Ho Chi Minh Airport taxi: What to know before you book
A taxi from Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) to central Ho Chi Minh City typically takes around 25–40 minutes to cover just 7 km, depending on traffic, while a metered taxi to District 1 generally costs around €5-8 (VND 150,000–250,000). A Welcome Pickups private transfer to the city center starts from €16 during the day and €19 at night.
Getting from SGN can be more complicated than the short distance suggests. The airport now has three terminals: Terminal 1 and the newer Terminal 3 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights. The airport provides a free shuttle connecting T1, T2, and T3 from 04:30 to 00:30.
Official taxi providers, Vinasun (white cars) and Mai Linh (green cars), are right outside of Arrivals. Buses are cheaper, but heavy crowds and traffic are another major consideration, as even short journeys can take considerably longer during busy periods.
Whether you’re stopping in Ho Chi Minh City for a short layover or staying for a longer Vietnam vacation, you can pre-book a private transfer with a driver waiting for you, so you don’t have to wait after landing.
Hand picked & english speaking drivers
Same price as a regular Taxi from the line
Drivers are always on time
24/7 Email & Phone support
How much does a taxi in 2026 cost from Ho Chi Minh Airport?
| Taxi prices | Day time (05:00 - 24:00) | Night time (00:00 - 05:00) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| HO CHI MINH AIRPORT TO CITY CENTER | 7 € | 7 € | 20-30 MIN |
| HO CHI MINH AIRPORT TO WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM | 5 € | 5 € | 24 MIN |
| HO CHI MINH AIRPORT TO BEN THAN MARKET | 6 € | 6 € | 20-30 MIN |
| HO CHI MINH AIRPORT TO VUNG TAU | 60 € | 60 € | 2 HRS |
| HO CHI MINH AIRPORT TO NHA TRANG | 130 € | 130 € | 5 HR 30 MIN |
What happens when you land at Ho Chi Minh Airport?
After landing at SGN, you need to complete the immigration process, which includes filling out the mandatory online pre-arrival declaration within 72 hours of your flight and keeping the QR code handy for your airline and immigration checks.
Here’s how your Welcome Pickups transfer works after you reach Vietnam:
1. Confirm your Ho Chi Minh Airport transfer online and receive your driver’s name, photo, contact details, and pickup instructions before your travel date.
2. Your driver monitors your flight and can adjust the pickup timing if your arrival changes.
3. After landing at SGN, collecting your luggage, and completing arrival formalities, follow the meeting instructions provided with your booking.
4. Your driver meets you according to the agreed pickup arrangements with a personalized sign displaying your name, assists with your luggage, and takes you directly to your vehicle.
5. Your fare is confirmed before travel, so you know the cost in advance instead of relying on a meter affected by distance, traffic, and waiting time.
6. Complimentary waiting time gives you additional flexibility if your flight, immigration, baggage collection, or customs takes longer than expected.
Welcome’s taxi fleet
Read all reviews
How much does a Ho Chi Minh Airport taxi cost?
An official taxi from Ho Chi Minh Airport to the city typically costs between €5-8 (VND 150,000–250,000) with charges such as a base fare around €0.40–€0.55 (VND 11,000–15,000), then costs approximately €0.50–€0.60 (VND 14,000–17,000) per km, plus around €0.35 (VND 10,000) airport toll/parking fee and €2.10 (VND 60,000) per hour for waiting time.
Welcome Pickups transfer from Ho Chi Minh Airport costs from €16, a confirmed fixed rate. Apart from pricing, other benefits you get with a pre-booked transfer are:
- -Your driver’s name, photo, and contact details are provided before your journey, with flight monitoring if your arrival changes.
- -Your pickup is arranged in advance, so you don’t need to find the official taxi rank or designated ride-hailing zone after landing.
- -A fixed fare is confirmed before travel rather than leaving the final cost to a meter affected by distance, traffic, and waiting time.
- -An English-speaking local driver can take you directly to your hotel, residence, resort, or other destination.
- -Vehicle options can accommodate different group sizes, luggage requirements, and child-seat requests.
- -The vehicle is private to your travel party, with no shared passengers or additional stops.
- -Luggage assistance and customer support are available before and during the journey.
- -For late-night arrivals, your pickup is arranged before you fly, while official taxis remain available 24/7. Public transport options may be more limited depending on the time and day.
How to choose a Ho Chi Minh Airport taxi?
For a first arrival in Vietnam, choose a taxi or transfer service that makes it clear who is picking you up, where you need to meet them, and how much the journey will cost.
Before booking, look for a service that offers:
- -An English-speaking driver who knows Ho Chi Minh City and can help if you need directions or local guidance.
- -Flight monitoring, so your driver can adjust to delays or changes to your arrival time.
- -Clear terminal-specific pickup instructions, especially if you’re arriving at T1, T2 or the newer T3.
- -A named meeting point, so you know exactly where to go instead of trying to find your driver in the busy arrivals area.
- -Luggage assistance, particularly useful after a long international flight.
- -A fixed price shown before travel, so you know what you’ll pay without worrying about meter rates, traffic, or negotiating fares.
- -The right vehicle size for your group and luggage, including larger vehicles for families or groups.
- -Child seats or accessible vehicles, if required, subject to availability.
- -24/7 customer support in case you have trouble finding your driver or your flight arrives late.
Welcome Pickups offers pre-booked private transfers from SGN with handpicked and vetted English-speaking drivers, flight monitoring, fixed fares, and 24/7 customer support, making your arrival in Ho Chi Minh City simpler from the moment you land.
Where can I travel from Ho Chi Minh Airport?
You can arrange a private transfer from SGN to destinations across Ho Chi Minh City and further afield, including:
- District 1, Ho Chi Minh City Passenger Ferry Port, and destinations in Ho Chi Minh city center, where many first-time visitors stay, cost from €16.
- Ben Thanh Market, one of the city’s best-known central landmarks, costs from €16 for a 20-30 minute ride.
- War Remnants Museum, a major historical attraction in District 3, costs from €16 for a 20-25 minute ride to cover 6 km.
- Vung Tau, a coastal destination about two hours or more from SGN by road, costs from €16, depending on traffic.
Useful tips for getting a taxi from Ho Chi Minh Airport
- Check your terminal before landing. SGN now has three terminals: T1 and T3 serve domestic flights, while T2 handles international flights. Terminal 3 is quite far and requires a free airport shuttle bus to reach.
- Use an authorized taxi operator and their designated pickup area. The airport maintains a list of transport companies authorized to collect passengers at SGN.
- Be aware of common taxi and airport scams at Tan Son Nhat. Avoid drivers approaching you inside the Arrivals hall, and use the official taxi rank outside; check that the meter is running correctly and compare the fare with the distance on Google Maps
- Keep some Vietnamese dong available; carrying local currency is useful when using traditional taxis or other services where card payment may not be available.
- Buy a SIM and do currency exchange in the city rather than at the airport for cheaper rates.