Best Time to Visit

From December to April, Ho Chi Minh City enjoys moderate temperatures and light rainfall, which would probably make it the best time to visit. Note that the hottest months are from March to May with temperatures reaching as high as 39°C.

Passport / Visa

Short (some as short as 15 days) visa-free stays are possible for citizens of Cambodia, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, The Philippines, Brunei, Myanmar, Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Citizens of Chile can enter the country for 90 days, visa-free. Citizens of a further 46 world countries are eligible for an E-visa as of February 2017, these are granted for a period of 30 days. To confirm whether or not you will need a visa to enter Vietnam, please contact your local consulate.

Airport

Located 7 km north of the city centre, Tan Son Nhat International Airport is the largest international airport in Vietnam. The air-conditioned airport bus is the cheapest way into the city while one way ticket costs between 12 000 and 40 000 VND. If you choose to take taxi, make sure the driver uses the meter and wears an official badge. A taxi from the airport to the the city takes around 15-30 minutes and costs about VND150,000 - 200,000 including the mandatory toll fee.

Public Transport

Since 2004, Ho Chi Minh City runs an efficient public transit bus network. It’s cheaper and safer than many of the alternatives. The buses are green and there are 150 routes throughout the city. The ticket is bought from the fare collector on the bus. For short trips, however, it may be much more convenient and inexpensive to use ride sharing apps or cabs instead.

• Web:

  www.saigonbus.com.vn

• Phone:

  +84 28 3854 6110

Taxi

Taxis are the most comfortable way of getting around affordably. It’s easy and safe to catch one off the side of the road, but do make sure the meters work properly and enquire as to the estimated total. Ride sharing apps like Grab are also in use; in Vietnam, you can choose between Grab for scooters or cars (helmets are provided for the former).

Electricity

220 Volts, 50 Mhz