How to get from Saigon Railway Station to the city center?

Do you choose train to get to Ho Chi Minh City? Arriving in Saigon Railway Station, 1 Nguyen Thong Street, Ward 10, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, travelers must find a way to reach the center of Ho Chi Minh City. The railway station is about 3 km northwest of the city center (District 1). You can take a taxi, hop on the bus, book a private car, or motorbike taxi. I would like to give you more details about How to get from Saigon Railway Station to the city center as below.

Read more about Saigon Railway Station, Ho Chi Minh City

1. By taxi

It takes 10 – 15 minutes to reach District 1, Ho Chi Minh City from Saigon Railway Station by taxi. The price of the transfer from Saigon Railway Station to District 1 is about 50,000 VND (2.5 USD). The taxi will take you to your accommodation or requested location fast and comfortably. However, the price is more expensive in comparison to other choices. Many taxi drivers in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as Vietnam, do not speak English.  However, you may encounter some taxi scams. For example, some taxi drivers purposely make trips longer in order to earn more money. In some cases, taximeters are not reliable. Although there are many taxis at the airport, Vinasun and Mai Linh are good taxis with polite drivers, reliable taxi meters, and clean cars.

Vinasun Taxi in Saigon

2. By private car

Private car is perhaps the most convenient way to reach the city center from the railway tIt says that this is the most convenient way. It takes 10 -15 minutes to from Saigon Railway Station to District 1. Choosing private car, you do not spend time to catch a taxi or carry your luggage but the friendly private driver will help you. You can request an English speaking driver. You do not worry about scams and feel comfortable on the way to the center.  They will send a good car and a driver to wait for you at the terminal of the airport. If you request an English speaking driver or a guide, the price is a little higher. They usually hold a sign with your name on it so that you can find them easily. Certainly, the price is higher than other choices:

4-seat private car + non-English speaking driver: 230,000 VND (10 USD).

4-seat private car + English speaking driver (or English speaking guide): 350,000 VND (15 USD).

7-seat private car + non-English speaking driver: 350,000 VND (20 USD).

7-seat private car + English speaking driver (or English speaking guide): 575,000 VND (25 USD).

You can book the service with Athena Travel Vietnam, phone/SMS/WhatsApp/Viber 24/24: +84909190247, Email: support@athenatravelvietnam.com.

Tracy’s driver and guide will drive you to any place safely in Vietnam by sedan, minivan, van, or bus as your request.

3. By Grab Car

Similar to Uber, Grab is a Singapore-based technology company offering ride-hailing transport services and very popular in Vietnam. You can download the app onto your smartphone, then book the transfer easily. The price of the transfer on Grab App is less than 100,000 VND (4.5 USD), cheaper than taxi. Most of Grab drivers do not speak English like taxi drivers and it is very difficult for you to contact them, tell them where exactly you are at the pickup location.

4. By motorbike

A very small number of foreign tourists choose to go to the center by motorbike. A transfer by motorbike taxi from the railway station to the city center costs about 30,000 VND (1.25 USD). Some tourists book motorbike tour around Saigon, including pick up from the railway station. Sitting on the back of a motorbike, you have a chance to see interesting on the way. Motorbike is the most effective and fast mean of transportation in the city which is fulled of small streets and narrow alleys and usually in rush hour.  It is worth a try if you are adventurous and would like to learn more about a different Saigon which many tourists miss with the transfer by taxi, bus, or private car. A 4-hour Saigon motorbike tour, including pick up at the airport costs from 35 USD (the tour costs from 30 USD, extra fee for pick up from the airport is 5 USD). You can book the tour with Scooter Saigon Tour, Phone/SMS/WhatsApp/Viber 24/24: +84909190247, Email: support@scootersaigontour.com, Website: https://scootersaigontour.com/.

Contact and book a motorbike tour with Scooter Saigon Tour at our facebook https://www.facebook.com/scootersaigontour/, Phone/SMS/WhatsApp/Viber 24/24: +84909190247, Email: support@scootersaigontour.com.

5. By bus:

Because the distance is quite short, catching a bus from Saigon Railway Station to District 1 is not a good choice. To catch the bus, you must walk out of the railway station to the bus station, then wait for the bus for up to 30 minutes, hop on the bus, finally be dropped off and walk from the bus station to your hotel. The price of a bus ticket is about 10,000 VND (0.5 USD).

In my opinion, taking a taxi is the best way to get from Saigon Railway Station to the city center. The price is reasonable and it is comfortable in an air-conditioned taxi. The private car costs too much while it takes longer time by bus.