Hello Everyone,

I'll be visiting Hanoi in May, and returning from a Handspan trip to Halong Bay on 15 May, at about 3pm.

My next stop will be a hotel called Cham Villas, which got rave on TripAdvisor. It's located near Phan Thiet.

I'm trying to figure out the best way to get to Phan Thiet if I'm arriving back in Hanoi at 3pm on 15 May. I think there are later flights arriving HCMC about 7pm. Does anyone know how I would get from the airport to Phan Thiet, and whether 7PM is too late to arrive to make the trip? Alternately, should I overnight in Hanoi then accomplish the transit the next day?

Also, any thoughts about a way to get there other than flying would be appreciated. I'm traveling with my girlfriend and would want a method that's reasonably comfortable.

Thanks for your thoughts.

It's a 3 - 4 hour drive to Phan Thiet, so I wouldn't want to be doing it at night, and arriving in a strange place around midnight.

There's a 'deluxe' train that leaves HCMC early in the morning and arrives in Phat Thiet around noon. This would probably mean over-nighting in HCMC, which wouldn't be too bad.

The other option is a bus, which you'll find anywhere in the backpacker area. Either way, I think you'd be wise to fly to HCMC and then set out for Phan Thiet in the morning.

Michael,

Very helpful, thank you.

I think a bus would be easiest, as I recall the Phan Thiet train station is quite a way out of Phan Thiet.
There are lots of buses though - just google and you get stuff like
http://www.sinhcafe.com.vn/Desktop.a..._BUS_services/
But if you want to get there more directly you can ask the hotel to pick you up in HCMC. I have done this before (we were staying at Mui Ne) and it wasn't very expensive. We then travelled back on an open bus to HCMC.

Janev --

thanks for that info. about how long is the ride from HCMC to the mui ne area?

thanks again.

We just chatted & remembered it as a 3-4hr drive. I have just googled "how long to drive HCMC to Mui ne & it seems its just over 200kms and some say 3hr, some 3.5hr - it may be roads have improved too since we went and like goijg into and out of any city I guess it depends a bit on how busy HCMC is and time you go.

See also
http://www.sailingclubvietnam.com/aboutmuine.php
this gives some prices that they charge (so maybe if you check with the hotel this will give you an idea if the price they charge seems reasonable) & price for open bus - as well as train station name.

Plan on 4 hours to Phan Thiet, via train or car/bus. Train is less hectic as you won't be swerving in/out of oncoming traffic on the way there (sit in the back and sleep if you take the bus). Consider it's a drive that should take not more than 2 hours, but it takes 4 hours. Traffic has not improved in HCMC, it's gotten worse. Getting from PT to Mui Ne should be no more than 30 minutes.