Cheap Flights to Ho Chi Minh City

What should I know before visiting Ho Chi Minh City?

Carry both Vietnamese dong and US dollars

While the prominence of USD in Vietnam is slowly fading, some businesses prefer to trade in dollars. While prepping for your cheap flights to Ho Chi Minh City, change some NZD into USD as well as the official currency, the Vietnamese dong. Tour companies and hotels may prefer USD, but you’ll also need dong on hand to use at local restaurants, shops, and markets.

Apply for a visa at least two working days before your flights to Ho Chi Minh City

It’s possible to apply for your Vietnam eVisa at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), but be prepared for a long wait and extra fees. To make your arrival into Ho Chi Minh City less stressful, apply for the visa online. Simply fill in an application, pay a fee of $17 USD ($25.75 NZD), and you should receive a response within two working days.

Venture beyond District 1

Many tourists choose to stay in this downtown neighbourhood while holidaying with flights to Ho Chi Minh City. While there’s a lot to do around District 1 – landmarks, shops, restaurants – other neighbourhoods can offer more insight into local life. Between your return flights to Ho Chi Minh City, venture outside of the centre to other cool neighbourhoods like District 3, District 5, and District 10. You’ll see the city from a new perspective and may even benefit from lower prices in shops and restaurants.

What is the best way to get around Ho Chi Minh City?

When you book tickets to Ho Chi Minh City for your holiday, you’ll have no trouble getting around with local transport. Once you arrive into Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), taxis and buses are readily available. A taxi into the centre costs about 150,000 dong ($9.80 NZD). Several buses travel into the city, and bus 109 offers the most direct route. Buses depart every 15 to 20 minutes and reach downtown in about 45 minutes.

More than 100 bus routes make their way around the city, providing an efficient way to explore between return flights to Ho Chi Minh City. Ben Thanh Station is the transport hub in the centre where you can catch many of the major bus routes. Tickets to Ho Chi Minh City buses start from 6,000 dong (40 cents NZD) – the perfect option for budget travellers holidaying on flights to Ho Chi Minh City.

Taxis and Grabs are available all throughout the city centre. Grab is similar to Uber and offers more affordable rates than the traditional taxis. If you book airfare to Ho Chi Minh City as a solo traveller, you can also take advantage of motorcycle taxis, which zip around the city for rates averaging 10,000 dong (65 cents NZD).

What are the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City?

Giac Lam Pagoda

Built in 1744, Giac Lam Pagoda holds the title as the city’s oldest temple. It’s surrounded by scenic gardens and a commanding Bodhi tree, which is sacred to Buddhists. The temple itself is breathtaking with a golden tiered exterior and gilded statues filling its sanctuary. While visiting the Giac Lam Pagoda between return flights to Ho Chi Minh City, you may hear locals ringing the bronze bell inside. The pagoda is a popular pilgrimage spot for Vietnamese Buddhists, and ringing the bell is said to answer their prayers.

Reunification Palace

While visiting Vietnam on flights to Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll find ample opportunities to learn about the Vietnam War. Reunification Palace is one of the most prominent war-time landmarks. It’s the spot where the Vietnam War came to an official end in 1975. Since then, it’s barely been touched. If you visit while holidaying on cheap flights to Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll find yourself in a time capsule surrounded by mid-20th century designs. Visitors can also view a communications centre and tunnels that played a part during the war. While visiting Vietnam with an airfare to Ho Chi Minh City, set aside a few hours to tour Reunification Palace and learn more about the history of the Vietnam War.

Take a day trip to the Mekong River Delta

Ho Chi Minh City is bustling with activity, and it’s the perfect place to experience urban Vietnam. See another side to the country in the peaceful and picture-perfect Mekong River Delta. This area is made up of an impressive 39,000 square kilometres of waterways. Throughout the Mekong River Delta, there are quaint villages, floating markets, and scenic waterways to explore. While holidaying on cheap flights to Ho Chi Minh City, book onto a boat tour of the region and row through the famous floating market in Can Tho.