Independent visitor guide to Tay Ninh province
Understand · Getting there
Getting to Tay Ninh from Ho Chi Minh City
There is no railway and no airport in the province. Everyone arrives by road, from Ho Chi Minh City about 100 kilometres away: by coach, by a chain of local buses through Cu Chi, or by car. Here are the options, with the time and fare ranges that sources publish.
The options side by side
| Option | Time | Fare or cost | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coach or limousine van | About 2 to 3 hours | VND 100,000 to 250,000 one way (2024); listings up to 625,000 | Most visitors |
| Local buses via Cu Chi | 3 to 4 hours with changes (estimate) | Tay Ninh leg VND 8,000 to 40,000 (2025) | Low budgets, time to spare |
| Car with driver | About 2 to 3 hours | Quote per day; varies widely | Groups, Lang Sen, the north |
| Self-drive motorbike | About 2 to 3 hours | Rental and fuel | Experienced riders with a valid permit |
The road distance is about 100 kilometres to the former provincial town and about 96 kilometres to the Holy See. Times are for normal traffic; leaving the city between 7:00 and 9:00 or returning on a Sunday afternoon adds time.
Sources: VnExpress — Tay Ninh travel handbook (Vietnamese, September 2024); MoMo — HCMC to Tay Ninh coach tickets (ticket platform); mia.vn — buses to Tay Ninh (retailer travel blog, March 2025); Vietnamtourism.com — Cao Dai, inside Vietnam's home-grown religion (commercial guide) · last checked .
Coaches and limousine vans
Long-distance coaches and smaller limousine vans run between Ho Chi Minh City and Tay Ninh throughout the day. A ticket platform lists departures from midnight to 23:30, with pick-up points across the city, including An Suong and Cho Lon bus stations, the railway station area and Tan Son Nhat airport. Drop-off points include Tay Ninh bus station, the main gate of the Holy See, Ba Den Mountain and the Moc Bai border gate.
VnExpress gave one-way fares of VND 100,000 to 250,000 in 2024; the ticket platform shows a wider band, from VND 125,000 up to 625,000 for premium vans. Many operators pick up at hotels or offices in the city centre for vans. Book a seat a day ahead at weekends and in the first lunar month, when the Ba Den festival fills services.
Fares, pick-up points and schedules belong to private bus companies and change often. Confirm on the operator's own channel. This guide does not name or recommend operators.
Sources: VnExpress — Tay Ninh travel handbook (Vietnamese, September 2024); MoMo — HCMC to Tay Ninh coach tickets (ticket platform) · last checked .
Local buses through Cu Chi
For the cheapest trip, ride city buses to Cu Chi bus station and change there for an inter-provincial bus. According to a March 2025 travel blog, routes 13 from Ben Thanh, 94 from Cho Lon and 74 from An Suong run to Cu Chi, each taking 45 minutes to an hour and a quarter. From Cu Chi, route 70-1 runs 66 kilometres to Tay Ninh bus station in about 1 hour 50 minutes, every 20 to 25 minutes from 3:00 to 19:00, for VND 8,000 to 25,000. Route 70-2 runs 73 kilometres via the Holy See to Ba Den Mountain in about 1 hour 45 minutes, for VND 10,000 to 40,000.
This is the slowest way, with two vehicles and a change, and the last buses back leave early in the evening. It suits travellers with a whole day and a light bag. Cu Chi is also where the tunnels are, but they are in Ho Chi Minh City and a separate visit.
Route numbers, times and fares come from a 2025 retailer travel blog, not from the transport authority. Confirm with the bus station or the city bus information service before relying on them.
Sources: mia.vn — buses to Tay Ninh (retailer travel blog, March 2025) · last checked .
By car or with a driver
A car with driver is the most flexible option and the only practical one for Lang Sen, Lo Go–Xa Mat or Dau Tieng. The main route to the former Tay Ninh follows National Highway 22 north-west through Cu Chi and Trang Bang, then National Highway 22B towards the Holy See and the mountain. For Lang Sen, the route runs south-west towards Tan An and then west into the Plain of Reeds.
Prices for a car and driver vary with vehicle size, hours and season; get a written quote that states the hours included, waiting time, tolls and parking. On festival days at Ba Den, traffic near the mountain is diverted and parking is controlled, which can add an hour.
Sources: VnExpress — Tay Ninh travel handbook (Vietnamese, September 2024); Sun Paradise Land news — spring festival 2026 traffic plan; VTV — Unique Lang Sen wetland reserve · last checked .
By motorbike
Riding out of Ho Chi Minh City on Highway 22 is busy and heavy with trucks. UK travel advice says you need an international driving permit and your national licence to ride legally, third-party insurance is required, and helmets are compulsory. It warns that road law compliance is poor and that an accident can lead to criminal charges and a ban on leaving the country during the investigation. Many insurers will not cover an unlicensed rider.
If you want a motorbike for the province itself, renting one in Tay Ninh is simpler: VnExpress gave VND 100,000 to 180,000 a day in 2024. Do not leave your passport as a deposit; the same advice warns against it.
Sources: UK Foreign Office — Vietnam safety and security; VnExpress — Tay Ninh travel handbook (Vietnamese, September 2024) · last checked .
The expressway that is coming
A 50-kilometre, four-lane expressway from Ho Chi Minh City to the Moc Bai border gate has been approved. In April 2026 the city council raised its investment to nearly VND 23 trillion. Construction was expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026, with completion in late 2027, though the same report notes the timeline was extended to 2028. Until it opens, journey times on Highway 22 are what they have been.
Sources: VnEconomy — HCMC-Moc Bai expressway investment approved (April 2026) · last checked .
Getting around once you arrive
- Ride-hailing apps work in the town areas, and UK advice suggests checking that the car and driver match the app.
- Metered taxis from larger firms are generally reliable; ask your hotel to call one.
- The Holy See and Ba Den are about a quarter of an hour apart by road; bus 70-2 links them.
- For the lake, the national park or Lang Sen, arrange a car before you travel.
Sources: UK Foreign Office — Vietnam safety and security; mia.vn — buses to Tay Ninh (retailer travel blog, March 2025) · last checked .
Common mistakes
- Taking a "free" airport or station transfer you did not arrange. UK advice warns about these.
- Booking a coach that terminates at Tay Ninh bus station when you want the Holy See or Ba Den. Check the drop-off.
- Planning the last local bus back after 18:00. Services thin out early.
- Assuming Lang Sen is near Ba Den. They are at opposite ends of the province.
Sources: UK Foreign Office — Vietnam safety and security; mia.vn — buses to Tay Ninh (retailer travel blog, March 2025) · last checked .
Common questions
Questions readers ask
How long does it take to get to Tay Ninh from Ho Chi Minh City?
About two to three hours by coach or car for roughly 100 kilometres. Local buses with a change at Cu Chi take longer.
Is there a train to Tay Ninh?
No. There is no railway to the province. All public transport is by road.
Where do coaches drop off?
Listings show Tay Ninh bus station, the Holy See main gate, Ba Den Mountain and Moc Bai. Check the drop-off on your ticket.
Can I ride a motorbike from Ho Chi Minh City?
Only legally with an international driving permit, your national licence and insurance, according to UK travel advice. The highway is busy with trucks.
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