Practical tips

  • If you are flying to Ho Chi Minh City from abroad, you will most likely land at one of its biggest international airportsits main international airportTan Son Nhat International Airport SGN, located in Tan Binh District, approximately 6 km (3.7 miles) north of the city center of Ho Chi Minh City. It is the busiest airport in Vietnam and serves as the main gateway for air travelers to and from the southern part of Vietnam.

    SGN has two terminals: Terminal 1, which serves domestic flights, and Terminal 2, which serves international flights. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport, and there are currency exchange counters, ATMs, restaurants, cafes, shops, and duty-free stores. The airport is easily accessible by shuttle bus (it runs to various destinations in the city, including hotels and tourist attractions), and taxi (use the official airport taxi to avoid scams).

    The second airport - Long Thanh International Airport - is currently under construction, with completion planned in 2025. It is located in the Long Thanh district of Dong Nai province, approximately 40 km (25 miles) east of Ho Chi Minh City.

    These are also the best (and cheapest) airports to fly into Ho Chi Minh City. As they are used by many airlines serving the same routes, the competition for passengers is fierce, and airfare decreases as a result.
Best airports to fly into Ho Chi Minh City: Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)
Ho Chi Minh City has one airport – Tan Son Nhat International Airport is located in Tan Binh District, approximately 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) north of the city center of Ho Chi Minh City. The second airport - Long Thanh International Airport - is currently under construction, with completion planned in 2025.
  • Once in Ho Chi Minh City, take advantage of frequent intercity flights operated by domestic airlines such as Bamboo Airways, VietJet Air, Vietravel Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and Hai Au Aviation. Those in-country carriers typically offer lower fares, operate from smaller airports located closer to city centers (you save on ground transportation) and provide flexible schedules – with a wide range of departure times.
  • Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations near Ho Chi Minh City can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, IndiGo, Jetstar, Nok Air, and Scoot. If you have a layover in Ho Chi Minh City and plan to fly only a short distance to one of its neighboring countries, these budget airlines are an excellent way to save money.

Flights to Ho Chi Minh City
from United States and Canada

  • There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Ho Chi Minh City. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Ho Chi Minh City, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. There is only one route and one airline that connect the US with Ho Chi Minh City directly. Regular non-stop flights from San Francisco SFO to Ho Chi Minh City SGN are operated by Vietnam Airlines, with the flight time of 16 hours and 40 minutes.

    Whilst Ho Chi Minh City is a destination that has been growing in popularity amongst Canadian travelers, there are still no direct flights to HCMC from Canada – travelers have to transit through Asian hubs such as Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, or Tokyo.
  • Ho Chi Minh City is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Ho Chi Minh City with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta ATL, Dallas DFW, Denver DEN, Chicago ORD, Los Angeles LAX, Las Vegas DFW, Miami MIA, Seattle SEA, Houston IAH, New York JFK, and San Francisco SFO in the United States and Toronto YYZ, Vancouver YVR, Calgary LAS, and Montreal YUL in Canada.

    The best options for 1-stop flights include and Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong (the shortest transit times of around 2-5 hours), ANA and Japan Airlines via Tokyo HND, China Airlines and EVA Air via Taipei TPE, and Korean Air via Seoul ICN.
  • The best airlines to fly to Ho Chi Minh City from the US and Canada are: Air Canada, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, EVA Air, and Singapore Airlines. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.

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Flights to Ho Chi Minh City from Europe

  • There are no direct flights from Europe to Ho Chi Minh City — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. Only three European cities have a nonstop connection to Ho Chi Minh City: Frankfurt, Paris, and London (Heathrow and Gatwick airports). These direct flights are operated by Air France and two Vietnamese airlines: Vietnam Airlines, (full-service carrier) and Bamboo Airways (low-cost carrier). You can also fly from Istanbul IST with Turkish Airlines (10 hours and 15 minutes).

