There are several ways to get to the City from Tan Son Nhat (TSN) airport. You can take a taxi, a motorbike taxi (literally, hug motorbike) or the cheapest way is taking a bus. This post will concern on these ways to help travelers feel easier after getting off the airport terminal.
Look at the picture below to imagine the arrival hall of the TSN International terminal.
1: Taxi coupon shop
The most easiest and quickest way to get downtown is buying a taxi coupon on the left side when getting off the exit. 6-7 bucks coupon will make you feel safer, quicker and free-scamming (hassling).
2: Lost & Found Luggage Room
Near the ATM on the left side of the arrival hall and the taxi stand, there is a room for reporting lost luggage. Hopefully this problem not happen to you after landing.
3. Food Court: besides selling food&drink, they also sell SIM packs here at the right price.
The first thing you have to do: change your money or get some money from the ATMs to pay taxi fare (bus).
. Changing your money.
I realize we almost get a better exchange rate in CBD than the rate inside the airport. Therefore, keep your big bills and we only need some small bills(5 or 10 bucks) to buy a bottle of water or juice or food and get back the change in Vietnamese currency. There are some food courts near the exit in the arrival hall.
They are also selling SIM card value of 50.000VND/100.000VND/ 200.000VND. If you need one to make call, this is the best way to change money and get SIM card at the same time. Read my post “Using mobile phone in Vietnam” to know more about using mobile phone in Vietnam if you prefer this way.
. Withdrawing some money from ATMs.
Some ATMs located at the corners of the arrival hall include: ANZ (AU), HSBC (HK), TECHCOMBANK (VN), DONGABANK (VN). This is another good way to get some Vietnamese dongs for paying taxi(bus) fare. These ATMs use official rate but you have to pay an extra charge (30.000VND ~ 1.5 USD) when getting money from overseas. It’s normal and 1.5 buck not a big problem, and remember you can only withdraw up to 2 million VN Dong per transaction.
————————-
Note: Turn left to take a taxi, turn right to take a bus <- Click to the link to see the picture.
Taxi:
From the exit, turn left about 20 meters you will see a big blue panel “taxi stand”. Here you can catch a “legitimate” taxi to CBD.
Time: 20-40 mins up to traffic condition.
Fare: most of these taxi companies charge 15.000vnd/first 2 kms and 8.000vnd/km thereafter. Normally it costs 5,6 bucks to get to backpackers area.
Bus:
There is a #152 air-conditioned bus runs from the airport to the Ben Thanh market and backpackers area. Turn right about 20m when you get off the terminal’s exit then you will see a blue-white bus looks like this. The only disadvantage of this bus: operated from 6am to 6pm.
The bus fare is almost free (only 3000VN Dong plus 2000VND if you carry a big luggage ~ 5000vnd ~ 25 US cent – rate in Octorber 2010). Light-pack backpackers should take this bus to CBD and always remember to change your money first, you’ll buy a ticket by urself, the driver won’t change it for you. Only one problem of taking the bus that is the foreigners don’t know exactly where they should get off. Keep reading my post below and you’ll get the answer.
If you booked a hotel in backpackers area -> wait 2 more stops from Ben Thanh Bus Center. (Click to view the map)
Help: Print this map at home, carry the map with you and show it to #152 bus driver, he’ll remind you when the bus reaches to the bus stop in backpacker’s area at the intersection of Bui Vien Street and Tran Hung Dao Street.
Back to the airport from backpackers area:
When you want to take a bus to the airport, go to the opposite side of the #152 bus stop at the backpackers area (where you get off when you heading from the airport), there’s a bus stop to back to airport.
Taking a bus to get downtown is easy, the real problem will happen if you want to get to your hotel from the airport. Please have a look on my next post: how to get to your hotel from the airport.
Travel with your mate 