Kayla has been writing for 5+ years with expertise in the food, lifestyle, and travel industries. When she's not writing, she's always looking for her next adventure, which includes lots of road trips, getaways, and vacations near and far.
If you’re looking to explore Vietnam through multiple cities, don’t let the worry of traveling stop you from your adventures. In this article, I’m going to walk you through the best ways on how to get from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City.
Spending time in Hội An means you’re enjoying Vietnam’s central coast. It’s currently known for its well-preserved Ancient Town, characterized by canals. This former port city displays a melting pot history through its architecture, which is a mix of eras and styles. From wooden Chinese shophouses and temples to colorful French colonial buildings, to ornate Vietnamese tube houses, and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge with its pagoda, there is so much to see.
However, when you’re not done exploring Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh offers so much to do and see. The largest city in the country sits south of the country and south of Hội An. Formerly known as Vietnam, Ho Chi Min in the business and financial hub of the country. If you’re visiting, you’ll enjoy plenty of historical museums and classic colonial architecture.
Whatever it is you plan on exploring in these cities, you shouldn’t have to stress about transportation. We’re here to highlight the easiest ways for you to travel from one city to another.
Before you travel anywhere, it’s important to know about the country you’re visiting. This way, you can prepare everything you need ahead of time and you are fully prepared to travel. It also eliminates any elements of surprise or unexpected mishaps you could encounter in another country.
Getting a Visa
It’s important to note that you need both a passport and a tourist visa to enter the country of Vietnam. Your passport must have six months of validity remaining, meaning that your passport must be valid for six months after your planned stay in Vietnam.
You must obtain a visa (either a physical version or e-visa) or a pre-approval for a visa upon arrival in order to enter the country, and at least one has one blank visa page available. If you arrive in Vietnam without either an appropriate visa or pre-approval for a visa on arrival, you will be denied entry.
When applying for a visa, be sure to request the visa category that corresponds to your purpose of travel. You can get more information here about e-visas in Vietnam and how to go about acquiring them.
However, as countries change visa regulations all the time, it’s always best to check the Embassy of Vietnam websiteto obtain the most up-to-date information.
Vietnam Currency
Vietnam’s currency uses the Vietnam dong which has been used in the country since 1978. One Vietnamese dong correlates to about 0.000043 U.S dollars. One U.S dollar converts to 23160.00 Vietnamese dongs
Overall, Vietnam is an inexpensive place to travel, especially when compared to North America or Europe. It’s best to budget around 100 U.S dollars per day on your trip, just to make sure you are comfortable enough.
Vietnam accepts both U.S dollars as well as Vietnamese dong. However, it’s usually better to pay in their currency. This is because prices in local shops are often given by the local currency only, so it will be difficult to convert the prices while you’re there.
Plus, if you do pay in U.S. dollars, the exchange rate the vendors are using to convert the prices is always to their advantage, typically upping the prices, meaning you might be paying more than anticipated.
Vietnam General Safety Tips
At the time of this article, you no longer need to provide a negative COVID-19 test before entering Vietnam, which is one less thing you’ll have to worry about. Airlines may require it still, so please check with your flight beforehand. However, please do double check this before as rules and regulations change often. However, there are some other important safety precautions to take during your trip. For starters, road accidents happen often and can be a major cause of injury. Be alert at all times on the roads, even if you’re simply walking around on any of the streets.
Similar to other countries, there is a lot of petty theft such as bag slashing. It’s mainly common in tourist areas and crowded places. Also, be on the lookout for snatch-and-grab thieves on motorcycles who can approach you as you walk. With that being said, always make sure you’re holding your bags and backpacks in front of you and carry the minimum amount of valuables possible.
Lastly, during the rainy season, which is June to November, there is a larger occurrence of floods, typhoons, and severe weather, which can affect essential services. If you are traveling during those months, it’s best to follow the advice of local officials.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, keep on reading to get the best tips on how to travel from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh
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The distance between Hội An and Ho Chi Minh is about 851.4 km (529 miles) by land and about 600 km (372.823 miles) in the air. There are three main ways to get from one city to another:
Plane
Train
Bus
Hội An to Ho Chi Minh by Plane
There is no direct flight to Hội An since there is no airport. Instead, you will need to take a bus fromHội An to Da Nang. From Da Nang, you will fly out of there and land in Ho Chi Minh.
Several airlines offer daily flights from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh: Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, and Bamboo Airways. An average flight typically takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Once you’re off the flight, the bus takes about another hour.
This method of transportation is the quickest way to travel from Hội An to Ho Chi Minh, totaling about 2 hours and 20 minutes. The cost averages about $40.
Hội An to Ho Chi Minh by Train
Taking a train to get from one city to another offers one of the most affordable options, but can also offer a pricey one.
There are different types of trains you can take. The most affordable one is Vietnam Railways, which would cost you about $24 per ticket. This train is a no-frills ride but is a very inexpensive way to travel and offers plenty of ride schedules throughout the day.
However, if you enjoy traveling more high-end, you can ride from Hội An to Ho Chi Minh via private train.Although riding in luxury, a one-way train ticket can cost you around $77, making it an expensive way to travel.
Riding from one city to another via train also takes a while. The travel takes an average of 17-18 hours, taking up a whole day of your adventures. If you’re planning on going from Hội An to Ho Chi Minh by train, make sure you plan out your travel schedule accordingly.
Hội An to Ho Chi Minh by Bus
Traveling by bus is a very cheap method of traveling. However, it takes the longest, making you be on the road for over 24 hours (or one full day).
The good news is the bus you would most likely take a sleeper bus, so you can sleep and rest while you’re traveling. A sleeper bus in Vietnam typically consists of three rows of beds. Each row has two floors, one upper and one lower. Some buses even have onboard toilets.
The best bus to take would be the FUTA bus, which provides daily services from Ho Chi Minh to Hoi An directly (so no extra transportation switching!), and you can catch a bus multiple times throughout the day. You can easily book in advance by buying the tickets online for the day you want to travel, so make sure you plan out your trip!
FAQ About Traveling From Hội An to Ho Chi Minh
Do I Need A Visa?
Yes, all of Vietnam requires both a passport and an approved visa in order for you to enter the country. Your passport must be valid for six months after your planned stay in Vietnam, and you must obtain a visa (either a physical version or e-visa) or a pre-approval for a visa upon arrival.
Is there an airport in Hội An?
There is no airport in Hội An, but there is one in Ho Chi Minh. This means that in order to get from Hội An to Ho Chi Minh by plane, you would have to take a bus to Da Nang, then fly from that airport to Ho Chi Minh.
It depends on the mode of transportation you’re taking to get there. If you’re taking a plane plus the bus, it will be the quickest. A train takes some more time, and a bus trip will take the longest. It’s important to plan for the type of transportation you’re taking and how much an extra day you need to put into your trip to travel.
The distance between Hội An and Ho Chi Minh is about 529 miles by land transportation and 372.823 miles by plane.
Are taxis safe in Ho Chi Min?
Any big city is going to run into potential threats of theft, such as purse snatching and taxi scams. To protect yourself from a taxi scam, ensure you’re only taking taxis that are prearranged or official.
