 11 on Cach Mang Thang Tam.
Hopefully, some of you, especially those of you on limited budgets, will find this information useful in getting around Ho Chi Minh City. The bus system, including the bus to Ho Chi Minh airport, provides a cheap and reliable way to get around the city. Sacrifice a few creature comforts and you are guaranteed a genuinely local experience.
Hop On – Hop Off Bus
As of late May 2016, Ho Chi Minh City has it’s first Hop On – Hop Off bus service. For 199 000 VND (approximately $9), You can visit the major tourist sites in District 1. Frankly, many of these attractions are so close; you are better off walking between them. Especially if it’s peak hour (See my Day 1 walking tour HERE) There are a couple of the stops further afield – the zoo, the pier, and the Skydeck. But a taxi between them will total up to around the same and save you heaps if there are more than one of you. However, you do have access to audio information in English, French and Chinese, so that might be a big advantage. (Or, you could book a free tour with one of the guys at Saigon Hotpot and get your own personal guide) At the moment, it appears the District 1 schedule is every 30 minutes between 8 am and 5.30 pm.
For 149 000 (7 USD) you can get to the main sites in Cho Lon (China Town). Again, once you’re there, the stops are really close. There are some much cheaper alternatives available. A number 1 bus from Ben Thanh market to Cho Lon bus station will cost you 6000 VND (30 cents) either way. A taxi will set you back around 50 000 VND. I don’t think you would spend an hour at any of these sites, so you would spend a lot of time hanging around waiting for the next service (and probably walk there very easily). At the moment, it only runs hourly from 1 to 5 pm (finishing at 6 pm). That might change in the future if it proves popular.
You can combine both tours for 299 000 ($14) which will save you money, but I’m just not convinced it’s worth it. ESPECIALLY if there are more than one person.
So I’m not saying don’t take it. I commend the company for trying to make things easier for tourists to see the sights around town. I haven’t listened to the audio guide, but I’m sure it’s wonderful. Just be aware of the alternatives and the current limitations.
Note: I do not receive any payment for this post (or any others on the site for that matter!). I do receive a small amount of money by allowing advertisements on the site and any purchases made through those links.
The yellow Bus 49 ceased operating months ago
Also at this point of time the 109 FROM the Airport goes along Le Lai Street
NOT Pham Ngu Lao Street
TO the Airport it goes via Pham Ngu Lao Street
Thanks Ron. I’ve been out of the country for a while so hadn’t cottoned onto those changes. I’ll investigate and update the blog with the relevant info. Cheers for letting me know. The Bus App still says the 49 is running and give a timetable so I’ll have to confirm with some local friends. Also, the Le Lai route makes sense going out as they are both one-way streets but I don’t detail the 109 route, only the 49 which does say it goes out along Le Lai. My recommendation is to use the bus app, as mentioned in the article as it shows all the stops and you can use the navigation to find the best route to your hotel.
Hello Sharyn,
I have in fact a simple question,is there a monthly subscription for local buses in HCMC?
I really can’t find anything about this on the internet.
Thanks in advance.
You used to be able to buy a book of tickets at the major bus station. This reduced the individual price of the tickets. The last time I did this was back in 2012 so I’m not sure if it’s still available, but can’t see why not.
Hello! I am so sorry, you may have answered this question already, but shuttles going TO the airport do not end at 6PM, correct? I’m currently deciding between taking a bus from mui ne straight to the airport or saving a couple bucks and going via normal bus. Thank you for your help!!
Pretty sure that they keep going. But check out the timetables on the bus app, I mention in the blog to make sure. Sorry for the late reply. I’m currently in Canada. https://busmap.vn/?locale=en
I just got back at the end of April from HCMC Dist 1. I stayed a month and took several domestic flights within Vietnam taking the bus to/from the airport each time, and it’s a great way to go. I think the 12:30am bus is the last one from the Pham Ngu Lau station at the end of the park where they originate (across the street from the outdoor market). The buses stop at both domestic and international terminals for 5 minutes or so at each one out on the arrival loop. They run about every 20 minutes. Just look for a yellow bus and check for number 109 in front. I wish I knew about the bus when I arrived a month earlier because I paid a taxi $200k to get to Dist 1, but I heard horror stories of folks paying $700k to get to town by rip-off taxi drivers who drove around in loops.
Hi,Sharyn.
