How to get from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City: bus, train, plane

How to get to Ho Chi Minh

The distance between Vietnam's capital, Hanoi, and its largest city, Ho Chi Minh is a tedious 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles), but it is a very popular route for those exploring this Southeast Asian country. If you decide to take a trip from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh, you will practically be traveling from one end of Vietnam to the other, so it can be a great way to see more of the beautiful scenery. However, covering such a distance takes a lot of time.

Travel options from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh

There are three options for traveling between the two cities: by air, by rail, or by road. There are many planes from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh, as well as numerous trains and several buses, or, if you feel independent, rent a car and make your own way so you can stop whenever you want and take your time visiting the sights along the way. One more thing: there's a big difference in prices, and if you can book in advance, it can be a great deal, so keep that in mind.

Planes from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh

By plane

Let's start with the fastest way from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh. Travelling by air is very advantageous compared to the rail and car options. Even taking into account the time to get to and from the airport, check in, go through security, pick up your luggage and go to the hotel, this option is still faster. The flight to Ho Chi Minh from Hanoi only takes about 2 hours of actual time, so this is the best option if you are in Vietnam for a limited time and are mainly interested in visiting the two major cities.

The cost of airline tickets varies considerably, depending on which airline you decide to fly with, and there are several to choose from. Finding airline tickets should not be a problem - the route from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh is one of the busiest routes in the world, with about 50 flights per day. And during the holidays there will be even more flights available.

The airlines offering this route are Jetstar Pacific, VietJet Air, and Vietnam Airlines. The first two are inexpensive airlines, so look out for them - their seat doesn't cost much more than the train, so again, if you also consider speed, a plane can be a really good option.

Aircraft of Vietnam Airlines

Vietnam Airlines is a different story! As the flagship airline in Vietnam, this airline strives to provide a more luxurious service than the low-cost carriers, but also the price is about four times higher. So think carefully about whether it's worth paying much more for a flight of only two hours.

Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh by train

A street train in Hanoi

When time is not a determining factor, the train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh is ideal to see the scenery of Vietnam. In fact, people say it is the only way to see certain parts of the country that you could not so easily see on your own.

The train also makes several stops, so in theory you can get off, spend some time in this or that town, and then take the next train. There is a certain romance to train travel, and it is relatively affordable. But there are also a number of drawbacks.

The first drawback is time. Depending on which Vietnam Railways train you take, your journey will last somewhere between 29.5 hours and 34 hours and 40 minutes. Obviously this is very long, but you can get a sleeping compartment and get some rest at night.

Ticket prices fall into several different categories: you can buy a hard seat only, a 2nd class sleeper, or a 1st class sleeper. All options should include air conditioning, but keep in mind that the air conditioning may be too powerful, and you'll be cold if you're close to it. Another thing mentioned by many travelers taking the train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh is cockroaches. There are usually quite a few on these trains, especially in the toilets, and especially after dark.

If you want to take the train, but would like a more comfortable ride, and an appropriate price tag, you can travel with a private company. Violette Express trains are more expensive, but the cars are cleaner and more comfortable.

The beds are simple and not very big, but they allow you to lie down and stretch out a bit. The buses also have toilet and air conditioning, as well as snacks and stops along the way for you to get more substantial meals and time to stretch your legs.

Bus to Ho Chi Minh from Hanoi

Mien Dong Bus Station in Ho Chi Minh

The trains between the two cities take a long time, and the buses take even longer! If you plan to take the bus to Ho Chi Minh, your travel time will be about 37.5 hours. The cost is about the same as the 2nd class train, but remember that when you travel by bus you don't have as much room to move around.

A plus of the buses operated by Hoang Long is that they have "beds." The beds are simple and not very big, but they allow you to lie down and stretch out a bit. The buses have toilets and air conditioning, as well as snacks and stops along the way to buy food and stretch your legs.

Thus, when considering how to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh, the main thing to consider is time. Flying will save you an entire day and half the trip, but other than what you can see from the porthole, you won't get to see much of Vietnam. Buses and trains fill that void, but it can be crowded and perhaps not up to standard when it comes to cleanliness.

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