By train the journey from Thap Cham to Ho Chi Minh City is scheduled to take from 6 to 7 hours depending upon which train you take. Passengers have the option of either travelling during the daytime or overnight.
Train Times from Thap Cham to Ho Chi Minh City
There are currently 6 direct trains a day from Thap Cham to Ho Chi Minh City.
Train | Thap Cham | Ho Chi Minh City |
SE1 | 00:23 | 06:30 |
SE7 | 11:26 | 17:58 |
SE21 | 20:37 | 04:00 |
SE5 | 21:14 | 04:25 |
SNT1 | 21:50 | 05:00 |
SE3 | 23:16 | 05:40 |
- The fastest train is Train #SE1 departing from Thap Cham at 00:23 and scheduled to arrive 6 hours 07 minutes later at 06:30.
- The slowest train is Train #SE21 which departs at 20:37 is scheduled to arrive the next day in Ho Chi Minh City 7 hours 23 minutes later at 04:00.
Buy Tickets from Thap Cham to Ho Chi Minh City
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Location of Thap Cham Train Station
Location of Ho Chi Minh Train Station
Saigon Railway Station is the main train station in Ho Chi Minh City.
Travel in Ho Chi Minh City
Other than walking and renting a bicycle or motorbike (potentially hazardous options) there are three main ways you can travel around in Ho Chi Minh City:
- Bus: This is the cheapest way to around the city. Bus journeys in the city centre cost 3,000 to 10,000 VND ($0.13 to $0.44 USD). Bus #49 runs from the International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City to a station near the popular Pham Ngu Lao Road, takes 30 minutes and costs 40,000 VND ($1.75 USD). City buses in Ho Chi Minh City are white with a green strip at the bottom. Bus routes are shown on the front of each bus stating the start and finish point of the journey.
- Motorbike Taxi: The next cheapest way to travel around Ho Chi Minh City is to take a motorbike taxi, referred to locally as a ‘moto’ or ‘xe om’. Trips around the city centre should cost 20,000 to 50,000 VND ($0.87 to $2.18) depending on how far you go, how good your negotiating skills are and how honest the driver is. Expect to be ripped off until you work out what the prices should be and how to bargain with drivers.
- Taxi: The most expensive way to travel around Ho Chi Minh City is by private taxi. Licensed taxi use a meter. Be aware that Ho Chi Minh City is notorious for its unlicensed taxis with either no meter or (even worse) a rigged meter. Taxis from the Pham Ngu Lao Road often charge a flat fee of 200,000 VND ($ 8.70 USD) for the journey to the airport.

Another interesting option for local travel is to take a hydrofoil ferry to Vung Tau. Vung Tau is coastal area south of Ho Chi Minh City which is a popular destination for Vietnamese people to visit and spend a day on the beach. By hydrofoil the journey takes 90 minutes. The ferry service travels along the Song Sai Gon river before crossing a short stretch of open sea to reach the peninsula upon which Vung Tau is located. Its a pleasant scenic trip although bear in mind that for the last/first section of the journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau this small river boat becomes very unstable in the open ocean if the weather is windy or the swell is large. The journey is not dangerous but it can be unpleasant, particularly if you are prone to getting seasick.