Can I ask u if I stay at somerset ho chi minh city (address : 8A Nguyen Binh Khiem, Ho Chi Minh) can take Bus152 from airport to my hotel?
USe the navigation option on the bus app I mention in the blog to find out the best route to your hotel. USe Tan son Nhat International airport and the address as your start and end points. I think Nguyen Binh Khiem may be at the wrong end of D! so you might need to switch buses, take a taxi from Hai Ba Trung, or walk about 1.5km.
Hi. Could you assist? We arrive (family of 4) in HCMC on 26 Dec and thinking of taking bus 49 to our Hotel (Sunland Hotel, very near the Russian Market). Which would be the best / closest stop to get off at?? Thanks so much
I think the last stop in Pham Ngu Lao is closest but then you’ll need to take a taxi to the hotel, as it will be too far to walk if you have luggage. Read my post on avoiding taxi scams before you do. https://hochiminhcityhighlights.com/scam-free-rides-saigon-taxi
Hi, a few questions – we are staying at the Grand Silverland Hotel & Spa. Our flight to Luang Prabang leaves at 7:50AM. Is the nearest stop for the shuttle bus the Ben Thanh market stop? Should we take the #49 or the #109 – or would either get us to the airport. What time should we plan on catching the bus to get to the airport on time. Thanks! Chris
There is probably a closer stop but if you are flying internationally I would take a cab. You should get to the airport a minimum of 2 (preferably 2.5 hrs early) It’s less than $10 and I wouldn’t risk the bus at that hour of the morning as I don’t think they start until 5.30. USe Vinasun or Mai Linh cabs (see this blog to avoid problems https://hochiminhcityhighlights.com/scam-free-rides-saigon-taxi) or download the Grab or Uber app to your phone and call one of those. It may be slightly cheaper but likely only by $1. Alternatively, I’m sure the hotel can arrange a transfer. It should be no more than $10.
Hi Sharyn, thanks for the useful info! We two girls almost get scammed by the taxi driver who grabbed money from my sister’s wallet! It was scary and we are still traumatised thinking back the chaos and hope not to take taxi back to airport tomorrow. Gratefully I found your blog. Just wanna make sure is it correct that we can get to airport by taking bus 109 from ben thanh market?
There is a huge amount of construction on that roundabout where the station is at the moment. If you take a look at the route on this link you can see they have shifted the stop to the adjoining street Ham Nghi. https://busmap.vn/map/lookup/route/199
Same with the 49. https://busmap.vn/map/lookup/route/208
Make sure you leave plenty of time to get to the airport. The traffic seems to have gotten exponentially worse due to road works. The buses are quite regular though so you shouldn’t have a problem getting one.
Depending on where you are staying, just pick the closest stop. The buses start at the other end of Pham Ngu Lao.
Also, have a look at this post: It might help out with the taxi issue…https://hochiminhcityhighlights.com/scam-free-rides-saigon-taxi
Hi! I need to decide which flight to take, so your help would be appreciated. DO you think if my plane arrives at 0:45 in the night, I will be able to get on the shuttle bus? I have confusing information. Your post says that shuttles operate till 1.30 a.m., my hostels, it seems, never even heard of them, so a bit confused(( Thanks!
I just answered you in your second message. Check out the timetable for the 49 here. https://busmap.vn/map/lookup/route/208
What is the closet station to get off using a bus (shuttle) from Ho Chi Minh airport to District 1, Asian Ruby Hotel at D Le Thanh Ton. I would appreciate any suggestion using 152 or 109 or…….Thanks
Just ask the guys that sell the tickets for the 109 and 49. Walk out of international arrivals and look to your right. Around about the area across from Burger King you should see a small booth on the traffic island across the road. Show them the name of your hotel and the address and they’ll advise. Or just use the bus app as mentioned in the blog post. Use the navigation option. Looks like Ben Thanh bus station is the closest using the 109 route.
Hi, I am going to hcmc next week. And I travel by my self. My plane landed at 9 pm. Is there any buses left that time? I heard the is none after 6 pm. Thank you
The new airport shuttles run until after midnight so you should be fine.They’re the bright yellow buses. Just tell the guys selling the tickets where you are headed and they’ll tell you which bus to get on and when to get off. If you’re headed to the backpacker district it will drop you off right on Pham Ngu Lao.
