Book through Localrent to pick up a car from local rental companies at Cam Ranh arrivals and drive to Nha Trang, the Bai Dai resort strip, or down the coast to Mui Ne.
After clearing customs in the international arrivals hall, you will see a row of service desks and greeters holding name signs near the exit doors. The rental company representative from your voucher will meet you there with your name on a tablet or paper card. CXR has one international terminal, so all international flights arrive into the same hall.
Walk over to the desk, show your voucher confirmation (on phone or printed), driving licence, IDP, and passport. The representative will hand you the rental contract and vehicle keys, then walk you out to the short-term car park directly opposite the terminal. The whole handover usually takes ten minutes unless there is a queue.
Have your documents ready before you meet the representative: full driving licence from your home country, International Driving Permit, passport, voucher from Localrent with the booking number, and the payment card for the deposit hold if your voucher requires one. Some local companies ask you to leave a cash deposit at pick-up or sign an authorization slip for the card hold; the exact terms are written in the voucher you receive after booking through Localrent.
Single international terminal with arrivals on the ground floor. Domestic terminal is a separate building 200 m away. Rental desks operate in the international arrivals zone only.
Exit car park onto QL1A northbound for Nha Trang (45 min, 35 km) or turn south on the same highway for Bai Dai beach resorts (10-15 min, 8 km). Road is two-lane asphalt with moderate traffic.
Vietnam drives on the right. Overtaking on the left. Highway speed limits are 80-90 km/h, town roads 50 km/h. Expect scooters merging from side streets without warning.
Dry season runs January through August with temperatures 24-28C. Rainy season September-December brings afternoon downpours. Da Nang to the north is cooler, 20-24C in winter months.
No toll roads around Cam Ranh or on the route to Nha Trang. Resort hotel parking is usually free; Nha Trang city centre charges 20,000-40,000 VND per hour in guarded lots.
Localrent processes your booking and sends it to the local company, who manages the rental contract, insurance, and vehicle handover.
Local companies listed on Localrent offer automatic and manual transmission models suited to coastal highway driving and short resort transfers.
| Class | Typical models | Suits | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | Kia Morning, Hyundai i10 | Solo or couple, short Nha Trang trips | 2 small bags |
| Compact | Toyota Vios, Honda City | Couple with luggage, weekly rental | 2 large bags |
| Sedan | Toyota Camry, Honda Accord | Family of four, long-distance to Mui Ne | 3 large bags |
| SUV 5-seat | Ford Everest, Toyota Fortuner | Families, rough roads to islands or highlands | 4 large bags |
| SUV 7-seat | Mitsubishi Xpander, Toyota Innova | Large groups, multi-week tours | 5 large bags |
Availability varies by season. January through March sees higher demand from European and Russian visitors; book a few weeks ahead for guaranteed choice.
The airport sits between the Bai Dai beach strip to the south and Nha Trang city to the north, with Highway QL1A linking both directions.
| Destination | Distance | Driving time | Road notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bai Dai Beach resorts | 8 km | 10-15 min | QL1A south, turn right at resort signs; two-lane smooth asphalt |
| Nha Trang city centre | 35 km | 45 min | QL1A north, heavy scooter traffic entering city; guarded parking in tourist district |
| Mui Ne (Phan Thiet) | 210 km | 3.5 h | QL1A south entire route; stop at Phan Rang for fuel |
| Van Gia port (Binh Ba island ferry) | 12 km | 20 min | QL1A north then turn east on local road; park at port, ferry to island |
| Da Nang | 490 km | 8 h | QL1A north through Quy Nhon; split over two days recommended |
Fuel stations are spaced every 20-30 km on QL1A. Petrol costs around 25,000 VND per litre; most stations accept cash only, so keep small denomination notes ready.
Some offers on Localrent are marked 'no deposit required'. This means you do not leave a cash deposit or card hold at the rental desk; the insurance coverage included in your booking absorbs the excess liability.
Other offers ask for a deposit hold on your credit card or a cash amount at pick-up. The deposit is refunded after you return the car undamaged. Check the deposit line in each offer card before you book, and read the full terms in the voucher.
