Tags: How-To-Get-To, Tips
The Saigon airport bus operates from 7am to 7pm in both the international terminal and the domestic terminal. While the starting point is at the international terminal, it actually makes a loop to the domestic airport to pick up passengers.
There will be a few exit points at the arrival gates. But whichever gate you come out from, it will lead you to the centre where there will often be a huge crowd greeting you. From here, just make a right turn as indicated by the yellow arrow. The Saigon airport bus is usually parked where the yellow circle is. Note that I took the first picture below from a further distance. This means that the airport bus may not be immediately visible to you. In any case, even if you are taking a taxi, just make a right turn from the crowd.
Saigon Airport Bus
Saigon Airport Bus
The picture below should make a better illustration. Whether you are out from the left or right arrival gate, you will all converge under the big international arrivals panel (circled in yellow). From there, just make a right turn (yellow arrow).
Saigon Airport Bus
Just 10m or 20m after you’ve made your right turn, you should be able to see the Saigon airport bus parked under the flyover.
Saigon Airport Bus
Saigon Airport Bus
Sometimes there may be 2 buses parked there but it will always be of the number 152. If you don’t see anyone on the bus, it’s because the driver is taking a break. The bus usually departs at a 15mins interval during the peak hour and 30mins apart during the off peak.
Saigon Airport Bus
The bus fare is a mere 3000vnd or just about US$0.15. If you have big luggage with you, you’ll need to pay an additional 3000vnd for each.
Saigon Airport Bus
This is how the interior of the Saigon airport bus looks like. They are mostly air conditioned.
Saigon Airport Bus
There used to be a bus conductor but nowadays you put your own fare in and take your own ticket. The bus driver has a small box of loose change but I suggest getting ready the exact fare to be safe. You can try buying a bottle of water outside the airport terminal to break your bigger notes to prepare for the bus fare. Sit near the bus driver and get him to inform you when the bus reaches Pham Ngu Lao Street (pronounces as ‘farm moo lao’) which is Saigon backpackers hostel area.
Share this post on the Saigon airport bus with all your friends.
Thanks a lot, its an extremely useful post!:-)
Thank you Julien. Appreciate your kind compliment
Leaving for HCMC on Sunday and just stumbled across your extremely helpful site. Thanks ever so much!!
Hi Amy, thank you very much for dropping by too
Have fun in Saigon. And do check out my post on the best Vietnamese beef stew. I’m giving my personal money back challenge
Hi,
You are marvelous…. with all the info. I will be traveling there solo in may. well first time solo and after reviewing your site, i feel more confident.
Alo Amy, thank you for your compliment.
Yeah, Vietnam is VERY EASY to DIY. As for travelling alone as a lady- if you keep your wits above you, you’ll be fine
Have fun!!
hi,
Thank you and hope i remember to put my ‘tiny brain’ into the luggage..
U are welcome Amy. Do check back here on this site for more tips on Vietnam for your May travel
While i travelled around VN about 1 month ago i came across a few ladies who were travelling solo. Apart from the usual complaints about taxi drives and resturants doing a bit of bill fudging (adding on a bit extra because you are a tourist) they all raved about how easy it was, and how safe they felt.
The last 4 trips, I arrived in Saigon it was 10pm or mid nite. So the Bus option is pretty much out. But Airport authorities won’t allow taxi to pickup customers on arrival level. Next time, I’ll try the upper departure level to get a taxi.
@Tails – Yeah, thank you for confriming this. I’ve always maintained that Vietnam is very easy to DIY and that it is generally a safe country.
@Paul – Are you sure about not allowing taxi to pick up customers?! This is not making sense man! The airport admin needs to wake up their bloody idea!
Another extremely helpful post. Thanks!
Thank you Paz
Hey thanks for this useful info, i rode pillion on a honda taxi,i,m getting too old now for that kind of emotions!
Hi Fernand, thank you for dropping by Vietnam720
You didn’t have too many bags with you? Otherwise a Honda taxi may not be a good idea.
Hi,
Thanks for sharing the useful post for the saigon airport bus. I will be staying near De Tham (Beautiful Saigon Hotel). Just wondering if the airport bus will make a stop near De Tham in the Pham Ngu Lao Area?
Would not want to end up in Benh Thanh Mkt bus station and walk my way back with my barang barang hee….
Thanks & keep your posting coming in.
Regards,
Hi Roy, the closest 152 stop is at Pham Ngu Lao. Near enough to walk to your hotel without much discomfort
Hi,
Many thanks for your tip.
Will sit near the driver and ask him to alert me on the alighting point in downtown Pham Ngu Lao HCMC. It should turn out fine.
Thanks again
Hey Roy, you will be fine
Thank you for dropping by Vietnam720
great post Ben..
really clear and informative!
too bad I will arrive on 8 pm so I can’t take this bus…
Thank you Tri
Tri, u are coming in with a family so while taxi will cost more than the bus, it will be worth the comfort.
Hi Ben,
I cam across a useful website today on choosing the right taxis and how to avoid the “copycats”. We have been talking about sticking to the reliable Mai Linh and Vinasun companies. The website went ahead and showed pictures of those taxis.
For sure, I’m going to print out those pages (together with some of your useful travel tips) and bring them to Saigon
http://www.vietnamtravel.org/taxis-saigon-avoid-being-taken-ride
regards,
Roy
Thank you Roy for that good link tip there
thank you for the great information you are providing- i’m going to try the bus for the first time – i’ve always been too chicken, but, august I am definitely going to try it. it sounds pretty easy even for me and husband- especially as this time, we will only carry hand-luggage on our international flight.
Dear Maz1,
And I thank you too for visiting this site. Do help me tell your friends about it, ok?
Enjoy the bus ride and have fun!
Awesome blog post , for budget travellers like us !
But there’s only 1 bus service from airport ? Cheaper than taxi in terms if 2 pax ?
Hi SY, only 1 bus and taxi will cost around 100,000vnd to get to town.
Id wish Id known about this shuttle damnit. Would have saved me alot in taxi fare! Thanks so much—I love the site because it’s informative!
Thank you Tweetums for dropping by Vietnam720!
Hi Ben,
Does this bus pick up from Pham Ngu Lao back to saigon Airport?
I’m planning for the trip home out from town towards airport. there’s no mention of the route on your post.
Thanks!
Hi CK,
There used to be 1 but it has been moved to the bus terminal in front of the Ben Thanh Market.
Hi Vietnam720,
I am an expat Vietnamese living abroad, but i find your info and photos are extremely helpful. Thanks
Thank u David for dropping by here
Do help me tell your friends about Vietnam720, ok?
well here we are in HCMC again and I just wanted to thank you so much for your great info about the 152 bus- we caught it this morning and it was just great. then, we went to your recommended cafe for lunch to Banh Xeo An La Ghien and that was great too.
we would never have found this cafe ourselves so it was perfect..thank you again
sorry- i meant to ask you- can we take the bus 152 back to the airport and where would we pick it up- we’re at the liberty 3 on the corner of Pham Ngu Lao.
Thank you Maz for your feedback. Appreciate your kind words really
U can take 152 from the bus terminal opposite Ben Thanh Market.
and thank you for your great website- and your help.
hi… thanks for the info… it’s very helpfull…
If I take this 152 bus and I stay at a hotel near ben tanh market (nguyen an ninh street), where should I stop?
Thank you
Hi Maya, the closest stop will be in Pham Ngu Lao. Sit near the driver and get him to tell you when you reach Pham Ngu Lao. Do remind him from time to time.