Hi is there a booth that sells bus ticket in the airport? & What part of the airport is the Bus Station?
When you walk out of arrivals, look to your right. There is a booth on the traffic island around the area across from Burger King.You’re likely to see a big yellow bus pull up somewhere there. They go regularly.
The busmap.vn application has now updated for all new bus routes in Ho Chi Minh city.
We also can view the real waiting time of buses at each station (just need to click on the station icon on the map).
Cheers,
Busmap team
That is awesome…Even the airport buses? I will update the post as soon as I get time.
This blog is really helpful and the effort you put in is greatly appreciated?? I only wished I’d seen it before we arrived to HCMC (slightly cheated by taxi!!) Fly back to HCMC from Phu Quoc and will be using bus to travel from airport to De Tham Street and also back to airport then when we fly back to Portugal. So thanks ? x
You’re most welcome. I think there’s a couple of new buses started. One goes to an outlying bus station so make sure you get on the one to town. I hope you enjoyed Phu Quoc. We were there this time two years ago and it was brilliant. RE taxis – Slightly?! You were lucky. Especially if you didn’t read this blog first.https://hochiminhcityhighlights.com/scam-free-rides-saigon-taxi
Hi Sharyn,
You help a lot of people on this site. Thank you.
I will arrive at the Ho Chi Minh International airport very late Wednesday night/very early Thursday morning t 12:05 a.m. Will the 109 shuttle bus from the airport still be in operation at that hour. And is that the only bus available at that time?
By the time you get through immigration, customs and get your bags it will likely be after 1 am when I think all the buses are finished. Especially if you are getting your visa on arrival. (PS. Vietnam Visas now have e-visas which will make things a lot quicker. https://hochiminhcityhighlights.com/vietnam-tourist-visa-requirements) I would personally take a car or taxi into town. It should cost NO more than 200 000 VND (probably less) which is less than $10 USD. Don’t forget to let your hotel know you are arriving early in the morning. There is usually someone on the door but they will probably be asleep. You’ll be surprised at how little is open at that hour of the morning here. REad the first few paragraphs of this post https://hochiminhcityhighlights.com/ho-chi-minh-city-airport-pickup-service and this post https://hochiminhcityhighlights.com/scam-free-rides-saigon-taxi . Hope you have a great trip.
sorry, just found that you have the answer in comments!
Depending on how quickly you were to get through visas, customs and immigration you might be lucky but I wouldn’t count on it at that time of the early morning. Although the 49 appears to have one leaving at 2 am now. Check out the timetables for the different shuttles on the busapp. https://busmap.vn/map/lookup/route/208.
Greenlines DP (brand new) catamaran ferries are running to Vung Tau from the same place in HCMC but go to the second wharf in Vung Tau. This is located beside the ‘Big Mountain’ Cable Car. Probably an extra 20-30kVND if you are staying at Back Beach for a taxi. This is their website, http://greenlines-dp.com/en/service . Please note the Vina/Petro Express licences have expired 31DEC16 after 20 years of service but say their ferries are in for ‘repair’. There is a petition to extend their licences until 2020. Happy travels!!
That’s awesome news, Geoff. I knew the old ones were stopping. I’m glad there’s a reliable replacement. It’s almost enough to make me want to take a trip. I’m sure there’s been a lot of changes since I last visited in 2011. I’ll update the details throughout the site.
thank u so much for the info … so I can catch 152 from bus stop near Ben Thanh market (District 1) to Saigon international airport right? Also, do u know of shuttles from the airport to Vung Tau please?
Yes you can take the 152 at Ben Thanh. And you can catch the new yellow airport shuttles there as well. Now that the ferry is being stopped to Vung Tau, I’m not sure where the buses are going from. I’ll check it out and get back to you. In the meantime, just drop in at any of the tour agencies around town and they can assist.
thank you for posting this very useful information!!!!!!!!!
i was thinking to take a taxi from airport to district 1, however i found your very useful information of shuttle bus.
thank you very much!!!!!
You’re welcome. MAke sure you catch the right one. They have just introduced a new one that goes to Mien Dong bus station. Don’t take that one.
hi I am staying near ben thah market ie silverland central hotel. which stop which I alight by taking bus 109? do I need to walk far from where I alight to the hotel?
Just show the driver the address you want to get off at and he’ll advise which stop. I think probably the one before Ben Thanh but it might be the one before that.
