Ho Chi Minh to Vung Tau: the main ways
Most visitors arrive from Ho Chi Minh City. There are three common ways to make the trip: the fast ferry, a limousine or bus on the road, or a private car. Since 1 July 2025 Vung Tau is part of the merged Ho Chi Minh City, but it is still a trip of around two hours, and it feels like a separate destination.
This page also covers the opposite direction, the airport transfer from Tan Son Nhat, the expressways and the entry rules for visitors. If you only want to book a trip that handles the transport for you, see the Vung Tau tours.
Our pick: speedboat out, car back
This tour uses the speedboat on the way out and a private car on the way back, with a city tour on top, so it fits if you want to try the water route once.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Speedboat day trip to Vung Tau
A day tour from Ho Chi Minh City that goes to Vung Tau by speedboat and returns by private car, with a private city tour, an English speaking guide and hotel pick-up in Ho Chi Minh City listed on the card.
Saigon to Vung Tau by fast ferry
A sailing of about two hours.
The operator lists the Saigon to Vung Tau route and back with a sailing time of 120 minutes. That is a published guide time and not a promise, because the river and the sea set the pace. Departures change, and the operator's own timetable page tells you to ask for current departures. Do the same before you plan a day around the boat.
We quote no fare. The operator announced new fares from 1 October 2026, while an older July table is still online. Ask the operator or the ticket office for today's price instead of relying on an old table. A maintenance pause from 14 to 16 September 2026 has ended, with the service announced to resume from 17 September.
Buy your ticket early on weekends and on public days off, and arrive at the pier with time to spare. Once in Vung Tau, a taxi or a booked car takes you on to your hotel.
Limousine and bus
The road, with fares from a notice dated 2026.
A bus company's fare notice, effective 4 May 2026, lists a VIP limousine between Tan Son Nhat Airport or its offices in Districts 1 and 5 and Vung Tau at 230,000 VND per person. A regular bus from Mien Tay or from District 1 costs 180,000 VND. A connection from the new Mien Dong office on Highway 13 is also listed at 180,000 VND.
The company gives about two hours as the journey time and a bus about every 30 minutes. From District 1 the buses run from 05:00 to 19:00, and from the airport from 07:00 to 19:30. These are the company's own guide figures, and they do not include traffic or pick-up delays. We name no company and no seat count. Check the date of any fare you read, since prices change.
The same notice covers the trip in both directions. Once you have arrived, the things to do in Vung Tau will help you plan the days.
| Option | Starting point | Fare | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limousine | Airport or Districts 1 and 5 | 230,000 VND | About 2 hours |
| Regular bus | Mien Tay or District 1 | 180,000 VND | About 2 hours |
| Fast ferry | Saigon pier | Ask the operator | About 120 minutes |
Taxi and transfer from Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN)
Landing in Ho Chi Minh City and heading to the coast.
Tan Son Nhat (SGN) is the airport most visitors use for Vung Tau. A limousine runs from the airport to Vung Tau between 07:00 and 19:30, roughly every 30 minutes, and takes about two hours, as of the fare notice of 4 May 2026. If you land late, the last departure matters, so check the time of your flight against it. A private transfer or a taxi is the other way to go, and you agree the price before you leave the terminal.
A government report of 30 October 2026 announces that Long Thanh airport is planned to begin operating on 24 December 2026, so plan your trip around Tan Son Nhat. For details on the airport itself, read about Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.
Reserve your transfer from Ho Chi Minh Airport Tan Son Nhat (SGN) to Vung Tau in advance on Kiwitaxi.
Back to Ho Chi Minh City
The return trip.
The fast ferry, the limousine and the bus all run in both directions. For the way back, plan the time from your hotel to the pier or bus office, and leave extra time if you have a flight. A sailing of about 120 minutes plus the ride to the airport adds up, so do not book a tight connection on the same afternoon.
If you have a late flight from Tan Son Nhat, choose a departure well before the afternoon traffic. Ask your hotel to book the pickup and keep the details on your phone.
By car on the expressways
What the council portal reports.
A report on the city council portal from October 2026 counts the Bien Hoa to Vung Tau expressway among the projects in operation, and a later report in October confirms the use of sub-project 3. The existing expressway from Ho Chi Minh City through Long Thanh to Dau Giay is busy, and an expansion is under way according to a council portal article from October 2026.
Do not rely on any promised journey time, toll or traffic condition. Weekends and public days off bring heavy traffic to the coast, and a report from early September 2026 describes crowded beaches and heavy traffic on the main roads of Vung Tau. Leave early and expect delays.
Entry and e-visa
Rules for German citizens and e-visa fees.
German citizens enter Vietnam without a visa for 45 days from the day of entry, under a rule in force from 15 March 2025 until 14 March 2028, provided the legal entry conditions are met. This is not an extension of stay.
If you need an e-visa, it is valid for up to 90 days. The fee is 25 USD for a single entry and 50 USD for multiple entry, from 1 April 2026. We describe no application steps or processing times, so use the official e-visa site and apply early.
Getting around Vung Tau
Once you have arrived.
We give no city bus numbers, parking fees or scooter prices. Ask your hotel what is practical for your plans. A taxi or a booked car works for the Christ statue and the lighthouse on Small Mountain, and the beaches are close to the centre. Agree the price before you set off.
For a plan of the town's beaches, see Vung Tau beaches. For the coast to the east, read Ho Tram and Long Hai.
Getting to Vung Tau: common questions
How long does it take to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau?
The fast ferry has a published sailing time of about 120 minutes. A bus company gives about two hours for the limousine and the bus. These are guide times, not guarantees.
How much is the bus or limousine to Vung Tau?
A fare notice effective 4 May 2026 lists 230,000 VND for the limousine from the airport or Districts 1 and 5, and 180,000 VND for the regular bus from Mien Tay or District 1. Check the current fare before you go.
Is Long Thanh airport open?
Not yet. A government report of 30 October 2026 gives 24 December 2026 as the planned start of operation. Use Tan Son Nhat for now.
Do I need a visa for Vung Tau as a German citizen?
Not for a stay of up to 45 days, under the exemption in force from 15 March 2025 until 14 March 2028, provided you meet the legal entry conditions. For a longer stay an e-visa of up to 90 days is available.