Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City is the busiest airport in the country, handling in excess of 17 million passengers from countries throughout the Southeast Asian region and the rest of the world. The airport has two terminals with one reserved for international flights and the other for domestic services.

Facilities at the International Terminal are good and include ATMs, currency exchange and shops and restaurants. Buying dong at the airport is convenient, but you will get much better rates in the city. Immigration is strict at the airport, so you should ensure you declare any dutiable items and that your paperwork is in order.

For getting to the city from the airport, taxis provide the greatest convenience, unless your hotel provides a courtesy transfer. Licensed taxis are metered but not all drivers like to use them. The best option is to pick up a taxi coupon at the taxi rank. Make sure the driver understands exactly which hotel you are staying at or you may be taken elsewhere.

If you want to go direct to the city centre, air conditioned bus number 152 runs to the Pham Ngu Lao area and the bus terminal near Ben Thanh Market.

Many bus companies operate within Ho Chi Minh City but the only really useful one to tourists is the Saigon Star Bus. A number of routes are offered throughout the city, covering Me Linh, Ben Thanh Market, Binh Tay Market, Mien Tay Bus Station, and An Nhon/Thanh Loc. Buses are frequent with several per hour from early morning to around 19:00. Tickets can be bought onboard from the conductor. For bus travel farther afield, standard and express services run to countrywide destinations.

Trains are not a form of public transport within Ho Chi Minh City and the only real service in Vietnam is the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh line. The train station in Ho Chi Minh is on Cach Mang Thang Tam to the northwest of the city centre.

Taxis are all over the place and offer the most convenient form of transport to difficult to reach destinations and to and from the airport. Make sure you use a metered taxi and ensure the driver uses the meter. Motorcycle taxis provide a faster way to get around the city but come with obvious dangers. Cyclos operate within the city centre and can be fun for sightseeing. Prices are cheap but you should always agree the fare beforehand.

Hiring a car is not an option for tourists to Vietnam as foreigners cannot drive without a Vietnamese driving license.