Getting Around Saigon

HO CHI MINH TRANSPORT OPTIONS

I have found that when friends or family visit Saigon just getting around Saigon from one place to another can be one of the most difficult aspects for a new visitor to Ho Chi Minh City.

The disorientation of being in a new country combined with the fact that you do not really know what transport options are available, and how much you should pay for them, can make getting around Saigon a daunting experience for many.

But don't let that put you off, because getting around Ho Chi Minh City is cheap, and there is so much to see and experience.

So lets have a look at what transport options are available and how much you should generally pay for each option.

Walking

This one is pretty obvious but I just want to mention a few safety things for when you are walking around Saigon.

Firstly - When you are crossing the street, just remember to walk at a slow and steady pace and face the on coming traffic.

You should never ever run across the street, if you walk at a slow and stead pace the motorbikes will just weave around you with ease, but if you see a car or larger vehicle approaching you should stop and wait until they have parsed before continuing.

Secondly - If you're carrying a handbag or camera that has a strap that can fit over your head and shoulders, then you should wear it with the strap over your shoulders and head, as this makes it more difficult for thieves to snatch your purse or camera.

A couple of times I have seen motorbikes drive by and snatch a bag or camera of a person walking on the side of the road, and the thieves are gone before you even know what has happened, so be careful with your valuables when walking around.

Taxi

At the more expensive end of available transport options in Saigon is the taxi.

But if it is the rainy season, or you are worried about road safety or have mobility problems, then the Taxi is the safest and most comfortable option.

Not to mention that by Western Standards the Taxi is still reasonable cheap, with taxi fairs starting at about 12,000 or 14,000 dong.

Getting Around - Saigon

Not to mention that many of the places you will want to visit during your stay are also in District 1, which means that you should be able to get to most place for around 60,000dong or less.

If you are traveling from the airport to the tourist area in Pham Ngu Lao, or vise versa, it should cost you around 100,000 dong, give or take 20,000 dong.

Some of the more reliable Taxi companies are:

• Ben Thanh Taxi
  Tel: (08) 842 2422

• Mai Linh Taxi
  Tel: (08) 822 6666

• Saigon Taxi
  (08) 842 4242

• Vinataxi
  (08) 811 1111

Motorbike Taxi (Xe Om)

If you want to get to your destination a little bit faster and a little bit cheaper, then there are the ever present motorbike taxis.

All you have to do is listen out for the "HEY YOU! Motorbike?"

However some of these motorbike taxi drivers do drive like they have had Kamikaze training, blasting their horn at anything and everything that moves, ignoring intersection lights and weaving in and out of traffic with little regard for theirs or your safety.

But because traffic in Saigon can be so congested at times, especially during rush hour, they are often the best bet especially if you don't have to go too far.

The first and only rule when dealing with these motorbike taxis though, is always agree a price first before hoping on.

They will have no compunction in asking you for twice as much as the usual fair once you get to your destination if you don't agree a price beforehand.

When you ask the driver how much the ride will cost, the driver will usually ask you to pay 30,000 dong or more.

This is a slightly high price, and more often that not you should generally expect to only pay between 15,000 and 25, 000 dong.

For example you should be able to get to Dong Khoi or Diamond Plaza from Pham Ngu Lao for 10,000 or 15,000dong.

Only ever pay more than 30,000 dong if you a traveling a long distance.

If they refuse to lower there price, just walk away and ask another motorbike taxi down the road.

A good way to find out if you are suggesting a reasonable price for where you want to go is to ask three or four drivers at the low price, if they ALL refuse to drive you where you want to go for that low price, then you know that you will need to raise your offer.

Bicycle or Motorbike Rental

Daily rates for bicycles are around 16,000 dong, while for motorbikes the daily rate is between 80,000 and 240, 000 dong depending on the size of the motorbike.

When driving around and visiting places, always make sure to make use of the areas set aside for motorbike parking (gui xe), otherwise you run the risk of having your motorbike stolen.

And if the motorbike is stolen you will be expected to replace it with a new one.

Also, it is now compulsory to wear a motorbike helmet. If the police pull you over for not wearing a helmet you will have to pay a fine of 200,000 dong.

Most rental motorbikes will come with a helmet, but if you want to you can buy your own helmet for about 100,000 to 200,000 dong.

Cyclo

If you don't know what a cyclo is, a cyclo is a kind of a three-wheeled peddled vehicle with a large seat in the front for a paying passenger.

As a peddled form of transport, the cyclo is the slowest and cheapest mode of transport other than walking.

Therefore the cyclo is definitely not the mode of transport to use if you are in a hurry or have a long way to go, e.g. the airport.

Cyclo - Saigon

Traveling around in a cyclo though is interesting and a fun experience.

And the locals usually get a good giggle out of seeing rather portly foreigners getting cycloed around by their much smaller cyclo driver.

The only worrying thing about cycloes though, is that with the passenger seat up front, riding around in a cyclo does make you feel a bit like a HUMAN BUMPER BAR!

But don't let that put you off, because at about 16,000 and 30,000 dong an hour, it is pretty cheap and unique hour's entertainment.

Bus - Public Transport

I have never used the bus service once in Saigon since arriving here.

This is despite the Vietnamese people at my work always trying to get me to use the bus service for some unknown reason.

I have seen a few foreigners using the bus service though, so don't let my reluctance put you off using the bus system.

From what I have heard it is pretty cheap and reliable, and will only cost you 3,000 dong per bus station to get wherever you are going.

There is a major bus station at the Ben Thanh market end of Pham Ngu Lao, aptly named Saigon Bus Station.

Few bus drivers if any will be able to speak English, so if you can write down our destination, with tone marks if possible, to show to the driver.

If you want to know more about various bus routes, you can visit the website for the Ministry of Transportation; on the site you can click on the different routes to see a description of that particular route. However you might need a Vietnamese friend to help you as this part of the web site is in Vietnamese.

Link - Ministry of Transportation