How to Reach Ho Chi Minh City

GET AROUND

  • Taxi and Rental Car: Taxis are cheap and plentiful, and you can flag one down pretty much any time of day. It's worth noting that they become very scarce in the rain though. Watch out for scam artists, as some companies charge 3 times market rate and target tourists and others will happily drive in circles to run up the metre. Carry written instructions in Vietnamese as they don't usually speak English.Rental cars with a driver are easy to obtain for longer excursions and can work out good value for money, ask in your hotel for recommendations.
  • Motorbike: Motorcycle taxis are common and come in many variants, there's an element of risk to the journey but it's an efficient way to beat the rush hour traffic.
  • Buses: Buses are cheap and there are over 150 routes through the city, pay the fare collector and not the driver though – journeys are usually less than $1 (in local currency).
  • On Foot: It's hot but often walking is the best way to see the sights, but watch out for motorcyclists on the pavements – not all of them will try and let you know they are there, before ploughing into you.