Coverage details, excess amounts, and what is excluded (tyres, undercarriage, lost keys) are listed in the voucher you receive from Localrent. For a detailed explanation of how no-deposit rentals work, see our no-deposit guide.
Every driver must present four items at the rental desk:
If your voucher states a deposit is required, bring a credit card in the main driver's name with enough available balance for the hold. Some local companies accept debit cards; the voucher will specify card policy.
Additional drivers must present their own licence, IDP, and passport at the desk and be added to the contract. Additional-driver fees (if any) are shown in your voucher and paid at pick-up.
"Picked up a Vios in January 2026, rep was waiting with a sign right outside arrivals. Car was clean, full tank, and we drove straight to our Bai Dai resort in twelve minutes. Return drop-off took five minutes."
"Booked an Innova for a week through Localrent, no deposit required. Drove to Nha Trang, then down to Mui Ne. Roads were good, fuel cheap, and we had zero issues. Would book again."
"Easy handover at CXR. Staff spoke decent English, walked us to the car park, showed us the damage form. IDP check was quick. Drove to Van Gia port for the Binh Ba island ferry without any problems."
In the international arrivals hall, immediately after you exit customs. Look for service desks and greeters holding name signs near the main exit doors. The company name is written on your voucher from Localrent, and the representative will hold a sign with your name.
Yes. Vietnamese law requires all foreign drivers to carry an IDP alongside their national licence. Rental companies at Cam Ranh will refuse to hand over the car if you arrive without one. Obtain your IDP before you travel from the licensing authority in your home country.
Yes. The drive takes 45 minutes on Highway QL1A heading north. Pick-up at the airport is quick, usually ten minutes, so even if your flight lands in the afternoon you will reach Nha Trang comfortably before dark. Traffic is moderate outside rush hour.
Most local companies operate full-to-full: you receive the car with a full tank and return it full. Your voucher from Localrent states the exact fuel policy. Petrol stations are frequent on QL1A; fill up before returning to the airport to avoid refuelling charges.
The main adjustment is dealing with scooters. They merge from side streets, drive on the shoulder, and sometimes travel against traffic on one-way roads. Keep your speed moderate in towns, use your horn to signal overtakes, and stay patient. Highway driving is straightforward once you are past the first town.
Call the rental company phone number printed on your voucher. They will arrange roadside assistance or a replacement vehicle. Localrent provides the booking platform; the rental company handles all operational support during your contract period.
January through March is the busiest season at CXR, with dry weather and calm seas. Roads are in good condition, but you need to watch for specific local habits.
Scooters make up 70 per cent of traffic in Vietnam. They will overtake you on both sides, cut across lanes without looking, and park half on the roadway. Keep a buffer zone of at least two metres on both sides when you pass a scooter group. Use your horn before every overtake; it is expected and polite, not aggressive.
Speed bumps appear without warning in villages along QL1A. They are often unpainted and hard to see at dusk. Slow to 20 km/h whenever you pass through a built-up area, even if it looks like open road. Locals flash headlights to warn you of police checkpoints or hazards ahead; return the signal.
Parking in Nha Trang city centre is managed by attendants in blue vests who will wave you into a space and collect 20,000-40,000 VND when you return. Do not leave valuables visible in the car; smash-and-grab theft is rare but does happen in tourist districts. Guarded hotel parking is the safest overnight option.
For longer trips south to Mui Ne or north to Da Nang, plan fuel stops every 100 km. Petrol stations are frequent on QL1A, but some close at night in rural stretches. Roadside food stalls (com binh dan) offer cheap meals; always park where you can see the car from your table.
If you plan to visit Binh Ba island, note that the Van Gia port car park is unguarded. Leave nothing in the vehicle and consider taking valuables in a dry bag on the ferry. The island itself has no car access; it is a foot-and-bike-only zone.
Use the Localrent widget at the top of this page to compare live offers from local companies at CXR. Enter your dates, choose your car class, and complete the booking online. Your voucher with pick-up instructions will arrive by email within minutes.