Oops I meant the ‘109’ yellow bus service. Please amend…
The 109 is 20 000VND and the 49 is 40 000vnd. Slightly different routes but mostly the same. I caught the 109.
Hi, took this service twice on a recent trip to Vietnam after finding this information page.
This was my 8th trip to Vietnam and usually took the ‘152’ but had just missed the bus after a flight delay and the battle of the immigration queues (hehe).
GOOD NEWS!! Is as written: 20kVND to the bus station at the market. New buses, good driver, great air-conditioning. WI-FI and VERY comfortable. Highly recommended if you are a backpacker or have lots of luggage (big bags). If you NEED to take a taxi go to the Mai Linh counter in arrivals and there is also a ‘pop-up’ counter charging 180kVND for City service.
BAD NEWS! If it is your 1st trip to HCMC forget how close things are on the map…traffic in HCMC can and will be a shock for you. The route goes through 3 of the heaviest trafficked roads in HCMC. Especially via Independence (Reunification) Palace. The 1km road can take 30 minutes to get through. So, the trip from TSN airport to the market station can take 1.5 hours and the return to TSN just over an hour!! It did for me and I needed to catch other transport at the markets. My plans had to change and after 12 hours of flying took an extra 3 hours to get to my destination. PLEASE allow for this to avoid disappointment as road conditions can vary dramatically in HCMC .
‘The 152’
The ‘152’ is consistent at about 45 minutes as it diverts away from these roads. It is a clunky older bus but 5kVND and sometimes they charge 5k for bags…so if you have to be somewhere within an hour of arrival take the ‘152’.
All said, I will ensure I allow for the extra time and use the ’49’
Thank you Sharyn for the page and highlighting transport alternatives.
You’re welcome. I caught it myself the other day at around 6pm from the airport and it took an hour to the final station at Pham Ngu Lao which was fine because my friend and I were catching up chatting and barely noticed the traffic. But yes, you need to leave enough time if you are catching a plane in busy times. Yes the 152 is convenient but it starts later and end far earlier than the others. The yellow buses go right through to 1am in the morning.
hi, i bought a ticket to kuala lumpur and i have 9 hours transit in Ho Chi Minh airport. do you have any suggestion for me to spend my time ? i really like your blog, but i have no idea about Vietnam and the time that i need to travel around the airport and cuty.
thank you so much 🙂
That’s great Magda, but I need a little more information. What time does your plane get in and what nationality are you. If you need a visa, things get just a little bit more complicated.
my plane will arrive at 11.45 and i doesn’t need visa because i’m Indonesian..
it is free visa for Indonesian to enter some country at south east Asia
Lucky you. Visas are a pain for most of us. Enjoy your trip.
do you have any idea or suggestion which part/ places that i can visit for that 9 hours ? 🙂
It depends on what time you arrive. In 9 hours you could do and see a lot if you pre-booked a tour. Check out some of the options on this page https://hochiminhcityhighlights.com/urban-adventures and see which one might fit in with your time frames. It should be easy enough to work out where to meet up once you know which tour you want to take. It’s less than 30 minutes into the city by taxi and around 45 minutes on the bus. Have a great trip. Alternatively, there are a few self-guided tours here https://hochiminhcityhighlights.com/tours. And a morning and afternoon itinerary here https://hochiminhcityhighlights.com/what-to-do-in-saigon-suggested-itineraries
Very helpful blog, thank you
You’re welcome. I actually took the shuttle the other day. It was slow in peak hour but everything is at that time of day. There was barely anyone on it. It’s air-conditioned, clean and the people very helpful.
Hi, I have little bit confusing. About the Route 152 to the city is backward route right? Then exit the airport after 6PM, is it still have any bus available? If not, what should I do?
Take one of the Airport shuttles (109 or 49) I mentioned in the article. They run til very late and on a regular basis. They are a little bit more expensive than the 152 but superior in comfort and room for your luggage. When I caught one at peak hour last month there was barely anyone on board. They are both bright yellow, so easy to find and stop right outside both the international and domestic terminals.
