How to travel to Ho Chi Minh City from Hanoi

Hanoi – capital of Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City – its largest metropolis are popular starting point and ending point for a trip to this S-shaped country. Traveling from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh (locally called Ho Chi Minh) means that you will be go through many famous destinations. This can be a great way to see the beautiful scenery spanning the country if going by bus or train but such a long distance takes so much time. If not, you can opt for a short flight to get to Ho Chi Minh City from Hanoi to save time. Keep reading the article below to get more detailed information:

1. Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by airplane

It is undoubted that flight is the quickest and popular option to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. It saves much of your time, compared to train or road options, even when you add in the time to transfer to and from the airport, check-in procedure, collect your baggage, and travel on to your hotel. A flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh takes around 2 hours so this is definitely the best choice for those who have just a short time in Vietnam and really wish to visit these both cities.

As 2 biggest cities of the country, there are many flights operated daily, approximately 50 flights per day. You can easily book a flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by visiting airlines’ official websites or via a travel agency. During weekends and Vietnamese public holidays, the airfare will rise up due to the high demand of transportation. Therefore, if you already have plan to travel, it is better to reserve the ticket as soon as possible to get better price.

Jetstar Pacific, VietJet Air, Bamboo Airlines and Vietnam Airlines are 4 popular carriers in Vietnam which offer Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh route. The first three are low-cost airlines which you can get cheapest price for a 2-hours flight. If there is promotion, you may even buy one-way ticket with the price from 30 USD, cheaper than a train or bus. Meantime, Vietnam Airlines is currently the best carrier that strives to provide a more luxurious service so its price is much higher than the others, about 3 times. But sometimes, you can still get the better price in promotion and enjoy the better service.

2. Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by train

When the time is not a factor and you want a chance to see the landscapes of Vietnam from North to South, taking a train is not a bad idea. There are some stops along the train journey so you can jump off, spend some time at the places then catch the train coming through. The popular Reunification Express Train (Thong Nhat) between Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh takes around 34 – 36 hours traveling with several trains per day: SE1 at 6:00 am, SE5 at 8:50 am, SE3 at 19:25 pm and SE1 at 22:15 pm. You can book ticket at Hanoi Train Station with many types of seat: soft seat, hard sleeper and soft sleeper. The price is relatively affordable, from 40 – 60 USD/ one-way ticket. Basically, the more comfortable, the more expensive the ticket.

In case you would like a more luxurious experience, you could travel on a private train – Violette Express Train, which is cleaner, more comfortable but of course, more expensive. Violette provides only one train per day, departing at 19:30 pm. A deluxe berth costs you about 110 USD/ one-way ticket.

Train Stations:
– Hanoi: 120 Le Duan Street, Cua Nam Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
– Ho Chi Minh: 1 Nguyen Thong Street, Ward 9, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

3. Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh by sleeper bus

Sleeper bus is another choice to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh but it is not highly recommended. A train between these two cities takes a long time, but a bus takes even longer, about 36 – 40 hours. A padded flatbed on the bus is not very big but allows you to lie down and stretch out a little. There are some short stops along the journey for you to get substantial meals and time to stretch your legs. Below are 2 high-quality bus companies offering Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City route with price and time for your consideration:

All in all, depending on your amount of time, budget and preferences, you will find one option that suits you best. A flight will save you an entire day and a half of traveling, but a train or bus will give you a chance to see more Vietnam along the way though it takes so long time and perhaps not up to everyone’s standards.