Ho Chi Minh City Flights and Travel Guide

Travelers booking flights to Ho Chi Minh City are usually shocked when they land here -- Ho Chi Minh City is bursting at the seams. The city center is filled with street vendors, cafes and family-owned souvenir shops all eager to make a living and stay afloat. But stay alert or you'll wind up flat on the street; Ho Chi Minh City's chaos is fueled by the 3 million motorbikes that run the streets on a daily basis. Located on the Saigon River, Ho Chi Minh City is home to more than 8 million people and is Vietnam's commercial and industrial center.

Before it was the cultural hotspot of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City was known by many other names, most famously Saigon. While no one in Ho Chi Minh City has forgotten the turbulent past, today the city embraces its vibrant and modern future.

Find flights to Ho Chi Minh City

Back to top

Ho Chi Minh City Climate

Back to top

When to Fly to Ho Chi Minh City

Peak Season:

Many travelers book flights to Ho Chi Minh City for Tet, the lunar New Year, but plans must be made far advance. Most businesses close for the holiday, including museums and shops. The holiday lasts for a week and depending on the calendar, the time to travel is usually between January 19 and February 20.

Other than Tet, the best time to book flights to Ho Chi Minh City is during the dry season, December through March. The crowds start arriving in November and stay until April.

Off Season:

The wet season is humid and hot, but the showers tend to be short. Late fall is a particularly nice time to visit southern Vietnam. The end of the high season, March to April, can also be somewhat less crowded and cheap flights to Ho Chi Minh City are likely to be found.

Find cheap flights to Ho Chi Minh City

Back to top

Getting Downtown Ho Chi Minh City

Minibuses and metered taxis are available for transport to the city center. Make sure the driver is wearing an official name badge and that the meter is on. Most hotels can arrange transport for arriving passengers, but visitors should organize this in advance.

Back to top

Getting Around Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is reputed as having the planet’s most chaotic traffic. If you want to jump into the fray, bikes and mopeds are easy to rent. Motorcycles are also easily rented.

Another option is to hail a motorcycle taxi and negotiate an hourly rate. For a shorter trip, flag down a cyclo (pedicab) and agree on a fare before boarding. Many cyclo drivers speak English and, for a fee, can be tour guides. You can ask a driver to wait for you at a sight and to take you around the next day.

For something less hair-raising, take a taxi. Most taxis have meters; make sure it is running or negotiate a fare. You can also arrange for a car and driver for the day through a tour operator. For a change of pace, hire a boat and view the sights from the river.

Back to top

Ho Chi Minh City Insider Information

• One of the first things most travelers mention about Ho Chi Minh City is the fantastic food. From street vendors to gourmet restaurants, the choices are endless. Buying food from street stalls can be intimidating at first, as it’s so different from the food experience in the West. Take a stroll round the area, have a look to see what food looks fresh and well cooked, follow your nose to the best smells and – as a fail-safe option – see where the locals are eating. Then order, sit down on a small plastic chair and enjoy. Pho – a thin soup – is one of the most popular dishes.
• The Chu Chi tunnels are a short trip from Ho Chi Minh City and certainly worth visiting. The series of tunnels were used in the Vietnam War to make surprise attacks and to hide. The tunnels stretch out over more than 150 miles.
• The Ben Than market is the biggest in the city and has everything under the sun for sale. It is distinguished by its clock tower, with clocks facing in four directions, which has become a symbol of the city. Come early in the morning to browse or buy food, clothes, jewelry, cooking utensils, arts and crafts or pretty much anything else you can think of. The busiest days at the market are Friday and Saturday when the crowds can become intense and the prices you’re charged may be higher than the rest of the week. Whenever you visit, though, make sure you haggle hard for your purchases.
• Ho Chi Minh City is a city on wheels. It can seem as if everyone is on a motorbike or cyclo (a sort of pedal rickshaw). Crossing the road may seem terrifying – make sure to keep walking and don’t suddenly stop and the traffic should avoid you. For the brave, hiring a motorcycle and joining the fray is a surefire way to feel like a local.

Back to top

Ho Chi Minh City Airports

Back to top