How to get from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

Visiting Vietnam? Good for you! A host of unforgettable experiences and sights await. To make the most of your time in this dazzlingly diverse country, we recommend considering a multi-destination trip. With that in mind, our guide to how to get from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City might come in handy.

How to get from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City 

After exploring Vietnam’s hip, high-octane capital, broaden your horizons to experience a very different city experience. We’re looking at you, Ho Chi Minh City!

Happily, although these two major cities are located at opposite ends of Vietnam, there are a number of ways to get from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.

• By plane: with a flight time of just over 2 hours, flying is the fastest way to get to Ho Chi Minh City from Hanoi.
• By train: travelling by train is a scenic option, with around 34 hours on the tracks.
• By bus: best for budget travellers, the bus journey averages 36 hours.
• By car: A road trip between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is a great way to see more of the country. Plan a few stop-offs en route. 

Set on taking a trip? Contact our Vietnam travel experts  to save yourself the trouble of mapping out an itinerary and planning.

How far is Ho Chi Minh City from Hanoi? 

The road distance between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is just shy of 1600 km. It takes around 30 hours to travel between them by road. Two roads connect the cities — Ho Chi Minh Road and National Highway 1A. 

Inspired to visit Vietnam? Browse our customisable Vietnam itineraries to take the hassle out of planning your perfect trip.

What's the quickest way to get from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City? 

With a flight time of around 2 hours 15 minutes, travelling by plane is by far the quickest way to get from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. 

For a slower and more scenic way to travel between the cities, the train takes an average of 34 hours. Meanwhile, travelling by bus means around 36 hours on the road. 

Want to see a stack of top attractions in a single visit? Our Wonders of Vietnam trip delivers exactly that.

By plane

Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes | Cost: from $66

With a few carriers offering daily flights, flying is a quick and convenient way to get from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.

The flight time is around 2 hours 15 minutes non-stop. Try to bag yourself a window seat to enjoy a birds-eye view of the lush landscape and coast.

Naturally, this quickness and convenience come at a cost, and travelling by plane is the priciest way to get from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. 

That said, with single tickets starting at $66 — if you book early and are flexible on dates — flying doesn’t have to break the bank.

First-timer to Vietnam? Read our rundown of Vietnamese cities to have on your travel radar.

By train

Duration: 34 hours | Cost: from $30

Taking 34-35 hours, travelling by train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City sure ain’t fast, but it's incredibly scenic.

The distance between Hanoi station and Ho Chi Minh station is 1726 km with four trains running the route. The soft seats and soft berths are air-conditioned and comfier, as their name suggests.

The price of your ticket will depend on the kind of seat you book. Take your pick from a hard seat, soft seat, hard berth (6 berths per cabin) and a soft berth (4 berths per cabin).

Love epic train journeys? Check out our Vietnam and Cambodia by rail trip.

By bus

Duration: 36 hours | Cost: from $25

Travelling by bus is the cheapest way to get from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, but they come with a hefty journey time of around 36 hours. 

Long-haul buses travel overnight and have reclining beds, which means you can get some kip in relative comfort. To be able to hop on and off along the way, check out the open ticket option. 

Thinking of travelling further afield around Vietnam? Read our guide to getting around Vietnam.

By car

Duration: 30 hours | Daily hire cost: from $50

To see more of Vietnam, consider taking a road trip between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Be sure to allow yourself a few days to enjoy the journey and stop off at attractions along the way.

For example, 100 kilometres south of Hanoi, Ninh Binh and its environs deserve a day or two (at least). That way, you can explore Trang An’s towering limestone karst formations, visit Bai Dinh Pagoda, and be wowed by epic mountain scenery from Mua Cave's viewpoint.

You won’t want to miss Da Nang, either — a coastal city with sandy beaches that’s oft-used as a base for visiting the Bà Nà hills.

You could also stop off at Nha Trang. Celebrated for its 6km scythe of soft yellow sand, excellent diving, and stunning islands, the city also has much to satisfy demanding foodies.

Want to go it alone? Read up on backpacking Vietnam, and how to get off the tourist trail in Vietnam.

Is Ho Chi Minh City worth a visit?

Ho Chi Minh City is certainly well worth a visit! While northern Hanoi offers easy access to lush mountain landscapes, the sprawling southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City is even more populated than the capital.

For culture vultures, Chi Minh City is a heady hotchpotch of fine dining restaurants, flashy hotels and glitzy bars. Add to that a mix of French colonial architecture and Soviet-style blocks, and the city amounts to an urban environment like no other.

In other exciting news, Chi Minh City is just 70 miles from the Mekong Delta, where countless pagodas and floating markets await.

Planning your trip to Ho Chi Minh City from Hanoi

Keen to visit Vietnam? Before planning your trip, find out everything you need to know before visiting Vietnam, and get The Rough Guide to Vietnam.

Alternatively, forget planning and browse our customisable Vietnam itineraries, with a local Vietnam travel expert on hand to advise and take care of booking an unforgettable tailor-made trip.