Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City: Every Way to Make the Journey

1,700km from end to end

Getting from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City involves crossing the length of Vietnam. Here’s the full comparison of options — what I’ve tried, what I’d recommend, and when each makes sense.

Flying: the practical choice for most people

1h50min flight, multiple daily departures on Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, Bamboo Airways, and Vietravel Airlines. Prices range from $30 (budget airlines, booked in advance) to $150+ (Vietnam Airlines, flexible dates). For a point-to-point transfer, flying is obviously the right answer. Check Aviasales for current fares across all carriers. — book a Kiwi.com in advance for the best price.

Overnight train: the romantic option

The full Hanoi–HCMC train takes 30–34 hours. This is genuinely not the right choice for most travelers — it’s very long and the interior scenery between Da Nang and HCMC isn’t the highlight of Vietnam. However, the Hanoi–Da Nang or Hanoi–Hue overnight segments are excellent and worthwhile in isolation.

Overnight bus: the budget version

Various operators run Hanoi–HCMC services in multiple stages — practically, you’d book leg by leg rather than one ticket. Budget 3–4 days by bus. This is genuinely the cheapest option (around $30–40 total in bus fares) but very time-consuming. Open Bus tickets cover this route.

My actual recommendation

Fly Hanoi–Da Nang or Hanoi–HCMC and use the train for the central region sections (Hue to Da Nang via Hai Van Pass). This combines the efficiency of flying with the experience of the train on the scenic portion of the route. Best of both.