From Tan Son Nhat Airport
Taking a taxi is the best way to get from the airport to the city centre. Your ride should not take more than 30mins (in normal traffic), and should not cost more than 120,000 – 150,000vnd. A money changer is available at the airport but most taxis (if not all) do accept USD at an approximate exchange rate of 1 USD = 17,000vnd.
Flag a ‘Vinasun’ or ‘Mai Linh’ taxi from the departure hall and you can be assured of a fair ‘metered’ price. Be clear about where you wish to go (there are sufficient recommendations on hotels on this site). It is advisable that you write down the address of your destination on a piece of paper because it is likely that the taxi driver does not understand English.
By Taxi
Remember to only flag a taxi which runs on a metered fare. Do note however, that not all metered taxis charge the same fare from point A to point B. The ‘Vinasun’ and ‘Mai Linh’ taxis do offer a competitive rate.
Always carry small change when taking a taxi. Pay as close as possible to the actual fare to avoid any uncomfortable situations.
Be clear about where you wish to go and if possible, write down the address on a piece of paper because it is likely that the taxi driver does not understand English.
Have a city map with you at all times. This will give you a good idea as to how far your destination really is.
By Motorbike
Motorbike taxis are aplenty in Saigon. Before you hop on, always agree on the price first. As a gauge, the price of a motorbike taxi is around half of that of a taxi for the same distance.
Ensure that you have a helmet on at all times during your journey. Saigon imposes very strict regulations on safe riding.
You can also rent your own motorbike in many places, which is probably a good idea if you have decided to stay in Saigon for more than a couple of days. Prices range from 7-10 USD a day while parking is usually free at most places.
By Cyclo
If you do manage to catch sight of a cyclo, it may be fun to try one, but just for novelty sake. Before you hop on, always agree on the price first. However, if you just want to get from point A to point B, flagging a taxi may be a better and faster option.
By Bus
Do ask the hotel reception for more information.
By Train
Trains can be used for travel out of Saigon. The Vietnam Railways website is http://www.vr.com.vn/English/Banggiave/
Car Rental
Rental of a car with an English speaking driver can be arranged for 25-30 USD per day for travel within Saigon. Do ask the hotel reception for a reputable car rental company.
Maps
Most hotels will provide a free tourist map of district 1. Do ask the hotel reception for more information.
Subject: Getting around in HCM 
Fri Apr 30, 2010 10:35 am
