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VietnamIs your paradise vacation in Phu Quoc coming to an end, and is it time to return to civilization? Ho Chi Minh City is the main air and land gate of Vietnam, where all routes from the island flock. In this guide, we will analyze in detail all the options, from the fastest to the most budget, so that you can choose the best route for your trip.
Quick response: For 99% of tourists, the best way to get from Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh City is flight by plane. It is fast, inexpensive (with early booking) and comfortable. The ferry+ bus route is worth considering only if you have a lot of time left and you want to save money or see the life of the Mekong Delta.
✈ Aircraft – fast, comfortable, optimal
This is the most popular and recommended way. A dozen flights of local airlines Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways are operated daily between Phu Quoc (PQC) and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN).
- ⏲ Travel time: ~1 hour.
- 💵 The cost of the flight: from 700 000 – 1 200 000 One-way VND / from 26.61 USD
- Where to buy tickets: it is impossible to buy tickets with Russian cards on local a/c websites, so use aggregators Aviasales or Trip.com.
Flights are operated from Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC) to Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN). The cost of tickets strongly depends on the season and the time of booking: the earlier you buy a ticket, the cheaper it will cost you.
Consider arrival and departure terminals. In 2025, a new terminal T3 was opened at Ho Chi Minh City Airport, and now flights from Phu Quoc can arrive at T3 and T1, and international flights depart from T2. From T1 to T2 you can walk, and from T3 to T2 only by airport bus or taxi. In general, if there is a transfer to/from T3 along the route, then you need to additionally set one hour for moving.
We have detailed guides for both airports:
How to get to Phu Quoc Airport
There are several convenient ways to get to Phu Quoc Airport from your hotel.
- 🚖 Taxi (Grab): The most convenient way. Ordering through the Grab app fixes the cost. A trip from Long Beach will cost from 100 000 – 150 000 VND / from 3.8 USD
- 🚌 Free bus VinBus: A great budget option. Routes No. 17 and No. 19 go to the airport along the main beach of Long Beach and the main resort areas. Timetables and route maps for official website.
- 🛵 Rented motorbike: This is convenient if you rent a motorcycle here on arrival and return it at the end of your vacation on the island.
How to get from Ho Chi Minh City Airport to the center
Ho Chi Minh City Airport is very conveniently located within the city (airport on the map), and literally leaving the arrival terminal you will find yourself on city streets.
- 🚌 City bus: The cheapest way. Bus No. 152 from terminals T1/T2 (5000 VND) and No. 109 from terminal T3 (15,000 VND) will take you to the tourist area.
- 🚖 Taxi: A taxi ride to the city center will cost from 100,000 to 200,000 VND. The cheapest way to order is through the Grab, Maxim, and Xanh Sm apps.
- Motorcycle Taxi: Half the price of a taxi, suitable for travelers with a backpack.
⛵🚌 Ferry + Bus – budget and educational
This route is suitable if you have a lot of time and want to see the life of the mainland of Vietnam. The journey is divided into two stages: first a ferry to the mainland, then a bus to Ho Chi Minh City.
Ferries from Phu Quoc depart from two main ports:
- Bai Vong Port (Bai Vong on the map) is the main passenger port, from here ferries depart to Rach Gia. We recommend using this port.
- Ben Pha Port (Ben Pha on the map) - serves some passenger and cargo flights to Ha Tien.
There are two main routes to Ho Chi Minh City:
-
Through the Rach Gia port
The shortest way to Ho Chi Minh City is through the city of Rach Gia.
Ferries depart several times a day, 2.5 hours on the way, the cost starts from 315,000 VND. Check the schedule on the carrier's website - https://phuquocexpressboat.com/en/ and 12go.asia.
There are many buses from Ratja to Ho Chi Minh City, the cost starts from 230,000 VND, 6-7 hours on the way. There is a schedule and booking of tickets for 12go.asia.
-
Via the Ha Tien port
It takes longer to get to Ho Chi Minh City through the port of Ha Tien, but you can see the border areas in Cambodia.
Ferries depart several times a day, on the way from 1.5 hours, the cost is from 216,000 VND. Check the schedule for 12go.asia.
There are direct buses from Hatien to Ho Chi Minh City, the cost starts from 250,000 VND, 8-9 hours on the way. There are convenient night flights.
Advice: Buy combined ferry+bus tickets at 12go.asia - this will save time and nerves on docking.
Comparison table: Airplane vs Ferry and Bus
| Criteria | The plane | Ferry + Bus |
|---|---|---|
| Time | ~1 hour + time at airports | ~10-13 hours + docking time |
| Cost | From ~700,000 VND | From ~466,000 VND |
| Comfort | High | Low, tedious |
| Reliability | High | Depends on weather and docking |
| Impressions | Standard flight | The opportunity to see the Mekong Delta |
| Suitable for whom | Almost all tourists | Students, backpackers, travelers with plenty of time |
Bottom line: Which way to choose?
- Choose a flightif you value your time and comfort. In just an hour you will be in Ho Chi Minh City and you can immediately start exploring the city.
- Consider the ferry+bus option only if you are an adventurous traveler with unlimited time and want to save money or see non-tourist corners of Vietnam.
Regardless of the chosen method, we recommend booking tickets in advance, especially in high season. Enjoy your trip to Ho Chi Minh City!