    Using connecting flights is almost always cheaper. Bangkok is the most popular transit city for Europeans, with only 2 hour's flight time from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh and numerous flights operating daily. For the cheapest tickets, choose one of the budget airlines such as AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, IndiGo, Jetstar, Nok Air, and Scoot
  • Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Ho Chi Minh City include China Airlines, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Air France, and Lufthansa.
  • Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Ho Chi Minh City from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Leverage frequent promotions from European budget carriers like RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to reach a major hub; from there, take a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination, potentially saving hundreds of euros.

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Things to know before flying to Ho Chi Minh City
Airlines flying to Ho Chi Minh CityAeroflot, Air Busan, Air China, Air Europa, Air France, AirAsia, ANA, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, EL AL Israel Airlines, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, Finnair, Firefly, FlexFlight, Fly Gangwon, Garuda Indonesia, Hong Kong Airlines, Iberia, IndiGo, ITA Airways, Japan Airlines, Jeju Air, Jetstar, KLM, Korean Air, Lanmei Airlines, Lao Airlines, LATAM, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Mandarin Airlines, MIAT, Myanmar Airways, Nok Air, Pacific Airlines, Perimeter Aviation, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Qingdao Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Brunei Airlines, Scoot, Singapore Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Starlux Airlines, SWISS, T'way Air, Thai Airways, Thai Smile, Turkish Airlines, VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines, VietTravel Airlines, Xiamen Airlines
Airlines of VietnamVietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, VietJet Air, Vietravel Airlines, Pacific Airlines, Hai Au Aviation, Vietnam Air Services Company
Airports in Ho Chi Minh CityTan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)
Long Thanh International Airport (under construction)
Regular price (roundtrip)✈ €550 – €700 (from Europe)
✈ $600 – $900 (from USA)

Low-cost flights from Ho Chi Minh City

Stay ahead of the game. Fly to popular destinations at a fraction of the regular fare.

Relax in Sleep Zone at HCMC airport

Long layover in Ho Chi Minh? There is a sleep zone in the international terminal with sleep chairs and paid sleep pods.

You can take a quick (or long) nap when waiting for your flight, in the privacy of Sleep Zone at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. It’s a “mini-hotel” located on the 2nd floor in Terminal 2. There are 24 sleep chairs that anyone can use for free, and 10 paid sleep pods. The sleep pods are 4 square meters and come equipped with a door that locks, beds, pillows, drinks, towels, lamps, and power outlets. Price: USD 7 per hour.

The cheapest time to fly to Ho Chi Minh City

If you’re looking for a cheaper and quieter trip, aim to book your flights for dates from March to May or from September to November – these months are considered Ho Chi Minh City’s off-peak tourism season. It’s a great time to visit the country without tourist crowds and with reasonable prices for airline tickets, tours, and accommodation.

July and August and December to February are considered the high seasons in HCMC, with airfares and hotel prices increasing up to 50%. If you really have to visit the country during this peak period it’s wise to book your travel well in advance to avoid inflated last-minute fares.

Fly with local airlines

Vietnam has a vast and dense network of air routes, with its 10 international and numerous domestic airports. Flying between major cities is the fastest and most convenient way of travel. Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi is the most popular route (70 min, ~$40 / ~A$60 / €37) and even one of the longest domestic flights – from Hanoi to Phu Quoc – only takes 2 hours (compared to 35 hours by train and ferry) and cost less than $100 (~A$150 / ~€95).

The three major airlines dominate the local market and tend to have the cheapest flights: Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, and Pacific Airlines.

Avoid currency exchange kiosks at HCMC airport

It is always a good idea to bring some cash with you to Ho Chi Minh City. The official currency of Vietnam is dong (VND; symbol: ₫), however, US dollars can also be directly used for some hotels, restaurants, tours, or other services.

Airports are infamous for making an exuberant amount of money from their currency exchanges due to the extremely high margins, and HCNC Airport are no exception. Airport kiosks usually charge higher fees which are sometimes hidden within the poorer exchange rates they offer – their business is based on charging extra for being a convenient, last-minute option.

Plan ahead and bring a significant proportion of your spending money in cash. You may also try to exchange some money for the Vietnamese dong at one of the plentiful ATMs located at the airport and all over the country. Virtually all of them accept foreign Visa and MasterCards.

