Compare Cheap Flights from the Gold Coast to Ho Chi Minh City
As the largest city in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City has a lot to offer visitors. It has an exciting buzz to it, lots of history, beautiful architecture, and nature right on its doorstep. Ho Chi Minh City is transforming quickly and is turning into an interesting blend of modern and traditional. Ho Chi Minh City is organised chaos at its finest with more than 10 million motorbikes–more than any other city in the world. Throughout the city, you can visit museums and markets, and take advantage of the city’s ample shopping and dining options. Just outside of Ho Chi Minh City, you can explore the gorgeous countryside of Vietnam. The exchange rate between the Vietnamese dong and the Australian dollar causes Ho Chi Minh City to be an affordable destination, making it the perfect place to travel for your next holiday.
Get ready to experience the history, culture, and energy of Vietnam with Webjet’s cheap flights from the Gold Coast to Ho Chi Minh City.
The best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam is located in the tropics and has both a wet and a dry season. During the wet season between May and November, Ho Chi Minh City experiences high humidity and regular rain. The dry season lasts from December to April and is the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City. Weather is hot during this season, but humidity is moderate with little rain. No matter what time of year you visit Ho Chi Minh City, you can expect temperatures of about 27-30°C. If you are looking to avoid large crowds of tourists and score lower rates on hotels, plan a trip to Ho Chi Minh City for the beginning or end of the wet season.
The largest holiday celebration in Vietnam is the Lunar New Year, which takes place from late January to mid-February. There are lots of celebrations and events to experience during the Lunar New Year, but be aware that many shops are closed for the holiday. The Lunar New Year is a popular time to visit Ho Chi Minh City, so if you’ll be visiting during this time, be sure to book your hotel in advance to get the best rates.
Departing From the Gold Coast
There is one airport in the Gold Coast, which is located in the southern suburb of Bilinga. As well as serving the Gold Coast, this is also a major airport for travellers leaving from northern New South Wales. Gold Coast Airport is located about 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) south of Surfers Paradise.
Typically, there are between 25-30 cheap flights from the Gold Coast to Ho Chi Minh City each day. These flights can get you into Vietnam in less than 13 hours with a stopover along the way. Several airlines offer flights between the Gold Coast and Ho Chi Minh City Airport, including Jetstar, AirAsia, Qantas, Scoot, Virgin Australia, and Singapore Airlines.
Getting to Gold Coast Airport
The most popular method of reaching Gold Coast Airport is on the SkyBus. The SkyBus offers service from suburbs all over the Gold Coast, such as Surfers Paradise, Southport, Broadbeach, and Burleigh Heads. The bus makes stops at about 400 different hotels and apartment buildings in the Gold Coast between the hours of 5am and 9pm. You can schedule a SkyBus pick-up from your building or one of the nearby stops. The SkyBus must be booked in advance and costs $21 AUD for adults, while children ride for free.
For the most affordable route to Gold Coast Airport, you can catch public transport. Both the 777 and 760 buses offer service to the airport. The 777 originates at Broadbeach South tram station and departs every 15 minutes. The 760 bus departs every 30 minutes and picks up passengers at stops between Varsity Lakes train station and Tweed Heads.
Taking a taxi or an Uber will get you to the airport in no time at all. A taxi will arrive to Gold Coast Airport in about 30 minutes from Surfers Paradise, 15 minutes from Burleigh Heads, and less than 10 minutes from Coolangatta and Tweed Heads. Taxi fare costs about $70 to $95 AUD from Surfers Paradise, about $55 AUD from Burleigh Heads, and approximately $20 AUD from Tweed Heads.
Parking at Gold Coast Airport
No matter your budget, you’ll be able to find an affordable parking spot at Gold Coast Airport. All car parks are within easy walking distance to the terminal.
Where to Park at Gold Coast Airport
• The Budget car park offers covered and uncovered spots near the terminal. Weekly parking rates start at $87 AUD for an uncovered spot and $115 AUD for a covered spot.
• The Terminal Long Term car park offers easy access to the terminal. It only takes 2 minutes to walk from your car into the airport. Spots are covered and parking for a week starts at $140 AUD.
Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City has one airport, which receives the majority of international travellers into Vietnam. The airport is located 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) north of the city centre and offers several affordable transport options. Ho Chi Minh City is divided into different districts. District 1 makes up the city centre and is where the majority of the city’s hotels and attractions are located.
How to Get from Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) to Your Ho Chi Minh City Hotel or Accommodation
To reach your hotel from Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), you can catch a shuttle bus into District 1. Once you collect your luggage, head outside where you can find buses 109 and 49. Each of these buses makes the journey into District 1 and depart every 20 to 30 minutes between the hours of 5:30am and 1am. While the 109 bus has specific stops in District 1, the 49 bus can drop you directly at your hotel. Because of this direct service, tickets for the 49 bus cost double those of the 109 bus, but are still an affordable 40,000 VND (about $2.40 AUD). If you’d prefer to take the 109 bus, some of its popular stops include Pham Hong Thai, Ben Thanh Bus Station, and 23/9 Park.
Taxis are also an affordable option from Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) to the city. A taxi will get you to your hotel in District 1 in about 20 for a fare between 125,000 to 160,000 VND ($7.45 to $9.55 AUD).
Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon Skydeck
If you’re looking for the best view over Ho Chi Minh City, head up to the top of the Bitexco Financial Building in the city centre. This is the tallest building in the city where you will find the Saigon Skydeck. From the observation deck, you can look out over Ho Chi Minh City and the Song Sai Gon River through floor to ceiling glass windows. The Saigon Skydeck always offers a great view, but for the most magical experience, plan your visit for sunset. The Skydeck is open from 9:30am to 9:30pm and costs 200,000 VND ($11.60 AUD).
Learn About the Vietnam War from a Vietnamese Perspective
While you were at school, you probably learned about the Vietnam War, which was the most famous event to take place in the country during the 20th century. All throughout Ho Chi Minh City and the surrounding region, you can see relics from this dark time in Vietnam’s history and get an idea of what daily life was like during the war. Outside of the city, the Cu Chi Tunnels make for an interesting day trip. They are a network of tunnels that were used by Vietnamese soldiers during the war. They were a hiding spot and were also used to transport food, supplies, and injured soldiers. You can crawl through the narrow tunnels and see some of the booby traps that were used during the war. Back in the city, you can continue your education on the Vietnam War at the War Remnants Museum. There, you can learn about the war from a Vietnamese perspective and see military equipment, including a helicopter, a fighter jet, various weapons, and a military tank.
Ben Thanh Market
While visiting Ho Chi Minh City, be sure to take advantage of the city’s incredible markets and street food. The best place to experience them is at Ben Thanh Market. The market offers a variety of stalls selling souvenirs and local arts and crafts. Within the Ben Thanh Market, you’ll also find lots of food stalls and hawker-style restaurants where you can try some traditional Vietnamese cuisine. Popular dishes to try are pho, banh mi, and goi cuon. The market has a uniquely Vietnamese feel to it, making it an exciting spot to frequent during your time in Ho Chi Minh City.
Mekong River Delta
Located south of Ho Chi Minh City is the Mekong River Delta. With its quiet atmosphere and gorgeous nature, it is a great place to go on a day trip from the fast-paced city. While visiting the Mekong River Delta, you can ride a boat through the rivers which are surrounded by tropical plants and trees. While visiting the Delta, also be sure to visit the town of Can Tho for its floating markets. Take a boat ride through the market to purchase a variety of crafts and fresh food from the vendors who sell right from their own boats.
Experience Ho Chi Minh City’s French Influence
During the 1800s, Vietnam was called French Indochina and was a colony of France. During that time, France sent missionaries to the region who brought some French culture and influence with them. Vietnam was ruled over by France up until 1945 when then-president Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam’s independence. Although Vietnam has been independent for decades, you can still spot lots of French influences throughout Ho Chi Minh City. French-style buildings, such as the Saigon Central Post Office and Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, serve as an interesting contrast to the Vietnamese architecture that surrounds them.
Reunification Palace
Reunification Palace was home to the president of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War and is known as the place where the war officially ended in 1975. To end the war, the leaders of North Vietnam and South Vietnam met to sign negotiations, reunifying Vietnam into one country. Inside, the Reunification Palace has hardly been altered since that historic date. There are five levels of the palace to explore where you can see a war command room, propaganda materials, war tunnels, and a small casino.
