Flights from Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam by population alone. It is located in the deep south-east of the country. The city is well known for the important role it played in the Vietnam War. Foreigners, to this day, refer to Ho Chi Minh City by its old name, Saigon. This city is a mix of traditional and modern styles. It is a bustling hub of life with lively local markets, French colonial landmarks and various mystical places of worship.

Ho Chi Minh City has a rich history and culture worthy of exploring. You can indulge your senses with the tasty local dishes and explore the unique landmarks to your heart’s content, in this very budget-friendly vacation destination. There are a few direct flights Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh, usually the cheaper options are available during the weekdays.

Are you ready to unwind with the exotic tastes and atmosphere that Ho Chi Minh City can provide? Webjet can help you locate the cheap flights Melbourne (MEL) to Ho Chi Minh (SGN) easily. You will start your Vietnam adventure the right way with no unwanted hassles.

Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

Binh Tay Market

Once you have rested up from your flights Melbourne (MEL) to Ho Chi Minh (SGN), you will surely want to eat some delicious local food. The Binh Tay Market is one of the oldest markets in the city. It was constructed way back in the 1880’s by French colonists. It is the centre of the Chinese district in Ho Chi Minh City. This market is mainly used by the local population. If you want to get an authentic taste of the life, and more importantly local cuisine, then this is the right spot. There are plenty of stalls and shops selling everything from food to wholesale furniture. If you would prefer something that caters to tourists a little more, you can also head on over to District 1 and visit the big Ben Thanh Market. Both are good choices for food and shopping experiences.

War Remnants Museum

How much do you really know about the war between Vietnam and America? To check your own knowledge and gain a new perspective, you can visit the War Remnants Museum. The museum is the second most visited attraction in Ho Chi Minh City. The sobering exhibits and tours offer the perspective of the Vietnamese people about this 30-year conflict. Documentaries and testimonials from this era leave an impression on anyone who visits this museum. In front of the museum, you can find various machines of war, like perfectly preserved tanks, helicopters, and planes. But the real historical treasures are located inside.

Cu Chi Tunnels

The most popular destination for curious travellers is, of course, the Cu Chi Tunnels -as rated by thousands of users on TripAdvisor. These historic tunnels were used during the Vietnam war. There are many guided tours that will show the importance of these tunnels to big and small tourist groups. You can go underground and actually see what the Viet Cong had to deal with during the war. Food from this period is also something visitors can try and there is even a shooting range for people who would like to fire a few rounds of an AK-47.

Bitexco Tower and Sky Deck

The modern side of Ho Chi Minh City isn’t just the Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN). Standing tall at 262m, the Bitexco Tower is the tallest building in Vietnam. While the building does have a few retail floors, usually people come here for the Sky Deck. People are taken to the Sky deck by guides who do speak English, and offer information about the building and city. Once you are there you can see an unparalleled 360-degree view of the city. You can enjoy the sun setting from the Sky Deck or from one of the restaurants located just above it.

Melbourne Airport (MEL) Tullamarine, Australia

The main airport used for international flights in Melbourne is the Melbourne Tullamarine airport (MEL), located a short 25 kilometres from the city centre. It is a perfect choice for families and business people who are in a rush. Getting from Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh, is easy and stress-free when you have Webjet’s useful guide that includes local hotels, car hire, transportation options and airport terminals.

When should you plan a trip from Melbourne (MEL) to Ho Chi Minh (SGN)?

Due to its tropical climate, the seasons in Ho Chi Minh City can be divided into the wet season and dry season. The wet season or rainy season is categorized by a lot of humidity and rainfall. It lasts from the end of June to September. Generally, people don’t travel so often to Ho Chi Minh City, during the wet season, but that also means fewer tourists and cheaper prices.

The Dry season lasts from December to April. Tourists take full advantage of these dry months, especially January through March, while the heat isn’t a big problem. Temperatures consistently rise from December onwards. By April, temperatures can reach 39°C during the day. Even with moderate humidity this can be an issue for some people.

Flights to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) from Melbourne (MEL)

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam and is a great destination for people who want to experience a diverse Asian culture. The cuisines, art and architecture of Ho Chi Minh City is worth a second and third look, since you probably won’t get to see most of what the city has to offer on your first visit.

There are a few direct flights departing every day by Jetstar and Vietnam Airlines. If you are looking for cheap flights Melbourne (MEL) to Ho Chi Minh (SGN) and don’t plant to carry a lot of luggage, then you are probably going to want the Jetstar option. Other than those there are over 40 other flights Melbourne (MEL) to Ho Chi Minh (SGN), but these have layovers. The short Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh flights will get you there in just under 9 hours.

Departing from Melbourne Airport (MEL)

Getting to Melbourne Airport (MEL)

The most direct way to get to Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is by the Tullamarine Freeway, however, you may have to use a CityLink card and pay some tolls. The airport itself is located a short 25-minute drive from the city’s Central Business District, by taxi or car if there is no traffic. If you do go by taxi it will cost you around AUD 60.

If you prefer a more budget-friendly solution, then you can always use the SkyBus service. It is a bus service that runs 24/7 with many pick-up locations. This ride has a fixed price of AUD 19. It can take between 30 and 45 minutes to reach the drop off points at the airport’s terminals. SkyBus is a reliable service and will get you to your flights to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) from Melbourne (MEL) on time.

Parking Options at Melbourne Airport (MEL)

For short and long trips from Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh, the most economical option for parking your car is the open-air Value car parks. They aren’t next to the terminals but you can use the 24/7 shuttle bus service to reach them. A shuttle bus leaves for the terminals every 5-10 minutes.

If you are short on time or prefer a closed parking space there are a few options directly in front of the terminals, but the prices can be a few times higher in comparison to the Value car parks.

Which International Terminal will your flights to Ho Chi Minh city (SGN) from Melbourne (MEL) depart from?

If you are traveling by Jetstar or Vietnam airlines, then your flights Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh will take off from the T2 international terminal.

Arriving at Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN)

Your cheap flights Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh will land in the Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN). Foreigners tend to call this airport the Ho Chi Minh Airport because it located a short 6km from the city centre. Your international flight will arrive at Terminal 1 or Terminal 2. The city is split up into Districts. Most hotels, attractions and the city centre are located in District 1. There a few quick ways to get to the centre from Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN).

Getting from Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) to Your Hotel

The most economical choice you have to get to your hotel is the city buses. What you need to find are yellow buses that have the numbers 49 or 109 on them. These buses will take you to the city centre with no problems. There are a few small differences between them, but they will both get to the centre in around 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

The 49-shuttle bus doesn’t stop at regular city bus stops, instead, it drives around all of the major hotels in the city centre. It costs 40,00 VND which is less than AUD 2.5. This bus runs from 05:30 AM to 00:30 AM the following day.

The 109-shuttle bus is more of a traditional city bus making regular stops around the city centre. The cost is only 20,000 VND or AUD 1.2. This one operates from 05:30 AM to 01:00 AM the next day. Both shuttle bus lines have air conditioning. You can purchase tickets for them at Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) by column number 12.

Since the city is really close by, you can easily afford a taxi ride as well. The taxi ride will take about 20 minutes to reach the centre, and will cost less than AUD 10. The taxi station is located to your left once you leave Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) through the main gate.