Next tips

Long waiting times when calling the helpline?

Social media is usually a faster way to reach the airline when a problem arises. Use Twitter or Facebook Messenger to contact the airline customer service and get a response and solution within minutes (see detailed guides for AirAsia, Jetstar, Singapore Airlines, and others).

When it comes to Twitter, there’s one more trick to get in touch with the airline faster: mention the airline in a tweet about your issue (add “@airline_handle”, for example: “@VietnamAirlines” for the national carrier Vietnam Airlines). The customer care team will often notice it immediately, ask you for a direct message, and respond privately.

Book your flights in the local currency

Airfares that a flight search engine or airline website quotes you often vary depending on where you book from. Try to spoof your location and currency so that it looks like you’re booking the flight from the same country it departs from. For example, if you are in the US and booking a leg of your trip from Dubai to Ho Chi Minh City, set the country on the airline website to UAE and the currency to Emirati dirham (AED).

This simple trick doesn’t work every time (not all websites set prices the same way), but it can sometimes save you significant money.

Next tips

Domestic flights from Ho Chi Minh City

Most domestic routes in Vietnam are operated by local carriers. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Hanoi, Da Nang, Haiphong, Bien Hoa, Can Tho, Hue, and Nha Trang from HCMC Airport, you’ll likely fly with one of these domestic airlines: Bamboo Airways, VietJet Air, Vietravel Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and Hai Au Aviation.

This is often the best transportation method, providing speed, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. Local airlines often offer multiple daily flights to key destinations, providing flexibility in scheduling and competitive pricing. They also serve smaller regional airports, enabling access to a wider range of Vietnamese destinations.

Flights to Ho Chi Minh City
from Australia and New Zealand

  • Australia and New Zealand are well-connected with popular Asian destinations, including Ho Chi Minh City. In addition to domestic airlines – Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand – routes from Australasia to Asia are operated by large international carriers such as ANA, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways.

    Currently, there are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia.


    Four airlines operate direct flights to Ho Chi Minh City from Australia (from Melbourne and Sydney): Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, Qantas, and Jetstar.

    If you depart from New Zealand, your journey will have at least one stop (no direct flights) – most likely in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, or Hong Kong. Kuala Lumpur is an interesting stopover option, as AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines often offer discounted prices for flights from Kuala Lumpur to HCMC. Traveling from Australia or New Zealand to HCMC by air takes between 9 and 15 hours, depending on your route.
  • Airfare costs can vary widely depending on the route and the airline’s pricing strategy. To find the cheapest flight to Ho Chi Minh City, compare ticket prices from various international airports in Australia – Sydney SYD, Brisbane BNE, Melbourne MEL, Perth PER, Adelaide ADL, Cairns CNS, Gold Coast OOL, Canberra CBR, and in New Zealand – Auckland AKL, Wellington WLG, Christchurch CHC, Queenstown ZQN, and Dunedin DUD.
  • For optimal savings, consider flying from Australia or New Zealand to a key Asian hub, then connect to Ho Chi Minh City via a regional low-cost carrier. Among budget airlines that fly to Ho Chi Minh City are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, IndiGo, Jetstar, Nok Air, and Scoot.

    For the first leg, use the budget carriers that fly out of Australian airports, leveraging sales and promotions they run frequently: AirAsia (connects with Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore), Cebu Pacific (Manila), Jetstar (Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo), Scoot (Singapore), VietJet Air (Ho Chi Minh City), Bamboo Airways (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing), and Batik Air (Jakarta, Singapore).

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Flights to Ho Chi Minh City
from major hubs in Asia

  • Being part of a complex flight network in Asia, HoChi Minh City is well connected to other countries in the region. Quick, direct flights depart to its main Tan Son Nhat International Airport from Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore – these are the hubs with the best flight deals. You'll also find numerous direct flights from South Korea (Seoul, Busan), Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka), China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou), and Taiwan (Taipei, Kaohsiung).
  • Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Ho Chi Minh City look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
  • Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Ho Chi Minh City will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
  • Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Vietnam and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsiaCebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.

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Flights to Ho Chi Minh City dataset