Compare Cheap Flights from Darwin to Ho Chi Minh City
Located within the heart of Southeast Asia, you’ll find the exciting city of Ho Chi Minh City. This city is the largest in Vietnam and is unique to any other city in Southeast Asia. While visiting Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll be surrounded by history, culture, beautiful architecture, and incredible food. The city is transforming quickly and offers an interesting blend of modern and traditional. Alongside new buildings, you’ll see lots of traditional French architecture that dates back to Vietnam’s time as a French colony. The most popular method of transportation in Ho Chi Minh City is the motorbike; in fact, it has more than 10 million motorbikes, which is more than any other city in the world. Outside of the hustle and bustle of the city, some incredible Vietnamese nature is right on your doorstep, including the stunning Mekong River Delta. In addition to having lots to offer visitors, Vietnam is extremely affordable for Australian travellers due to the exchange rate, making Ho Chi Minh City the perfect location for your next getaway.
Start planning your next big adventure with Webjet’s cheap flights from Darwin to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam has a tropical location in Southeast Asia, which leads to it having two seasons–wet and dry. The dry season lasts from December to April and is the high season in Ho Chi Minh City. People flock from all over to enjoy the nice weather in the city with warm temperatures, lots of sunshine, and little rain. During the dry season, temperatures hit about 27°C during the day. Because of the popularity of visiting during the dry season, you’ll find that hotels raise their rates and book out quickly. If you’ll be visiting during this season, be sure to book in advance to get your first choice of accommodation.
While the wet season doesn’t experience the ideal weather, it is a great time to visit Ho Chi Minh City in order to avoid large crowds and find great deals on hotels. The wet season lasts from May to November, experiencing regular rain and much higher levels of humidity than the dry season. Temperatures during the wet season average about 30°C during the day.
If you are interested in experiencing another aspect of Vietnamese culture, you may enjoy visiting during the Lunar New Year celebrations that are held from late January to mid-February. There are lots of celebrations during this exciting holiday. If you do visit during the Lunar New Year, be aware that many shops close during the holiday, the city will be busy, and hotel rates will increase. If you hope to book return flights from Darwin to Ho Chi Minh City for this holiday, be sure to book your hotel as far in advance as possible.
Departing From Darwin
Darwin Airport is the main airport for flights departing and arriving into the Northern Territory. The airport is 8 kilometres (5 miles) from the city centre and is quick and easy to get to. There are two terminals at Darwin Airport–one international and one domestic.
Travelling from Darwin, you can book flights into the Ho Chi Minh City airport with Virgin Australia, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Malaysia Airlines, Jetstar, Vietnam Airlines, and Cathay Pacific. Each day, you’ll have about 30 cheap flights from Darwin to Ho Chi Minh City to choose from. Direct flights aren’t available between Darwin and Ho Chi Minh City, but you can book a flight with one stopover that will get you to Vietnam in less than 9 hours.
Getting to Darwin Airport
There are several quick and affordable options to reach Darwin Airport from the city. The most popular option is to catch the Airport Shuttle Bus. It runs 24 hours a day and picks up passengers from a variety of hotels and apartment buildings around the city centre. Tickets to ride the Airport Shuttle Bus cost $18 AUD and must be pre-booked.
You can also catch a public bus from the CBD to the airport, which will only set you back $3 AUD. Catch bus 25, which starts at Darwin Interchange and then makes several stops along Mitchell Street and Stuart Highway. Take the bus to the stop that is across the street from the airport Quality Inn. From there, you are a 15-minute walk from the airport along Henry Wrigley Drive.
If you would prefer to catch a taxi or an Uber, you can arrive to the airport in about 15 minutes from the CBD. Taxis in Darwin calculate fare using meters, and taxi fare to the airport comes to about $25 to $30 AUD.
Parking at Darwin Airport
There are multiple car parks at Darwin Airport that offer affordable rates to meet your budget. To secure the best rates on parking, be sure to pre-book your parking space.
Where to Park at Darwin Airport
• The Long Stay Saver car park is located across from the airport. From there, you can walk to the terminal in 6 minutes or catch a free shuttle bus. Weeklong parking rates start at $89 AUD.
