Located not far from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau emerges as a coastal sanctuary where tourists flock to soak up tranquility, bask on sandy beaches and savor fresh seafood.
For those looking to escape Saigon and dive into a world of relaxation, our essential article “Ho Chi Minh to Vung Tau: 5 Best Ways to Travel” is the perfect traveling companion.
Saigon, Vietnam’s bustling city, is full of vibrant experiences, iconic sights and electrifying nightlife.
But if the call for rest and relaxation is felt, Vung Tau, with its peaceful beaches and cultural attractions, awaits you just a few hours away.
Join us to discover the best ways to transition between these two contrasting Vietnamese worlds, ensuring a journey that is as comfortable as it is enriching.
Distance between Ho Chi Minh and Vung Tau
The distance between Saigon and Vung Tau is approximately 125 km , which makes Vung Tau an ideal place for a weekend break from Ho Chi Minh. There are five main ways to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau: shuttle bus, luxury limousine bus, ferry, motorbike and private car.
Depending on the travel route and transfer type, the time you need to travel to Vung Tau from Saigon is 2 to 3.5 hours.
5 Ways to Travel from Ho Chi Minh to Vung Tau
It’s easy to find transportation from Saigon to Vung tau, please see more details on the top 5 ways to travel below.
1. Bus
The bus is a popular means of transportation. You can go to Ben Xe Mien Dong or Ben Xe Mien Tay to take the bus to Vung Tau bus station. The duration of the journey is 2.5 hours to 3 hours and the ticket price varies from 80,000 VND to 150,000 VND .
Please see recommended shuttle below:
| Bus suppliers | Departure time | number of places | Departure station | Arrival station | Price (VND) |
| Phuong Trang | From 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. every hour | 45 | 272-274 De Tham, Pham Nu Lao, District 1 | Vung Tau Station | 115,000 |
| Thien Phu | From 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. every 20 minutes | 14 | Ben Xe Mien Dong | Vung Tau Station | 95,000 |
| Kumho | From 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. every 15 minutes | 45 | Ben Xe Mien Dong | Vung Tau Station | 100,000 |
Alternatively, you can use the public bus which is much cheaper. However, you have to change buses twice.
- Bus number 150: Cho Lon – Tan Van station. Ticket price: 6,000 VND
- Bus number 11: Vung Tau intersection station – Tan Thanh station. Ticket price: 17,000
- Bus number 6: Tan Thanh station – Vung Tau station. Ticket price: 20,000 VND
2. Limousine shuttle
If you want door-to-door service and a premium car, you can choose a luxury limousine shuttle to Vung Tau.
This type of bus is more expensive than the bus, but it offers more comfort to customers. The limousine shuttle is equipped with WiFi, a USB charging port near the seats, a large LED screen, free wet tissues and mineral water. In addition, travel time is reduced to 2 hours .
Please see the recommended limousine shuttle providers below.
| Companies | number of places | Departure time | Pickup location | Drop point | Price (VND) |
| Hoa Mai Limousine | 14 | Every 30 minutes from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | 82 Nguyen Chanh | Vung Tàu | 140,000 -150,000 |
| Limousine life | 9 | Every 60 minutes from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | 131 Nguyen Thai Binh | Any location in Vung Tau city | 140,000 -160,000 |
| Thang Toan Limousine | 9 and 18 | Every 15 to 30 minutes from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. | 21 Nguyen Thai Binh | Any location in Vung Tau city | 150,000 – 160,000 |
3. Speedboat and ferry
Speedboat and ferry are the best and fastest, but most expensive option to travel from Saigon to Vung Tau. The ferry departs from Ven Nha Rong Port (1 Nguyen Tat Thanh) or Bach Dang Wharf (5 Nguyen Tat Thanh) to arrive at Vung Tau after 1.5 to 2 hours . The top three providers are Pacific Express. Greenlines DP and Vina Express. The ticket price is higher or lower than $10 .
Please see speedboat and ferry timetables below:
| Suppliers | Departure time | Port of departure | Price (VND) |
| Pacific Express | 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. (and 4:00 p.m. only on Saturdays) | Nha Rong Port | 200,000 for adults, 100,000 for children |
| DP green lines | 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. (and 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. only on Saturdays) | Port Bach Dang | Age: 12-62: 240,000 Age: above 62: 170,000 Age: 6 – 11: 120,000 Below 5: free |
| Vina Express | 6:00 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:00 p.m. | Port Bach Dang | 250,000 |
4. Private car
A private car is a great choice if you are traveling in a large group and want privacy. Using the private car, you can go to Vung Tau from Saigon after just 2 hours of travel.
You can start from Saigon center to Phu My Bridge, then continue on Ring Road 2, turn right onto HCMC Highway, Ho Chi Minh – Long Thanh – Dau Giay. Continue for about 20 km, then turn right onto Highway 51 and continue straight to reach Vung Tau town.
Please see the private transfer price below:
| Car type | 4 seater car | 7 seater car | 16 seater car |
| Maximum capacity | 2 people | 5 people | 16 people |
| Price (USD) | 1,400,000 vnd | 1,500,000 vnd | 2,150,000 vnd |
5. Motorcycle
Getting to Vung Tu from Ho Chi Minh by motorbike is surely an interesting option because the distance is short and you will only need 2 to 3 hours of driving. There is no uneven terrain, so the ride is not difficult and you can enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.
Before starting the journey, you should check the brakes, wheels and other segments of the motorcycle to ensure that your motorcycle is still in good condition. Also don’t forget to fill up with gas if necessary. You can choose one of the following three routes.
Route 1: By national road no. 51
The route is Ho Chi Minh City – Nguyen Duy Street – Pham Hung – Vo Van Kiet Street – Mai Chi Tho Street – Ho Chi Minh Highway – Long Thanh – Dau Giay – National Highway No. 51 – Vung Tau City
This route is quite long and constitutes a sort of roundabout. However, it has been chosen by many travelers because its road conditions are good and wide. Additionally, there are plenty of signposts along the way, so you hardly get lost while following this route.
Route 2: Cat Lai Ferry Terminal – Nhon Trach
This route is 20 km shorter than the first but you have to take a ferry.
This route is Thu Thiem Tunnel – Mai Chi Tho Street – Dong Van Cong Street – Truong Thi Dinh Street – Cat Lai Ferry Terminal – Ly Thai To Street – Tran Van Tra Street – Quach Thi Street Trang – Ton Duc Thang – national road no. 51 – Vung Tau Town.
Route 3: Long Son
This is the most popular route for those traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau by motorbike thanks to the good road condition, low vehicle volume and spectacular scenery.
This route is Thu Thiem Tunnel – Mai Chi Tho Street – Dong Van Cong Street – Truong Thi Dinh Street – Cat Lai Ferry Terminal – National Highway No. 51 – Long Son – Cha Va Bridge and the Go Gang bridge – Vung Tau town.
