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How to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang?
You can get from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang by train, bus, or transfer. You can also rent a car without a driver. By taking a train, you will get from the capital to the resort for $24 in 8.5 hours plus three hours of waiting. You can reach Nha Trang by Ho Chi Minh City bus (or overnight sleeping bus) for $12 in 10.5 hours including one hour of waiting. The trip by transfer will take about eight hours, and you will have to pay from $185 for it. The distance between Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang is 440km.
HCMC to Nha Trang buses will be a bad option for tall people and tourists with a lot of luggage. Daytime buses are rather small, and the seats in so-called sleeping buses look like small beds which can hardly accommodate a person taller than 1.70m. Also, there is not so much room for luggage on transport of this type. Although the train travel is more expensive, it's more comfortable and faster. However, you will not find any overnight train there. A transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang is still the most convenient way to get to the resort. Despite its cost, it is the best travel option for families with children, aged tourists and those who don't want to take risks and buy tickets for intercity transport in a foreign country on their own.
Order a transfer from Ho Chi Minh City
Nha Trang — the resort paradise of Vietnam
Nha Trang is situated on the shore of the South China Sea, and due to its mild climate (23 degrees Celsius all year round), it has become one of the most favourite Vietnam resorts. Even in the coldest months (January-February), the water temperature hardly drops below 24 degrees. Those who love passive rest can enjoy the city beach and special mud baths. And those who are keen on excursions should visit Po Nagar tower, Long Sơn Pagoda, and a large statue of Buddha. Active rest lovers will definitely like diving centres and swimming in coral gardens.
Bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang
from $12.5
1 h
10 h
Solo travelers
Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang buses operate 24/7: there are both daytime and night-time buses (both state-owned and commercial ones). Hanh Cafe, Sinh Tourist и Futa - are 3 private companies that run to Nha Trang. In Ho Chi Minh City, they depart from tourist areas (for instance, District 1) and Mien Dong bus station. To get from the airport to the bus station in Ho Chi Minh City, take buses №109, №49 or public bus №152. At night, you can reach Nha Trang by sleeping bus, and in the daytime - by usual intercity bus. The trip costs $12. Soft seats and places for luggage are the only pieces of comfort tourists can count on. You will pay $1.5 for new comfortable bus, and $0.5. The timetable depends on the season and the type of bus you take to go. Once every hour buses, depart to Nha Trang from at least one station. The trip costs $12. If you don't want to crowd public transport take a taxi. It will cost you $11.
Timetable:
24/7
Route:
Tan Son Nhat Airport - bus station/tourist district - Nha Trang tourist district Bien Thu street/ intercity bus station - your hotel
Travel time:
10 h
Waiting time:
1 h (at the airport and at the bus station)
Comfort level:
low: room for luggage, soft seats, places for sleeping (on sleeping buses)
Cost:
from $12.5 (0.5 - bus to the bus station, 12 - bus)
Clients:
individual tourists; people who travel light; couples without small children; those who know the route
How to find the bus stop:
Ho Chi Minh City has several stations from which buses depart to Nha Trang. There are also bus stops in some popular tourist areas. It's not so easy to reach them by public transport from the airport, so you can take a local taxi (to Mien Dong or District 1). At the bus station, look for a bus with the sign "Nha Trang".
Train from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang
from $24
3 h
8 h
Couples
The train from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang is much more comfortable and faster than buses, yet it is a little more expensive. It will be suitable for those who are keen on train travel: one can enjoy Vietnamese landscapes from a comfortable seat (sleeping beds are much more expensive). The timetable for trains is quite fixed: trains run from 6:19 to 21:25. This option won't suit those tourists who arrive in Tan Son Nhat at night (as there are no overnight routes), as well as large companies which could spend less money if they book a group transfer. Please don't forget that before the train trip, you'll have to get from the airport to GaSaigon railway station (about 25 minutes and $1, for a taxi you will pay $7).
Timetable:
from 6:19 to 21:25
Route:
Tan Son Nhat Airport - GaSaigon railway station - Thái Nguyên railway station - your hotel
Travel time:
8.5 h (25 min - to the railway station, 8 h - to Nha Trang)
Waiting time:
from 3 h 5 min (5 min - taxi to the railway station, from 3 h - train)
Comfort level:
medium: comfortable carriages, room for luggage, buying tickets online, journey without stops
Cost:
from $24 - standard seat
*Internet price. By buying tickets on the spot, you can save some money (but tickets may not be available).
Clients:
individual tourists; those who travel light; couples without small children; those who know the route
How to find the railway station:
Ga Saigon is the main train station of Ho Chi Minh City: it is about 25 minutes away from the airport. To get there from Tan Son Nhat by public transport is not so easy, so we recommend you to take a local taxi (tell the driver the name of the train station). You can book a train ticket online or buy it right at the station (this is a cheaper option).
Taxi and transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang
$185
--
8 h
Families
Taxi and transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang is the most comfortable way to get to the resort. The price for the transfer is higher than that for other types of transport, however tourists don't need to look for bus- or railway stations and buy tickets on their own. Vietnamese people don't speak English well, so if you are in the country for the first time and don't know Ho Chi Minh City very well yet, you shouldn't take risks and search for bus stops yourself. This also concerns mothers with small children. Taxi can help them easily reach the hotel in Nha Trang without changing, in only 8 hours. If you don't want to book a transfer with an English-speaking driver beforehand but choose to get a taxi on the spot, you might save some ten-twenty dollars. But note that Vietnamese cars are usually in a poor condition, and an eight-hour journey can turn out to be a nightmare.
Timetable:
24/7
Route:
Tan Son Nhat Airport - your hotel in Nha Trang
Travel time:
8 h
Waiting time:
--
Comfort level:
Taxi on the spot: air conditioning, journey without stops (or by your request), without other passengers
Booked in advance: child seats, fresh water
Cost:
$185
Clients:
families with children; inexperienced tourists; tourists who are in Thailand for the first time; tourists with a language barrier, those who have a lot of luggage or arrive at night; aged tourists
How to find the taxistand at Ho Chi Minh City Airport:
If you book a transfer in advance, the driver will meet you at the exit from the arrivals area. And if you want to take a taxi on the spot, look for a stand of the official carrier company at the airport.
Getting from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang:
As any other intercity route, the way from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang is rather difficult. When planning your trip, remember that if you choose public transport (such as buses or trains), you'll first have to get to the bus- or railway station, and that will surely cost you some time and money. Please note that local people in Vietnam don't speak English well, and it would be a problem to ask them for directions: so it is better to take a map beforehand. We recommend all tourists who want to spend less time on the way from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang to order a taxi or a transfer: it would be a great option for those who have a lot of luggage, are traveling with small children or just don't want to get lost in a foreign country.
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