Vietnam flights - flight hacks
Flights to Ho Hanoi in Vietnam. Book plane tickets online to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) in Hanoi.

Vietnam is open to international tourism

Vietnam’s borders reopened for tourists on March 15, 2022. All foreign visitors can enter the country regardless of their vaccination status – with no testing, quarantine, or any other travel restrictions. However, medical insurance that covers Covid treatment with a minimum liability of $10,000 is required (cost around $30 / A$44 / €28).

All visitors must obtain a visa before arrival. There is a visa exemption for nationals from 13 countries (Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, UK). It allows travel for up to 15 days. Online e-visas that permit single entry and 30-day stays are available for citizens of 80 countries (including the US and most European nations not included in the visa exemptions).

If you are planning to limit your visit to Phu Quoc Islands only, you may do this without a visa for a period of a maximum of 30 days. You must fly from abroad to the Phu Quoc International Airport, and you can’t travel to other parts of Vietnam. A return air ticket out of Vietnam is required.

Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City

  • 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 the 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 – with decreased airfare as a result.
  • 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, Scoot, and SpiceJet. 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. However, the “no-frills” carrier may not provide free checked baggage allowance, complimentary food, in-flight entertainment systems, and fast customer support. You may not even get to choose your seats, unless you pay extra.

Airports of Ho Chi Minh City

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.
Things to know before flying to Ho Chi Minh City
Airlines flying to Ho Chi Minh CityAir Busan, Air Canada, Air China, Air Europa, Air France, Air Malta, Air New Zealand, Air Serbia, AirAsia, ANA, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Bamboo Airways, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Delta Air Lines, EL AL Israel Airlines, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, Firefly, FlexFlight, Fly Gangwon, Garuda Indonesia, Hawaiian 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, Oman Air, Pacific Airlines, Perimeter Aviation, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Qingdao Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Brunei Airlines, Scoot, Singapore Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, SpiceJet, SriLankan Airlines, Starlux Airlines, SWISS, T'way Air, Thai Airways, Thai Smile, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines, VietTravel Airlines, Virgin Australia, Vistara, 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)
Flight hacks 40% — 80% off regular fare
Airline promotionsSee ticket sales & promos available for flights departing from March to May

Book cheap flights in the region

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.

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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 Air Canada 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, Delta Air Lines, 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.
  • For long-haul flights, the type of aircraft you choose can make a huge difference to your overall comfort on board – especially if you’re flying economy. The best aircraft have comfier seats with more legroom, WiFi, superior entertainment systems, and a better passenger experience in every cabin in general. When booking a flight to Ho Chi Minh City, look for the airlines that use wide-body planes designed for long-haul flights, such as Airbus A350 (best choice), A380, A320neo, or Boeing 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner.

Ho Chi Minh City from US & Canada
plane ticket prices in 2023/24

Real-time economy class airfares to Ho Chi Minh City from the US and Canada. Shown are the top three deals for flights departing in the coming months (March to November).

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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.

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Flights to Ho Chi Minh City with stopover

Direct flights to Ho Chi Minh City are, of course, much less hassle than flights that require one or more connections. However, they tend to be more expensive. In a trade-off between convenience and cost, the best option is often to opt for a flight with one layover.

So if you’re looking at a long-haul trip with at least one connection, rather than simply transiting an airport, why not take this opportunity to plan a longer stopover? A stopover is a prolonged layover — more than 24 hours — and it won’t only break up your long journey but will also become a legitimate part of your vacation. If you’re prone to severe jet lag, a one or two-day stopover would help minimize its adverse effects.

When booking flights, many airlines allow you to include a free stopover en route to your final destination in Ho Chi Minh City. Those flights are usually cheaper than non-stop (direct) flights, and you can often choose your stopover at no additional cost — just by looking for multi-city flights with longer layovers.

Big cities in Asia and Pacific are known for their rich culture and history — making them a great idea for a stopover during a longer journey. Here are a few suggestions for a stopover while en route to Ho Chi Minh City.

Some airlines openly advertise stopovers and offer significant discounts and travel perks for passengers to break up their trips: free luxury hotel stays, complimentary domestic flights, or exclusive rates for activities. Start checking for stopover deals to Ho Chi Minh City with government-owned airlines (as they are looking to attract tourists to give the country economic benefits) — such as Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines. Almost every airline’s website has multi-city search functionality, often hidden inside the one-way/return/multi-city switch.

A well-chosen stopover will not only turn one vacation into many but also save you several hundred dollars in airfare. The available stopovers to Ho Chi Minh City will depend on your initial destination (Europe, North America, Asia, etc) and the airline you are flying with. For most airlines, the best free stopover offer will be at their main hub.