• The Long Stay Plus car park is located directly next to the terminal building. You can walk from your car into the airport in just a couple minutes. Rates for a weeklong park start at $124 AUD.
Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is serviced by one airport, which is located 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) north of the city. It is the main airport for flights arriving into Vietnam. From the airport, there are a couple of options to reach your hotel in the city centre. Ho Chi Minh City is divided into different districts, and the majority of the city’s attractions and hotels are located within District 1.
How to Get from Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) to Your Ho Chi Minh City Hotel or Accommodation
In order to reach your hotel in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, you can catch a shuttle bus. Bus routes 109 and 49 both offer service into the centre. Each bus operates between 5:30am and 1am and departs from the airport every 20 to 30 minutes. The main difference between these two bus routes is that bus 109 has designated stops, while bus 49 will drive you directly to your hotel. Some of the stops on route 109 are Pham Hong Thai, Ben Thanh Bus Station, and 23/9 Park. Tickets to ride this bus cost 20,000 VND ($1.15 AUD), while the direct bus 49 costs 40,000 VND ($2.30 AUD).
If you are tired after the journey and want to get to your hotel quickly, you can catch a taxi from the airport to the city centre in about 20 minutes. Taxis use meters to calculate fare in Ho Chi Minh City. The price from Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) into the city costs about 125,000 to 160,000 VND ($7.50 to $9.60 AUD).
Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City
Learn About the Vietnam War from a Vietnamese Perspective
The Vietnam War was the biggest and most famous event to take place in Vietnam during the 20th century. While visiting Ho Chi Minh City and the surrounding region, you will notice lots of memorials to the war. You can learn all about the war from a Vietnamese perspective and get an idea of what life was like in Vietnam during that time. Within the city, you can visit the War Remnants Museum to learn about the war and see some military equipment, such as a helicopter, fighter jet, military tank, and weapons. Outside of the city, the Cu Chi Tunnels make for a great day trip from Ho Chi Minh City. They are a series of narrow tunnels that were used by Vietnamese soldiers during the war. They served as a hiding place as well as a way to transport food, supplies, and injured soldiers. While visiting, you can crawl through the tunnels and see some booby traps and weapons that the Vietnamese soldiers used during the war.
Ben Thanh Market
You’ll find markets all over Ho Chi Minh City, but the favourite among visitors is Ben Thanh Market in the city centre. It is made up of hawker-style restaurants where you can try some Vietnamese classics, such as banh mi, pho, and goi cuon. Throughout the market, you’ll also find stalls selling souvenirs, art, clothing, and more. The atmosphere in the Ben Thanh Market is fast-paced and exciting and will keep you coming back during your time in Ho Chi Minh City.
Saigon Skydeck
The Saigon Skydeck is located at the top of the city’s tallest building and offers an incredible view over Ho Chi Minh City. To check out the view, head to the top of the Bitexco Financial Building in the city centre. Inside the Saigon Skydeck, there are floor to ceiling glass windows that will provide you with an uninterrupted view over Ho Chi Minh City and the Song Sai Gon River. The observation deck costs 200,000 VND ($11.60 AUD) and is open from 9:30am to 9:30pm. While the view from the Saigon Skydeck is always breathtaking, plan your visit for sunset for a truly unforgettable sight.
Reunification Palace
From 1954 to 1975, Vietnam was divided into two separate nations: North Vietnam and South Vietnam. During this period in history, the Reunification Palace was home to the president of South Vietnam. The palace is famously known as the place where the Vietnam War officially came to an end and North and South Vietnam reunited into one nation. Over the years, the Reunification Palace has hardly changed and looks just as it did when negotiations were signed in 1975. While visiting the palace, you can explore five levels complete with meeting rooms, a war command room, propaganda materials, a casino, and war tunnels.
Mekong River Delta
While the city is bustling with excitement, there is so much beauty to experience in rural Vietnam as well. South of Ho Chi Minh City, you can visit the Mekong River Delta, which is a great day trip from the city. While visiting the Delta, you can take boat rides through the rivers surrounded by lush green trees and plants. Be sure to also visit the Can Tho floating market where local vendors sell fresh food and handmade crafts right from their boats. The Mekong River Delta is such a peaceful place to visit and will show you a completely different side to Vietnam than what you experience in the city.
