Several Saigon bus services let you explore the city, as they are an important part of Ho Chi Minh City's public transport system and serve locals as well as visitors of the largest city in Vietnam. In addition to more than one hundred of public bus routes that let you travel around the city in the most affordable way, you can choose a tourist-friendly Saigon hop-on hop-off bus or enjoy a sightseeing tour on the panoramic open-top bus. The most popular destinations in Vietnam can also be reached by bus from Ho Chi Minh City, as there are several bus stations and countless intercity bus routes starting in the city.
Discover a detailed guide to Saigon bus services with public and tourist bus routes, tickets, intercity bus stations, and the most popular destinations that can be reached by bus from Ho Chi Minh City.
Saigon Hop-on Hop-off Bus
If you prefer a more tourist-friendly way of exploring the city's main attractions by bus, choose a Saigon Hop-On Hop-Off Bus that lets you see the most famous attractions in the city at your own pace.
To experience a more tourist-friendly way of exploring main Ho Chi Minh City attractions by bus, get yourself a Saigon Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket for 24 or 48 hours.
Ho Chi Minh City Panoramic Open-Top Bus Tour
The Ho Chi Minh City panoramic open-top bus tour lets you experience the essence of Saigon in less than one hour. You can soak in sweeping views of the city’s iconic landmarks, as the bus route passes by Saigon’s most captivating attractions, including Independence Palace, the Central Post Office, Ben Thanh Market, and many others. It's a perfect way to get familiar with the city before going to explore it independently.
Taking this Ho Chi Minh City tour by open-top bus is a more affordable option than getting a hop-on hop-off pass and is useful if you are not planning to get off the bus at different attractions.
Saigon Public Bus Services
Public bus services in Saigon are managed by the governmental Ho Chi Minh City Public Transportation Management Center. The service is provided by different companies that serve specific routes, such as Futa Bus Lines and the operator of electric bus routes, VinBus.
Ordinary Buses
Most of the public buses in Ho Chi Minh City are blue or green.
Electric Buses
Electric buses of the VinBus company can be recognized by the different type of modern light-green buses.
Starting from 1 March 2026, the other major public bus service provider Futa Bus Lines (Phuong Trang Passenger Transport Joint Stock Company) also launched 16 new electric bus routes. The color of these buses are similar to VinBus, even if the design is a bit different.
Electric buses of both electric bus companies in Saigon can be seen below (Bus 152 - Futa Bus Lines, Bus 93 - VinBus).
Saigon Bus Tickets
Saigon bus tickets can normally be bought on board the bus. Just get on the bus, find a place to sit, and the conductor will approach you. All bus service providers accept cash payments, while some of them now also accept contactless NAPAS card payments.
Saigon bus fare depends on the specific bus route. Currently, the bus ticket price within the city can be from as low as 5,000 VND to 20,000 VND, depending if the route is subsidized. Ho Chi Minh City buses that let you reach surrounding provinces can cost up to 150,000 VND, which is charged on the bus routes going to Vung Tau.
Saigon hop-on hop-off bus tickets, as well as tickets to the Open-Top Bus Tour, can be conveniently booked online. Intercity bus tickets for a trip from/to Ho Chi Minh City can also be booked with online travel agents.
For more details about the bus ticket options and prices, explore the Saigon bus tickets.
Saigon Bus Routes
There are several airport bus routes connecting Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) with Ho Chi Minh City and even Vung Tau. The bus route 109 is the most popular among the tourists, as it connects the airport with the city center.
Other popular routes are the Red Route and the Blue Route of the Saigon hop-on hop-off bus. The Red Route passes Saigon Opera House, Nguyen Hue Street, War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market, Independent Palace, Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, and a number of other attractions. The Blue Route connects with the Red Route and lets you reach Saigon's Chinatown, Cho Lo. The bus routes are detailed below. To board this bus along the route, you need to get a Saigon hop-on hop-off bus ticket.
The most important Ho Chi Minh City bus routes with the ticket prices, map, and points of interest along the route can be found here: Saigon bus routes.
Saigon Bus Route Map
As Ho Chi Minh City is huge and there are many public bus routes connecting different corners of the metropolis, you will not find a unified Saigon bus map with all the routes laid out on one sheet of paper.
To find your way to travel from your location to the desired destination by public bus, you can use one of the applications with a Saigon bus map, such as the Google Maps or the GoMo by BusMap app, which is available in Vietnamese, English, and Japanese.
Intercity Buses from/to Ho Chi Minh City
Intercity buses are the most affordable way to get from Ho Chi Minh City to various destinations that are not on the railway lines. These buses are connecting Saigon with all provinces in Southern Vietnam, most of the destinations in Central Vietnam, and even some cities in Northern Vietnam, such as Hanoi.
The most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam can also be reached by a huge number of tourist buses run by private companies. While these buses are normally more expensive, they are much faster as tourist buses normally go directly to the final destination.
Saigon Bus Stations
There are 4 main bus terminals in Ho Chi Minh City that serve intercity buses, and you need to choose one depending on your desired destination, as they mainly serve specific regions.
Mien Dong Bus Station (Eastern Bus Station) is the busiest bus terminal in Ho Chi Minh City that serves buses going to the provinces in Southern, Central, and even Northern Vietnam.
Mien Tay Bus Station (Western Bus Station) mainly serves the routes from Ho Chi Minh City to the provinces in the Mekong Delta.
An Suong Bus Station is another major bus terminal specializing in long-distance travel to Western provinces and Central Highlands as well as Cambodia.
Nga Tu Ga Bus Station is another bus station in Saigon, where you can board some of the buses going north of Ho Chi Minh City, such as Cat Tien National Park and Dalat.
There's also Saigon Bus Station in the city center, but it only serves the city's public buses and no long-distance buses are available here.
Located in Saigon's Chinatown, Cho Lon Bus Station also mainly serves Saigon inner-city bus routes and some intercity bus routes to Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and Long An.
Some popular destinations, like Vung Tau, can also be reached by bus directly from Tan Son Nhat Airport.
Most tourist buses depart from the central part of the city and might even include a pick-up from hotel service.
Discover Saigon bus stations with destinations that can be reached by bus from each station, and choose the most suitable Ho Chi Minh City bus terminal for your trip.
Popular Destinations
Discover the most popular Vietnam destinations that can be reached by bus from Ho Chi Minh City and choose the most convenient bus station and route for your trip.
A wider range of bus routes for a trip from/to Saigon can be found with the help of the form that also lets you compare buses with other means of transportation, such as trains, taxis, private cars, and even airplanes.
Hanoi Bus covers all the bus services in the capital city of Vietnam. To discover bus services in other popular cities of the country, explore the Bus Vietnam guide.