Flights to Ho Chi Minh City from UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and other countries in 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, Scoot, and SpiceJet
  • 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. Use European low-cost airlines such as RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to fly to the hub, then save hundreds of euros by taking a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination.

    We recommend checking prices for flights to Ho Chi Minh City from these European airport hubs: London LHR and Manchester MAN in the United Kingdom, Frankfurt FRA and Munich MUC in Germany, Paris CDG and Nice NCE in France, Amsterdam AMS in the Netherlands, Madrid MAD and Barcelona BCN in Spain, Rome FCO and Milano MXP in Italy, Brussels BRU in Belgium, Copenhagen OSL in Denmark, Oslo OSL in Norway, Stockholm ARN in Sweden, Zurich ZRH in Switzerland, Lisbon LIS in Portugal, Vienna VIE in Austria, Warsaw WAW in Poland, Prague PRG in Czech Republic, and Dublin DUB in Ireland.

European airports with the cheapest flights to Ho Chi Minh City

Find the lowest prices for flights to HCMC Airport in Ho Chi Minh City from the major airports in Europe — London, Dublin, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Lyon, Barcelona, Athens, Istanbul, Stockholm, Geneva, Helsinki, Zurich, and others.

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How to book SuperDeals?

At the Air Traveler Club, our go-to solution for finding cheap airfares to Ho Chi Minh City is Google Flights. Every time we send SuperDeals to our 110,000 members (see some examples), we include links to Google Flights so that each deal can be booked immediately.

Google Flights then showcases various options for booking the deal: you can almost always book directly with the airline (by cutting out the middleman) or – alternatively – with an OTA that offers the same flight at a similar price. Once you have chosen your booking option, you will be redirected to the external website where you can finalize your ticket purchase.

One of Google Flights’ standout features is a color-coded bar that appears underneath the booking options. It provides a visual representation of the price in comparison to the typical fare (for the same route, class, and airline) – indicating whether it is lower, average, or higher.

Booking deals with Google Flights: price history
A visual representation of the flight price. In this example, the SuperDeal saves more than 50% compared to the regular fare.

If the marker falls within the green zone (“price is low”) don’t hesitate to secure this deal as it is significantly – 40% to 80% – cheaper than average and unlikely to drop further.

For more details on how to book deals on Google Flights, check out this video:

YouTube video

If you are not Air Traveler Club subscriber yet, you’re missing out on SuperDeals (we often send deals to Ho Chi Minh City). Signup now to start saving 40–80% on flights. It’s free!

Last-minute flights to Ho Chi Minh City. The real cost of convenience.

Last-minute flights are often touted as a great way to save money, but the reality is far from it. Booking last-minute flights to Ho Chi Minh City almost always never works out. The convenience of being able to book a flight on the fly is a dangerous game of chance, and you will most likely end up paying significantly higher than booking in advance.

Last-minute flight cost spike
Late booking penalty: The flight prices rise as departure draws near. Last-minute flights are almost always more expensive than booking in advance.

The common perception may be that airlines decrease ticket prices to fill empty seats as the departure date approaches. However, the truth is that airfares depend on demand. Based on years of research and current customer data, the airlines know what people are willing to pay for specific flights and dates. They are also well aware that people are willing to pay a premium for flights they need to take immediately. To make the most money, the airline will sell its cheapest fares first and then increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of business travelers and others who are willing to pay the premium price for late booking.

Occasionally, airlines can put some seats on sale to fill the remaining seats, but these are for unusual times and unpopular places. Popular destinations and dates around peak travel times tend to sell out quickly.

Planning ahead is key to securing a good deal on your flight. Last-minute flight deals are hard to come by, so as soon as you have a tentative travel timeline, book your flight. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to save money. If you are looking for a good deal, the best time to book your flight to Ho Chi Minh City is around 60-90 days before the departure date.

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Domestic air travel from Ho Chi Minh City

Most domestic routes in Vietnam are operated by local airlines. 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 be flying with one of these domestic air transport companies: Bamboo Airways, VietJet Air, Vietravel Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and Hai Au Aviation. In most cases, it is the best (the fastest, the most convenient, and the cheapest) way to travel around the country.

If you plan to fly domestically from Ho Chi Minh City check the latest prices here, then book your flight ticket online.

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 Australia/New Zealand to Asia are operated by large regional carriers such as ANA, Emirates, Etihad, Fiji Airways, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines.

    Direct flights and flights with one layover to Ho Chi Minh City are available from all major 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, Dunedin DUD.
  • In terms of cost-savings, we recommend flying from Australia and New Zealand to a major Asian hub and then booking a flight to your final destination in Ho Chi Minh City with a regional budget airline. Among the low-cost airlines that fly into Ho Chi Minh City are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, IndiGo, Jetstar, Nok Air, Scoot, and SpiceJet.

