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VietnamHo Chi Minh City Airport (Tan Son Nhat) is the main air gate of South Vietnam, through which most tourists fly home or continue their journey. The road from the resort towns of Mui Ne and Phan Thiet to it will take from 3 to 6 hours, depending on the chosen transport. In this guide we will look at all the ways to get to the airport – from the fastest to the most economical.
Important! Take into account traffic jams at the entrances to Ho Chi Minh City, especially during rush hours. We recommend that you set a minimum of 1-2 hours of stock by the estimated travel time and before check-in and passing the controls. That is, in sum, it is better that before the departure time you have 4 hours from the estimated time of arrival.
🚖 By taxi is the fastest and most convenient way
- 💵 Cost: from $65 / 65 USD
- ⏲ Travel time: 3-5 hours
Direct taxi is an ideal option if you value time and comfort, especially when traveling with luggage or family. The car can be ordered in advance through the hotel or local travel agencies in Mui Ne – it will be cheaper and more reliable than looking for a taxi at the last moment. For a reference point and price comparison, you can check the taxi in the Grab, Maxim, Xanh Sm applications. But we warn you against using Maxim. The fact is that this taxi, although it gives a very low price, you can not get a car, which is very risky if you need to arrive at the airport by the time of departure.
You can order a transfer on the websites kiwitaxi or intui.travel:
🚐 Direct minivans – the optimal balance of price and comfort
- 💵 Cost: from 500 000 VND / 19 USD
- ⏲ Travel time: 4-5 hours
Direct minivans are an excellent compromise between cost and convenience. They depart from Mui Ne and Phan Thiet and go directly to Ho Chi Minh City Airport without a transfer. On the way – 4-5 hours, which is faster than by bus with a transfer.
Minivans usually pick up passengers from the main hotels in Mui Ne or from the bus station. The cost is from 500,000 VND. This is convenient if you don't have too much luggage and you want to save money compared to a taxi, but at the same time get there without too much hassle.
You can book tickets at Mui Ne travel agencies or through the hotel. It is better to check the schedule in advance, as flights may not be too frequent, especially in the evening. Most likely you will have to adjust to their schedule and spend extra time at the airport.
🚌 By bus with a transfer through the center is the most economical option
- 💵 Cost: from 200,000 VND (rate temporary unavailable USD) + 5,000-15,000 VND for city transport
- ⏲ Travel time: 5-7 hours including transfers
This option is suitable for the most economical and experienced travelers. The fact is that there are no direct flights to the airport, you will have to go with a transfer. The route consists of two stages: first a bus from Mui Ne to the center of Ho Chi Minh City, then city transport or taxi to the airport.
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First Stage: Mui Ne → Ho Chi Minh City Center
We recommend a large company Futa Bus Lines, but this is not the only one. They have a bus station almost at the village of Muine (Mui Ne bus station on the map), and their buses pick up passengers throughout the resort area. What is especially convenient – after buying a ticket, you can be picked up directly from the hotel or the nearest collection point. Tickets can be purchased on their website online, but Russian cards do not work there, so you will have to get to the bus station in Mui Ne at the point above and buy a ticket there. We recommend doing this in advance the day before the trip. But from our practice we can say that the buses do not run crowded, so if you can't buy in advance, you can come to the bus station and buy tickets for the next bus day in day out.
Futa buses are comfortable, sleeping type, with air conditioning. In our experience, they have the most affordable prices – from 200,000 VND. In Ho Chi Minh City, they arrive at one of the bus stations on the outskirts of the city, from where you will be transported free of charge by minibus to the tourist area (Pham Ngu Lao Street) – this service is already included in the ticket price.
Tickets can be purchased:
- In the travel agencies of Mui Ne and Phan Thiet
- At the hotel (but there may be a small mark-up)
- On the website futabus.vn (requires a foreign bank card) or at the bus station for cash
- Via the aggregator 12go.asia
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Second stage: Center → Airport
From the tourist area to the airport can be reached:
- By taxi – 100,000-200,000 DONG, 20-40 minutes
- By bus number 109 – 15,000 VND, 30-60 minutes
- By bus number152 – 5,000 VND, 30-60 minutes
Bus number 109 goes from the tourist area directly to the airport terminals. This is the most convenient and cheapest way to get there after arriving from Mui Ne.
Once again, important! When choosing this route, set an additional 1.5-2 hours for a transfer and the way to the airport. Buses from Mui Ne may be delayed due to traffic jams.
🚗 On a rented car – complete freedom
- 💵 Cost: from $45 per day / 45 USD
- ⏲ Travel time: 3-5 hours
If you rented a car to travel around Vietnam upon arrival at the airport, then getting to Ho Chi Minh City Airport and returning there is a great option. You will be able to leave at a convenient time and not depend on the public transport schedule.
The cost of renting a car in Mui ne is from $ 45 per day. The road to the airport will take 3-5 hours depending on traffic.
Important points:
- To drive a car in Vietnam, an international driving license (IDP) is required along with a national license
- The IDP must comply with the requirements of the Vienna Convention
- The cost of obtaining an IDP in Russia is 3200 rubles (state duty)
Everything you need to know about the rights in Vietnam told in the instructions here...
You can book a car through international services:
Comparative table of methods
| Method | Time | Cost | Comfort | Better for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct taxi | 3-5 hours | from $65 | Very high | Families, travelers with luggage |
| Direct minivans | 4-5 hours | from 500,000 VND | High | The optimal balance of price and comfort |
| Bus + city transport | 5-7 hours | from 205,000 VND | Medium | Budget travelers |
| Rent a car | 3-5 hours | from $ 45/day | Very high | Independent travelers |
Practical advice
The main advice: If you are on a morning flight, consider spending the night in Ho Chi Minh City. This will save you from the stress of early departure and possible delays due to traffic jams.
Departure time from Mui Ne:
- For morning flights (08:00-12:00) – leave the night before or very early in the morning (04:00-05:00)
- For daytime flights (12:00-18:00) – check out in the morning (07:00-08:00)
- For evening flights (after 18:00) – leave at lunch (12:00-13:00)
What to consider when planning:
- Traffic jams at the entrances to Ho Chi Minh City can add 1-2 hours to the journey
- Check-in for flights starts 3 hours in advance
- There may be a queue at the airport for passport control
Final recommendations
Our choice: For most tourists, the best option would be direct minivan or Futa Bus Lines + bus No.109. This combines reasonable cost and reasonable travel time.
- For maximum comfort: Direct taxi
- For optimal balance: Direct minivan
- To save money: Bus with transfer through the center
- For flexibility: Rent a car
Whichever way you choose, the main thing is to plan your trip in advance and put in enough time. Have a nice trip and a happy flight!
📅 Bus and train schedules from Phan Thiet and Mui Ne to Ho Chi Minh City
| Bus Mui Ne - Ho Chi Minh City $ 5.58–7.48 3h 30m |
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| Train Binh Thuan - Binh Duong $ 9.53–28.44 2h 56m – 4h 43m |
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| Train Binh Thuan - Ho Chi Minh City $ 9.74–32.27 3h 32m – 5h 17m |
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