By Clever Tourists · Published · Last updated
Fly: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is about 2 hours 10 minutes from Noi Bai (HAN) to Tan Son Nhat (SGN), one of the busiest domestic air routes in the world, with flights all day. The Reunification Express train takes about 33 to 38 hours; the fastest, the SE1, leaves Hanoi at 21:45 and reaches Saigon at 06:30 two days later. A berth in a 4-berth soft sleeper for the whole line costs roughly ₫1.67 to 1.76 (≈ $0.00–0.00) million (about US$65) at Vietnam Railways' fares. The direct sleeper bus takes 33 hours or more and is the one option we would skip. If you have the time, the better plan is to travel south in stages, as our own route did over four weeks: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Da Lat, Nha Trang and then Saigon.
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Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are about 1,700 km apart. Saigon is the old and still everyday name for Ho Chi Minh City; tickets and timetables use either.
| Option | Time | Typical price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight (HAN to SGN) | About 2h10 in the air; 5h door to door | Varies by date; budget fares often cheaper than a sleeper berth | Best for almost everyone |
| Reunification Express (SE1 to SE9) | About 33 to 38 hours | ₫1.03 (≈ $0.00)m soft seat; ₫1.27-1.64 (≈ $0.00–0.00)m 6-berth; ₫1.67-1.76 (≈ $0.00–0.00)m 4-berth | For the journey itself, two nights aboard |
| Direct sleeper bus | About 33 hours or more | From about US$50 on 12Go | Not recommended |
| In stages (train, bus or flights) | As long as you like | Each leg priced separately | Best way to see the country |
Six airlines fly between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, including Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air, with departures from early morning to late evening. Flight time is about 2 hours 10 minutes. Budget fares often exclude checked bags, so compare the price with your luggage included.
Noi Bai is about 45 minutes to an hour from Hanoi's Old Quarter by taxi or Grab. Tan Son Nhat sits inside Ho Chi Minh City, roughly 30 to 45 minutes from District 1; our Ho Chi Minh City airport guide covers buses, Grab and taxis.
New airport from late December 2026: Vietnam's airport operator has set 24 December 2026 for the start of commercial flights at Long Thanh International Airport, in Dong Nai province well east of the city. It is mainly for long-haul international flights, and Tan Son Nhat keeps most domestic routes, but Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet have registered some Hanoi flights at Long Thanh. Check which airport your ticket names before you plan the ride into town.
Vietnam Railways runs five regular trains a day each way on the North-South line until at least 30 December 2026. They leave Hanoi Station (Ga Hà Nội) and arrive at Saigon Station (Ga Sài Gòn) in District 3. The times below are from a timetable checked in October 2026 for a November departure; they shift with each new timetable, so treat them as indicative and confirm on dsvn.vn before you book.
Even the fastest train, the SE1, means two nights aboard. The evening trains have one advantage: the SE3 and SE1 cross the Hai Van Pass coast between Hue and Da Nang in daylight the next morning or around midday, while the early SE7 and SE5 reach it after dark.
| Train | Leaves Hanoi | Arrives Saigon | Journey time |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE1 | 21:45 | 06:30 (day 3) | 32h45 |
| SE3 | 19:20 | 05:30 (day 3) | 34h10 |
| SE5 | 08:00 | 18:20 (day 2) | 34h20 |
| SE7 | 06:00 | 17:00 (day 2) | 35h00 |
| SE9 | 13:00 | 03:26 (day 3) | 38h26 |
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Fares for the full line, as compiled from Vietnam Railways' own site in mid-2026:
• Soft seat, air-conditioned: about ₫1,030,000 (≈ $40) (US$40). Fine for a day leg, hard going for 33 hours.
• 6-berth hard sleeper: about ₫1,270,000 to 1,640,000 (≈ $50–64) (US$50 to $65). Three bunks a side; the top bunk has little headroom.
• 4-berth soft sleeper: about ₫1,670,000 to 1,760,000 (≈ $65–69) (US$65 to $70). The usual choice for foreign travellers. Lower berths cost more than upper ones.
Agents such as 12Go and Baolau take foreign cards and add a fee, so their prices run higher. Vietnam Railways discounts individual tickets on its long-distance trains when you buy 20 or more days ahead. Fares rise around Tet, see our Tet 2027 guide. Our Reunification Express guide covers what the cabins are like and what to bring.
Going north instead: from Saigon, the SE2 leaves at 20:35, SE4 at 19:20, SE6 at 08:45, SE8 at 06:00 and SE10 at 13:15.
Direct sleeper buses do run, for example from Hanoi's Nuoc Ngam station to Mien Dong Moi in Saigon, listed at about 1 day 9 hours from around US$50. For a trip this long they are the worst choice: two nights on a berth too short for most adults over about 1.80 m, long stretches of night driving on the highway, toilet stops on the operator's schedule, and an arrival at a terminal on the edge of the city. The fare is close to a train berth, and often to a budget flight.
Buses make sense in shorter legs. Open-bus tickets from operators such as The Sinh Tourist run Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Mui Ne, Da Lat and Ho Chi Minh City, priced by the number of stops, and you choose the dates as you go. Buy from the company's own office or website: many street agencies borrow the name.
Most of what people come to Vietnam for sits between the two cities. A common order is Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, then a flight or bus south to Da Lat or Nha Trang and on to Saigon. The train serves Ninh Binh, Hue, Da Nang and Nha Trang, so you can ride the Reunification Express in sections and sleep in hotels in between.
Our 2-week Hanoi to Saigon itinerary lays this out day by day, and the first long leg is covered in Hanoi to Hue by sleeper train, bus or flight. For the end of the trip, see where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City.
About 33 to 38 hours. The fastest train, the SE1, leaves Hanoi at 21:45 and arrives in Saigon at 06:30 two days later, about 32 hours 45 minutes.
At Vietnam Railways' fares, about ₫1.03 (≈ $0.00) million for a soft seat, ₫1.27 to 1.64 (≈ $0.00–0.00) million in a 6-berth sleeper and ₫1.67 to 1.76 (≈ $0.00–0.00) million in a 4-berth sleeper. Agents charge more.
About 2 hours 10 minutes from Noi Bai to Tan Son Nhat. Allow about 5 hours door to door with airport transfers and check-in.
Not for the whole distance. It takes about 33 hours or more, costs close to a train berth, and means two nights on a short bus berth. Use buses for shorter legs instead.
Fly if you just need to get there. Take the train if the journey is the point, or ride it in sections, stopping in Ninh Binh, Hue, Da Nang or Nha Trang.
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