    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.

Prices of flights to Ho Chi Minh City from Australia and New Zealand

Real-time economy class fares to Ho Chi Minh City from major airports in Australasia — from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide in Australia, and from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch in New Zealand.

Prices in Australian Dollar.

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Get cheaper business class by bidding on airline upgrades

A growing number of airlines are auctioning upgrades to their business class seats. Once you book your economy ticket to Ho Chi Minh City, you can offer to pay a bit more in an attempt to get a premium seat. 2-3 days before your flight, visit the airline website and place a “blind” bid for an upgrade by providing your Booking Reference number.

There’s usually a minimum bid amount. If you win the auction, you’ll be informed by email, and your seat will be upgraded.

Among the airlines that allow bidding for seat upgrades are: Air Canada (AC Bid), Air New Zealand (OneUp), Cathay Pacific (Upgrade Bid), Etihad Airways (Bid To Upgrade), Fiji Airways (Bula Bid), Garuda Indonesia (BidUpgrade), Hawaiian Airlines (Bid Up), LATAM (Cabin Upgrade),  Lufthansa (Bid Upgrade), Royal Jordanian (Go Crown), Qantas (Bid Now), SAS (SAS Upgrade), Singapore Airlines (mySQupgrade), SriLankan Airlines, and Virgin Australia (UpgradeMe).

Why should you book an early morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City

It is a seemingly simple but often overlooked strategy: fly at dawn for smoother travel and cheaper tickets. Booking an early morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City can pay off in numerous ways:

  1. Cheaper airfares. Early morning flights – between 4 am and 8 am – are usually cheaper than other day schedules. Airlines often offer discounts on their first flight of the morning (up to 15-20%) simply because of lower demand – most people are not willing to go to the airport so early.
  2. Lower chance of delay. The thin traffic in the morning leads to fewer delays – all the flights from the night before have already landed, and there is no other air traffic to contend with. Air traffic and delays get worse throughout the day – starting around 8-10 am and reaching a peak at 4-6 pm. If you are flying to Ho Chi Minh City with a connecting flight, arriving on time at your layover airport may be critical to catching your next flight!
  3. Fewer crowds at the airport. By heading to the airport before rush hour, you can at least halve the time spent in city traffic. With fewer travelers at the airport, there will be no long lines at the check-in and security, and waiting areas will be less crowded.

    Early morning flights
    Taking an early morning flight is the best way to avoid crowds at the airport
  4. Less turbulence. Early morning flights offer a smoother ride, with less turbulence. Thunderstorms and unstable air, which can cause turbulence (including its worst kind – convective turbulence) are more likely to occur in the afternoon.
  5. Fresher crew. You’ll be flying with a crew that has had a good night’s sleep and is mentally ready to provide better service and ensure a safer flight experience.
  6. Cleaner plane. On its first flight of the day, your aircraft will be as sanitary as possible. Airlines generally take extra care to thoroughly clean planes between flights, but boarding that morning flight gives you the greatest chance of a spotless plane.

Looking for the best deals for Ho Chi Minh City? Check different departure airports.

Airlines often have varying prices for flights to Ho Chi Minh City from different airports – even if they are in close proximity to one another. So don’t limit yourself to just your nearest airport. The neighboring cities may have lower-priced flights that include a layover at Ho Chi Minh City, or may even have direct flights that are more budget-friendly.

For example, if you’re looking to fly from Paris to Ho Chi Minh City, it may be worth checking prices for flights departing from London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Rome. Yes, you may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to these hubs, but domestic low-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, or WizzAir will happily take you there for less than €100.

The same goes for long-haul flights to Ho Chi Minh City from anywhere in the world. By broadening your search to include neighboring airports, you may discover lower-priced options that can save you hundreds of euros!

Book flights from many departure airports
By entering more than one departure city in the flight search engine (at the top of this page), you can quickly find the airport with the cheapest flights to your destination
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Flights to Ho Chi Minh City from Bali, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and other 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.

Flights from major Asian airports to Ho Chi Minh City

Asia is home to some of the busiest and most connected airports in the world. All major Asian airports have convenient and frequent flights to Ho Chi Minh City — including Changi (Singapore), Dubai (UAE), Hong Kong (China), Incheon (Seoul, South Korea), Indira Gandhi (New Delhi, India), KLIA (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Narita (Tokyo, Japan), Denpasar (Bali, Indonesia), Soekarno–Hatta (Jakarta, Indonesia), Ninoy Aquino (Manila, Philippines), Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok, Thailand), Taoyuan (Taipei, Taiwan), and others.

