Trains from the north pull in at the train station , or Ga Saigon, 3km northwest of town, on Nguyen Thong. Cyclos will take you to the centre for less than $1 (15min), or you can get a taxi ($4). There's also a post office here (daily 6.30am-10pm).

Buses stop at different terminals. Those from the north arrive at Mien Dong bus station , 5km north of the city on Xo Viet Nghe Tinh; local buses shuttle between here and central Ben Thanh bus station , a five-minute walk from Pham Ngu Lao; or take a cyclo mai ($2-3). Most buses from the south use Mien Tay bus station , 10km west of the city centre in An Lac District; local buses shuttle into town from here, passing along Pham Ngu Lao en route. My Tho and most My Thuan buses use Cholon bus station , from where Saigon Star Co buses run into the city - walk out of the station and along Huynh Thoai Yen towards Binh Tay Market. Some buses from Tay Ninh pull in at Mien Dong but most arrive at An Suong bus station , west of the airport on Highway 22, and linked by bus with Ben Thanh bus station; most arrivals from Cu Chi town also end their journeys here, though some continue on to Ben Thanh.

Tan Son Nhat Airport is 7km northwest of the city centre and has banks (daily 8am-9pm) and a Saigontourist booth (daily 7.30-11.30am & 2-6pm) that stocks city maps and can help with accommodation; there are also left-luggage facilities in the arrivals hall. Metered Airport Taxi and Vinataxi cabs travel to the city for $5-7, though these are undercut by the vintage - and perfectly legitimate - Peugeots. The cheaper option is to try and gather enough passengers (normally six to eight) to fill an estate car or minibus taxi ($2 per person), or you could get a Honda om or cyclo ($2) from outside the airport gates.