By air: Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport (SGN) is about 7 kilometres northwest of the city centre, inside the city boundary — one of the most centrally located international airports in Asia. Taxis from the arrivals hall take 20–40 minutes to District 1 depending on traffic; Grab (the regional Uber equivalent) is cheaper and more predictable — book from inside the arrivals building using the app. There is no rail connection from the airport.
International flights connect to Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, and European cities direct. Domestic flights reach Hanoi (1 hour), Da Nang (1 hour), Hue, Nha Trang, and most other Vietnamese cities; three airlines compete on the main routes and prices are low.
By train: The overnight train to Hanoi takes around 30 hours and is a classic journey through coastal Vietnam — the scenery north of Da Nang is particularly good. Saigon Station (Ga Sài Gòn) is in District 3, a short taxi ride from the tourist centre. Book trains well in advance during Tết.
By bus: Open-tour buses and sleeper coaches connect Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Dalat, Mui Ne, and Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Journey times are long but the services are reliable and cheap.