Ho Chi Minh City’s airport is the busiest in Vietnam, and it can be overwhelming to navigate. It’s usually chaotic outside the arrivals area. Many people will be shouting at you, asking if you need a ride. There are a lot of taxi scams. It’s unfortunate that travelers have to deal with this right after arriving in Vietnam, but it is what it is.
🏨 La Siesta Premium Saigon (see on Agoda / Booking): I’m a huge fan of the La Siesta hotel chain in Vietnam. This hotel is in a great location in District 1, near Ben Thanh Market
🎟️ Tours & Activities: this Cu Chi Tunnels tour or this scooter food tour
I flew into Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City again the other day. Many members in my HCMC travel planning group on Facebook ask how to get from HCMC airport to District 1 or other areas, so I thought a first-hand guide would be helpful.
The best way to navigate HCMC airport is to have a plan ahead of time (pre-book an airport transfer or learn how to use the Grab app) and not stand around looking lost. This will open you up to being scammed.
Tan Son Nhat International Airport is in Tan Binh District (Google Maps). With light traffic, the trip from HCMC airport to District 1 will take 20 to 30 minutes. The immigration line for international arrivals can sometimes take over two hours. Look into booking an airport fast-track service to skip the immigration lines.
If you’re planning to visit HCMC, check out my common travel FAQs guide, the visa requirements, and how to get around Ho Chi Minh City. Here’s my three-day and one-day HCMC itineraries. I’ve covered things to do in HCMC here.
Pre-Book an Airport Transfer
The easiest and most hassle-free way to get from HCMC airport to your hotel is to pre-book an airport transfer through Klook. The driver will be waiting outside the arrival area, usually holding a sign with your name. It will depend on the company; some have a board with names shown. Either way, you’ll receive clear instructions beforehand.
These screenshots are from Klook. I selected different numbers of passengers. All examples are going to the Hotel Continental Saigon in District 1. This is a very central area and a great location to stay in Ho Chi Minh City.
This service is slightly more expensive than using the Grab app to book a ride. But it’s also more convenient. If you’re tired after your flight, you won’t have to mess with the Grab app upon landing and then have to find your driver outside in the parking area.
Pre-booking an airport transfer will save you the hassle of dealing with random taxi drivers outside the arrivals area. You can simply grab your luggage and then exit the arrivals area where your driver will be waiting.
Use the Grab App
When advising first-timers traveling to Vietnam, the first thing I always tell them is to download the Grab app — it’s the Uber of Vietnam. You can see my other recommended apps for traveling in Vietnam.
If you decide to pre-book your airport transfer, you should still use the Grab app for getting around Ho Chi Minh City or elsewhere in Vietnam.
But to use the Grab app from inside HCMC airport, you’ll need to connect to the airport’s Wi-Fi or have a cell phone plan. The airport has free Wi-Fi. But you can also order a SIM card beforehand or pick one up at the airport. Here’s my guide to getting a SIM card or eSIM in Vietnam.
You can get some idea of the cost from the airport to D1 or D3 in my screenshots above. Between 100.000 VND and 200.000 VND is common, even up to 300.000 VND, depending on vehicle size. Keep in mind that Grab rates will vary depending on time of day, vehicle size, and demand.
You may be asked to pay an airport ticket fee of 10.000 VND to 15.000 VND.
Important: When using Grab, make sure the driver’s license plate matches what’s shown in the app after you book. There are fake Grab drivers who show you a phony booking screen on their phones to get you to ride with them. Sometimes, they’ll ask to look at your phone and then cancel your booking. So check the details: driver’s picture, car make/model, and license plate.
I took these photos exiting the domestic arrivals area and heading to meet my Grab driver in the parking garage. The international arrivals area is similar. There are signs all over. You’ll follow the path outside and head to the car park area. You’ll notice other travelers doing the same. There will be many other travelers using Grab.
Again, these photos show the domestic arrival path to meeting your Grab driver. There is a similar flow with signs and other tourists heading to meet their Grab drivers in the international area.
You’ll see signs for either “Grab” or “ride-hailing.” Follow these to the Grab area.
Get a Regular Taxi (Last Resort)
You can also stop and snag a regular taxi if you want — but this would be my absolute last-resort recommendation because pre-booking on Klook or using the Grab app is super easy.
If you go this route, make sure they turn on the meter. Some taxi drivers will try to get you to agree to a price beforehand (it’s usually inflated). I’d say that a fair cost from HCMC airport to District 1 is around 200.000 VND to 300.000 VND, depending on vehicle size. If you’re quoted something like 500.000 VND or more, that’s too high.
My two recommended companies for regular taxis in Ho Chi Minh City are Mai Linh (green) and Vinasun (white).
Using the Grab app is the best way to get back to the airport from anywhere in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s very easy to order a ride in the app from your hotel to the airport. You can also ask your hotel to help with arrangements, but this is usually more expensive than using the Grab app yourself.