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Fly now, pay later

Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) plans for flights have become a popular trend in the travel industry, allowing travelers to book flights and pay in installments. Among the airlines that offer this option are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines. They partner with external financial companies to offer their loan services on the checkout page.

The BNPL plans come with varying terms and fees. Some may be interest-free but have fees for late-payments and require forced autoplay on your bank account, while others may have high annual percentage rates (up to 30-40% APR).

When considering BNPL financing for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, it’s crucial to carefully evaluate the pros and cons, and thoroughly review the terms and conditions.

Proof of onward travel – a simple hack

Travelers who go on long trips often don’t have a set itinerary and fly on one-way tickets. The problem? For many APAC countries, proof of onward travel is a legal requirement. If you arrive at the airport without an onward ticket (from Vietnam to another country), you’ll either be forced to buy one online or forbidden from boarding the plane altogether.

The cheapest solution? Renting an onward ticket! Use the websites such as OneWayFly or OnwardTicket to get a flight reservation for a limited amount of time (usually 2 to 14 days). They work by actually booking you on a real flight out of Vietnam and giving you a confirmable flight reservation with a PNR (Passenger Name Record) under your name. After the time limit, your spot on the flight is automatically canceled. Such “temporary tickets” tend to cost anywhere from $10 to $20.

Confirmed flight ticket reservation
Proof of onward travel: confirmed flight ticket reservation (source: OnwardTicket)

Lost luggage prevention: Essential tips

Every year, airlines handle millions of bags, and a small percentage of these bags never make it to their final destinations. Globally, airlines mishandle around 0.7% of bags checked in, which translates to seven bags out of every 1,000. Losing the luggage on your trip to Ho Chi Minh City can be a frustrating and stressful experience, but there are steps you can take to minimize the risk of this happening to you.

  1. Use GPS-Trackers. A luggage tracking device such as Apple AirTag or Samsung Galaxy SmartTag comes with a smartphone app and is an excellent way to locate your bag if it goes missing.

    Flights: lost baggage prevention
    Apple AirTag and Samsung SmartTag are small, trackable devices that can be attached to the check-in luggage
  2. Label your luggage with your name, address, phone number and the name of your destination airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Put these details inside the case as well.
  3. Remove old tags. Tags are printed with a barcode for identification and tracking, so the old tags from previous flights can confuse baggage handlers and conveyor belt scanners.
  4. Avoid tight layovers. Give yourself and your luggage time to get aboard the next plane by picking a flight to Ho Chi Minh City with a longer layover.
  5. Don’t overstuff your suitcase. Heavy bags are more likely to get damaged and stuck on the belts, causing the bag to be misdirected.
  6. Make your bag stand out. After arrival at Ho Chi Minh City airport, most people just want to grab their luggage and get out of the airport as soon as possible. In their haste, a case of mistaken identity can sometimes occur.
  7. Take a picture of your bag and the contents, and keep it on your phone. This can be helpful if you need to make a claim for lost or damaged items.
  8. Use a TSA-approved luggage lock. This will secure your bags and will help deter theft.
  9. Keep your valuables in your hand luggage. The airline liability is notoriously low (around €1,000 in most cases) and it usually doesn’t reflect the actual value of the baggage content.
  10. Consider purchasing travel insurance. It can act as a safety net as it can often cover the full value of your luggage. Travel insurance may also reimburse you for any emergency purchases you need to make while you wait.

Hidden-city ticketing hack

Hidden-city ticketing is a less-known money-saving tactic where you buy a plane ticket with a layover, with the intention to get off at the layover rather than the final destination. For example, a flight from New York to Tokyo might be $600, but a similar flight from New York to Singapore with a layover in Tokyo might be only $350. Choosing the latter and ending the trip in Tokyo would save you $250.

It seems counterintuitive that a fare from A to C via B could possibly be cheaper than a simple fare on a shorter route from A to B. However, airlines use dynamic, computer-driven price models calculated with little human intervention, and such deals happen quite often.

Booking a hidden city ticket isn’t as easy as booking a standard itinerary. There are some things to be aware of: (1) don’t check baggage — bring only hand luggage that can fit under the seat or an overhead compartment; a large checked bag will end up in the final destination C; (2) don’t use it for return flights — airlines often void any subsequent tickets if any segment of the first ticket is missed; (3) Do not overuse this tactic with the same airline — hidden-city ticketing is legal but airlines don’t like it and may try to punish you; (4) Don’t associate your frequent flyer account — the airline might invalidate any miles you’ve accrued with them.

How to find hidden-city tickets? The easiest way is to use Skiplagged website, which was designed for unearthing hidden-city deals — give them a try for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Hidden-city ticketing flight hack
An example of a hidden-city ticketing flight hack. The layover city is actually our final destination (source: Skiplagged).