HCMC to Nha Trang by Expressway: Route, Rest Stops and Exits

By the Car Rental Vietnam editorial team · Compiled from official sources and Vietnamese press · Updated: October 2026

You can now drive almost the whole 400-plus km from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang on the eastern North–South expressway, from Long Thanh – Dau Giay all the way to Dien Khanh. Vietnamese press puts the driving time at about 5 hours; with meal and toilet breaks, a private car usually takes around 6 to 7 hours. This guide covers each expressway section, the rest stops that are actually open, which exit to take and how to split the trip with family.

The expressway sections

The Van Phong – Nha Trang expressway opened in full on 1 January 2026, so the chain from Ho Chi Minh City now continues north of Nha Trang as well. Note the new province names since 1 July 2025: Phan Thiet is now in the new Lam Dong province, while Phan Rang and Ninh Chu belong to Khanh Hoa, which absorbed the former Ninh Thuan. If you need a car once you arrive, see our Nha Trang car rental service.

Narrow sections and safety

Not every section is as wide as Phan Thiet – Dau Giay. Vinh Hao – Phan Thiet and Cam Lam – Vinh Hao are restricted four-lane roads without a continuous hard shoulder, and both have a 90 km/h maximum. Only one bore of the Nui Vung tunnel is in use, carrying traffic in both directions at a lower limit; under the approved plan, the second bore is due to be finished in 2026 and opened in 2027.

• Speed limits change between sections, so follow the signs.
• On narrow stretches, keep a long gap and don't overtake with poor visibility.
• Wear seat belts in every row, including the back.
• Drivers should rest roughly every 2 hours, which lines up with the stops below.

Rest stops that are open

Based on Dan Tri (February 2026) and VOV (August 2026), facilities vary a lot:

Status can change quickly; our Vietnam expressway rest stops guide has wider updates. Fill up at Km205+092 before the Cam Lam – Vinh Hao section; on the Road Administration's list for the 2 September 2026 holiday, it is the only stop with petrol between Dau Giay and Nha Trang. If you need fuel mid-route, your driver can leave at an interchange such as Ma Lam, Cho Lau or Vinh Hao and use a roadside station.

Tolls and ETC

Where sections of this route are tolled, collection is electronic (ETC, Vietnam's non-stop toll system). Phan Thiet – Dau Giay and Vinh Hao – Phan Thiet started charging at 10 pm on 2 March 2026, based on distance travelled. With a car and driver, the vehicle already carries an ETC tag and tolls are included in Car Rental Vietnam's quote, so you never stop at a booth or top up an account. More in our ETC guide for rental customers.

Which exit to take

• Central Nha Trang: drivers usually leave at the Suoi Dau interchange or continue to Dien Khanh (National Highway 27C), depending on whether your hotel is in the south or north of the city.
• Cam Ranh airport and Bai Dai beach: leave around Cam Lam – Cam Ranh and head towards the coast to join Nguyen Tat Thanh road; the exact interchange depends on your resort.
• Ninh Chu and Phan Rang: exit at the Phan Rang interchange on Cam Lam – Vinh Hao.

Cam Ranh airport is about 38 km from Nha Trang. If you fly one way, see our Cam Ranh airport private transfer guide.

Splitting the drive with family

• Overnight in Phan Thiet – Mui Ne: about 167 km and around 2 hours from the city by expressway. Beach in the afternoon, carry on next morning.
• Overnight in Ninh Chu: near Phan Rang, roughly 100 km short of Nha Trang, and handy if you want to add Vinh Hy Bay.

Car, train or plane?

Sample three-day plan

1. Day 1: leave around 6 am, break at Km205+092 or lunch in Phan Thiet, reach Nha Trang in the early to mid-afternoon; evening walk along Tran Phu beach.
2. Day 2: explore the city with our Nha Trang travel guide, or take a boat to the islands.
3. Day 3: a slow morning, then leave before noon to reach Ho Chi Minh City around early evening.

Photo: Ken Eckert, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.

What the price covers

Quotes include the driver's wage and tolls. Other factors: one way or return, how many days the car stays, the driver's overnight allowance, waiting time, night, weekend or holiday surcharges, and vehicle type. See our price list or send your plan for a written quote.

Car Rental Vietnam tip: staying in Nha Trang without needing a car daily? Compare two one-way quotes with keeping the car. If you plan side trips to Ninh Chu or Vinh Hy, keeping the car is usually easier.

Tips for international travellers

• Pickup: hotel lobby, or the airport with a name sign (ask whether a fee applies); confirm the meeting point in writing.
• Language: drivers may speak limited English, so book via WhatsApp or Zalo and send your itinerary in writing.
• Luggage and child seats: share your suitcase count; request a child seat and wait for confirmation.
• Payment: ask which methods are accepted before you travel.
• Tipping: optional.

Checklist and common mistakes

• Send guest numbers, suitcases, pickup address and your hotel or resort.
• Agree on a lunch stop and whether to split the trip.
• Don't wait for the last stop to refuel; some temporary stops have no petrol.
• Don't squeeze a same-day return with young children.
• Say whether you're staying at Bai Dai or in the city, so the driver picks the right exit.

When to go

Nha Trang is usually dry from about January to August, the best time for the beach. The rainy season usually runs September to December, with storms and long spells of heavy rain possible, so watch the forecast and allow extra time on the restricted sections. Tet, the 30 April – 1 May holiday and summer are peak periods; book early.

Frequently asked questions

Send your date, group size and suitcase count to +84 967 914 574, on WhatsApp or Zalo for a quote, or visit our Nha Trang car rental page.

Main sources: SGGP and Tuoi Tre (Van Phong – Nha Trang), Bao Xay Dung (Phan Thiet – Dau Giay, Vinh Hao – Phan Thiet), Dan Tri and VnExpress (tolling from 2 March 2026; rest stops and fuel), the Government news portal (Vinh Hao – Phan Thiet speed limit), SGGP (refuelling exits), Tuoi Tre and Dan Tri (Cam Lam – Vinh Hao), VnEconomy (Nui Vung tunnel), Bao Khanh Hoa (Nha Trang – Cam Lam), VOV (rest stops, August 2026).

If you are planning a nearby route, Overnight Sleeper Coach Hire to Nha Trang has more details to help you prepare.