Transportation

There are 4 main bus stations within the city: 1] Cho Ben Thanh Bus Station - This is right in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. It is walking distance from many tourist sites. 2] Mien Dong Bus Station - Buses heading north leave and arrive here. 3] Mien Tay Bus Station - Bus 139 from Tran Hung Dao Street leaves here. 4] Cholon Bus Station

The train is usually used to travel to and from Ho Chi Minh City. The train station, GA Saigon is on Cach Mang Thang Tam, situated Northwest of the city centre. It is just a short taxi or public bus ride away from the main district hotels. There is also an official train ticket office in the backpacker’s district. The Vietnamese railway company, Duong Sat Vietnam, operates on a single major route from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi with other side routes leading to mainly the northern towns. Tel: (08) 843 6528 (ticket prices) or 931 8952 (train information); website: www.vr.com.vn

Taxis are probably the most comfortable way of traveling. It is usually not difficult to hail a taxi anywhere within the city (and restaurants and hotels will readily summon them for you), although it is slightly harder to find one during heavy rain or peak hours. There are several taxi companies which are usually metered, but there are also unmetered ones where the fare must be agreed upon before departure. Reputable taxi companies are:

It is not usually advisable to hire a car without a driver; however cars with English speaking drivers can be sought out through travel companies. They also act as tour guides and will take you around the city and to particular sites. The following companies can arrange a car with a driver for the day:

By bus from the airport A 5 minute walk from the domestic terminal of the airport leads to the recently introduced No. 152 air-conditioned bus. It is the cheapest means of transport from the airport to the city and costs approximately 3,000 dong per person with an additional fee for the size and number of baggage. However, these buses are only available until 6 pm.

Most visitors prefer not to drive in Ho Chi Minh City as the streets are usually crowded with vehicles and traffic. Only long-term residents are allowed to drive, but visitors are permitted to hire cars. The best option for both visitors and residents is to use public transportation. Those that do drive their own car find it very hard to secure a parking spot. Foreign drivers are also usually targeted for on-the-spot fines.