How can I travel from from Hano Noi Bai international Airport to Tan San Nhat international airport?
thanks
As they’re at opposite ends of the country, I’d recommend flying. Try VietjetAir and Jetstar for the cheapest prices. The domestic terminals are very close to the international ones and you can walk between them.
hi,
do u know where i could take a bus from the ho chi minh city airport to mui ne?
taxi a bit pricey for my budget, can u please help me what the best way and affortable to go i n mui ne ,ty
Just talk to any travel agent in the backpacker district near Pham Ngu Lao/Bui Vien. They’ll know. Alternatively, take the train to Phan Thiet and take a local bus from there.
But I just read the train line just north of Saigon is damaged and you have to take a 30 minute taxi ride to get to the first station. So best to take the bus.
OMG this is so helpful. thanks a lot!!! You are the best!
You’re welcome. I took the bus myself the other night. IT does take a while in peak hour (but no longer than a taxi mind you) so make sure you leave plenty of time if you are departing early evening.
Is there a website about the new shuttle buses? Where do they wait?
There is an information desk at the international airport. They will direct you exactly where to wait. Also a good idea to give them the address of your hotel and they will advise the best stop to get off. Both Airport shuttles stop at the international and domestic terminals. You can’t miss them, they are BRIGHT yellow.
If I want go to Saigon Central Post office from airport, so I can either can take route 152 (green bus-VND5000) or route 49 (yellow bus-VND20,000) . is it correct ?
Sorry, neither of those are going to get you to the post office. They come down Nam Ky Khoi Nghia and turn off onto Nguyen Dinh Chieu. It’s close but still about 6 blocks away. Use the Bus App http://busmap.vn/map/navigation/2// in navigation mode to see if you can make connections for the 152. I just tried it and all the options given show it’s still a bit of a walk.
You can find the 152 route here http://busmap.vn/map/lookup/route/37
Route 109 is International Terminal – Domestic Terminal (Tan Son Nhat International Airport) – Truong Son – Tran Quoc Hoan – round about of Lang Cha Ca – Hoang Van Thu – Nguyen van Troi – Nam Ky Khoi Nghia – Nguyen Dinh Chieu – Cach Mang Thang Tam – Pham Hong Thai – Le Lai – round about of Ben Thanh – Ben Thanh Station – Pham Ngu Lao – Park 23/9
I asked about the shuttle bus to airport at a travel agent in district 1 and he sold be the shuttle bus tickets and showed me where to catch it along pham ngu lao street 40000 dong a ticket, easy as pie.
Great. Was that the small airport transfer buses or the big Airport Shuttle?
The tickets have got a photo of the small yellow shuttle buses on them! So i guest its the small buses.
Interesting. Sounds like they’ve met the competition. The rides arranged by hostels and travel agents in that area used to be $8 USD!
Hi Sharyn,
they are open tickets so you can use them anytime, they have Satsco emblem and VE XE shuttle bus on the tickets. If thats any help?
Thanks for that. I’m heading down that way this week. I’ll do some detecting 🙂 cheers for letting me know.
Do we need to provide exact change for the bus ticket?
Not that I’m aware of. But it will be more difficult for them to change very big notes. If you change money at the airport exchange counters, make them give you at least a couple of 50 000 VND notes. If you use the ATM, take out e.g. 4.9 million rather than 5 million. That will ensure you get at least some 100 000 notes, rather than all 500 000. There are small cafes around the arrivals area, you can always buy a bottle of water or something to get some change.
This is a really useful blog / website, thanks.
Cheers. Glad you liked it.
You may not reply in time but i need to go to the airport tomorrow from ben thahn. Google maps is telling me to take two buses, the 14 then 8 and will take 90 mins. Do i have to go to the bus station?
Until what time is the ben thanh bus station?
Hi Angie, so sorry for the late reply. I’ve been on holidays with no internet access. I’m not sure what time it closes. Best to go through the links in this post to whatever bus route you want and see what time the last one leaves or arrives at Ben Thanh. Even though it may stay open late, your bus might not be arriving or departing.
hi, what’s the easiest way going to Saigon Train Station from the airport?
Hoping you got my email, Bernadette. I’m in Cuba at the moment with limited internet access. Taxi, in either Vinasun orMailinh. Read my blog on taxi scams to avoid the tricksters.
How long is the ride from the airport to the market or the other way round please?
It totally depends on traffic and the time of day. Anything form from around 40 minutes to over an hour or more on bad days. Leave yourself plenty of time at peak times.
thank you. it is very helpful
You’re more than welcome.