There are 5 ways to get from Ho Chi Minh to Chiang Rai by plane, bus, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly
best- Fly from Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI)plane SGN - CEI
4h 40m฿2,727–8,449Bus, train
cheapest- Take the bus from Ho Chi Minh Virak Buntham Express to Phnom Penh Virak Buntham Expressbus
- Take the bus from Phnom Penh Virak Buntham Express to Bangkokbus
- Take the train from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Chiang Maitrain
- Take the bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Raibus
36h 23m฿2,053–4,879Bus
- Take the bus from Ho Chi Minh Virak Buntham Express to Phnom Penh Virak Buntham Expressbus
- Take the bus from Phnom Penh to Bangkok Mochit Bus Terminalbus
- Take the bus from Bangkok Mochit Bus Terminal to Chiang Raibus
31h 51m฿2,280–3,864Bus via Bangkok
- Take the bus from Ho Chi Minh Virak Buntham Express to Phnom Penh Virak Buntham Expressbus
- Take the bus from Phnom Penh Virak Buntham Express to Bangkokbus
- Take the bus from Bangkok Mochit Bus Terminal to Chiang Raibus
32h 35m฿2,123–4,864Bus via Siem Reap
- Take the bus from Ho Chi Minh Giant Ibis to Sakura Avenue Phnom Penhbus
- Take the bus from Sakura Avenue Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Giant Ibisbus
- Take the bus from Siem Reap to Bangkok Mochit Bus Terminalbus
- Take the bus from Bangkok Nakhonchai Air Terminal to Chiang Raibus
35h 7m฿2,657–6,998
Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Ho Chi Minh to Chiang Rai is to bus and train which costs ฿2000 - ฿4900 and takes 36h 23m.
The fastest way to get from Ho Chi Minh to Chiang Rai is to fly which takes 4h 40m and costs ฿2700 - ฿8500.
No, there is no direct bus from Ho Chi Minh to Chiang Rai. However, there are services departing from Ho Chi Minh Virak Buntham Express and arriving at Chiang Rai via Kuntha Bopha Chidlren's Hospital, Phnom Penh and Bangkok Mochit Bus Terminal. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 31h 51m.
The distance between Ho Chi Minh and Chiang Rai is 1258 km.
The best way to get from Ho Chi Minh to Chiang Rai without a car is to bus which takes 31h 51m and costs ฿2200 - ฿3900.
It takes approximately 4h 40m to get from Ho Chi Minh to Chiang Rai, including transfers.
Ho Chi Minh to Chiang Rai bus services, operated by Virak Buntham, depart from Ho Chi Minh Virak Buntham Express station.
The best way to get from Ho Chi Minh to Chiang Rai is to fly which takes 4h 40m and costs ฿2700 - ฿8500. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs ฿2200 - ฿3900 and takes 31h 51m.
Ho Chi Minh to Chiang Rai bus services, operated by Virak Buntham, arrive at Phnom Penh Virak Buntham Express station.
Book your Ho Chi Minh to Chiang Rai bus tickets online with 12go.asia.
What companies run services between Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam and Chiang Rai, Thailand?
Thai AirAsia, Thai Vietjet Air, and four other airlines fly from Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Ho Chi Minh Virak Buntham Express to Chiang Rai via Phnom Penh Virak Buntham Express, Kuntha Bopha Chidlren's Hospital, Soriya Cinema, Phnom Penh, and Bangkok Mochit Bus Terminal in around 31h 51m.
- Website
- thaiairways.com
Flights from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿2,500–12,000
- Website
- airasia.com
Flights from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Don Muang
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿3,300–9,000
- Website
- vietjetair.com
Flights from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿2,900–9,000
- Website
- flyscoot.com
Flights from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Singapore Changi
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- ฿3,900–12,000
- Phone
- 1690
- sarabanklang@railway.co.th
- Website
- dticket.railway.co.th
Train from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Chiang Mai
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 20m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ฿190–900
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/thai-railways
- Website
- https://dticket.railway.co.th/DTicketPublicWeb/home/Home
- 1st Class (Air-Conditioned Berth)
- ฿600–900
- 3rd Class (Seat)
- ฿210–260
- 2nd Class (Air-Conditioned Berth)
- ฿190–250
- 2nd Class (Air-conditioned Seat)
- ฿500–540
- Phone
- (+855) 81 911 911
- support@virakbuntham.com
- Website
- vireakbuntham.com
Bus from Ho Chi Minh Virak Buntham Express to Phnom Penh Virak Buntham Express
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ฿500–1,200
- Schedules at
- vireakbuntham.com
Bus from Ho Chi Minh Virak Buntham Express to Phnom Penh Virak Buntham Express
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ฿500–1,200
- Schedules at
- vireakbuntham.com
Bus from Phnom Penh Virak Buntham Express to Bangkok
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ฿950–2,100
- Schedules at
- vireakbuntham.com
- Book at
- 12go.asia
Bus from Ho Chi Minh Virak Buntham Express to Phnom Penh Virak Buntham Express
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ฿500–1,200
- Schedules at
- vireakbuntham.com
Bus from Phnom Penh Virak Buntham Express to Bangkok
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ฿950–2,100
- Schedules at
- vireakbuntham.com
- Book at
- 12go.asia
- Phone
- +66 2 936 3256
- Website
- sombattour.com
Bus from Bangkok Mochit Bus Terminal to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 11h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ฿650–1,600
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/sombat-tour
- Website
- https://www.sombattour.com/
- VIP
- ฿1,081
- Express
- ฿650–900
Bus from Bangkok Mochit Bus Terminal to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 11h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ฿650–1,600
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/sombat-tour
- Website
- https://www.sombattour.com/
- VIP
- ฿1,081
- Express
- ฿650–900
- Phone
- 1624
- customerservice@nakhonchaiair.com
- Website
- nakhonchaiair.com
Bus from Bangkok Mochit Bus Terminal to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 49m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ฿1,100–1,400
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/nakhonchai-air
- Website
- https://www.nakhonchaiair.com/view/
Bus from Bangkok Mochit Bus Terminal to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 49m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ฿1,100–1,400
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/nakhonchai-air
- Website
- https://www.nakhonchaiair.com/view/
Bus from Bangkok Nakhonchai Air Terminal to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 4m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ฿1,000–1,300
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/nakhonchai-air
- Website
- https://www.nakhonchaiair.com/view/
- Phone
- +855 969993333
- info@giantibis.com
- Website
- giantibis.com
Bus from Ho Chi Minh Giant Ibis to Sakura Avenue Phnom Penh
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ฿700–1,200
- Website
- https://www.giantibis.com/
Bus from Sakura Avenue Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Giant Ibis
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ฿550–1,400
- Website
- https://www.giantibis.com/
- Phone
- 1490
- borkorsor@transport.co.th
- Website
- tcl99web.transport.co.th
Bus from Siem Reap to Bangkok Mochit Bus Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ฿350–3,100
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/transport-co
- Website
- https://tcl99web.transport.co.th/Home
- Phone
- +66 5326 6480
- servicecenter@greenbusthailand.com
- Website
- greenbusthailand.com
Bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ฿370–650
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/greenbus
- Website
- https://www.greenbusthailand.com/website/
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