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.
Practical tips
- If you are flying to Vietnam from abroad, you will most likely land at its main international airport—Tan Son Nhat Airport
SGNin Ho Chi Minh City, or Noi Bai AirportHANin Hanoi. The third largest airport, Da Nang AirportDADin Da Nang located in Central Vietnam accepts a smaller number of international flights — as does Phu Quoc AirportPQCthat is receiving international flights with tourists visiting the popular resort island of Phu Quoc. There are also over a dozen other provincial airports scattered across the country, serving local population or travelers wanting to see other Vietnamese attractions such as Can Tho AirportVCA(for Mekong Delta), Phu Bai AirportHUI(Hue), and Dong Hoi AirportVDH(Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park).
- Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Cebu Pacific, IndiGo, Jetstar, Nok Air, Scoot, and Tigerair Taiwan.
Flights to Vietnam
from United States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Vietnam. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Vietnam, 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 Vietnam directly. Regular non-stop flights from San Francisco
SFOto Ho Chi MinhSGNare operated by Vietnam Airlines, with the flight time of 16 hours and 40 minutes. Whilst Vietnam is a destination that has been growing in popularity amongst Canadian travelers, there are still no direct flights to Vietnam from Canada – travelers have to transit through Asian hubs such as Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, or Tokyo. - Vietnam is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Vietnam with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL, DallasDFW, DenverDEN, ChicagoORD, Los AngelesLAX, Las VegasDFW, MiamiMIA, SeattleSEA, HoustonIAH, New YorkJFK, and San FranciscoSFOin the United States and TorontoYYZ, VancouverYVR, CalgaryLAS, and MontrealYULin 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 TokyoHND, China Airlines and EVA Air via TaipeiTPE, and Korean Air via SeoulICN. - The best airlines to fly to Vietnam from the US and Canada are: Air Canada, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, EVA Air, Japan Airlines, Korean 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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What is the best time to book flights to Vietnam?
The best time to book flights to Vietnam is between 2 to 8 months before your travel date. The prime booking window (the most likely time to find the bargains) for Vietnam flights is 4–6 months before takeoff. Book when you notice a significant drop in price.
Airfare prices for Vietnam flights fluctuate due to demand, seasonal trends, and competition, causing numerous price drops and increases as your departure date approaches. The airlines use sophisticated revenue management systems to adjust pricing for optimal seat sales.
Generally, as seats are sold, prices tend to become more expensive.
Don’t book too early
Most airlines start selling their flights 9–12 months in advance. However, booking a ticket too early in that window can be an expensive mistake – airlines typically start by setting prices at a relatively high level to capture early demand from those willing to pay more to secure their seats.
Peak seasons are expensive
Peak travel seasons are always expensive – due to higher base prices set by airlines for dates they expect to be popular. Try to avoid the high season during summer and major holidays including holidays in Vietnam. If you must travel during peak times, book your flight well in advance.
Avoid last minute
Avoid booking flights to Vietnam less than 30 days before takeoff. Prices spike sharply then, as airlines are taking advantage of any last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up.
Prime Booking Window
For long-haul flights to Vietnam, the best time to book your ticket is around 4–6 months before departure. This is the “Prime Booking Window.” After some seats have already been sold, airlines start dropping prices to stimulate demand. They may also offer promotions and sales. This is the ideal time for bargain hunting.
Fly on weekdays
It makes a difference which day of the week you board the plane. Midweek travel (especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays) is less busy and likely cheaper than flying on weekends. Airlines charge higher prices for weekend travel due to the high demand from people going on short getaways or visiting family and friends.
Opt for early morning flights
To save on airfare, select a late night or early morning (1–5 a.m.) flight. 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. Moreover, morning flights tend to have fewer delays, and airport queues are usually shorter.
Flights to Vietnam from Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Vietnam — 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 Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi): 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
ISTwith 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 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 Vietnam include Air France, Asiana Airlines, China Airlines, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines.
- 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 Vietnam 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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Relax in Sleep Pod at Hanoi airport
Long layover? You can take a quick (or long) nap in the privacy and comfort of Sleep Pod at Noi Bai International Airport. It’s a mini-hotel or a “room boxes” located on the 3rd floor in Terminal 1 and on the 2nd floor in Terminal 2.
Sleep Pods can be booked per hour or per day at the price of $7 (~A$10) for a single room and $8 (~A$12) for a twin room, and you can make a reservation online on HanoiAirportHotels or Booking.com.
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. Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City 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.
The cheapest time to fly to Vietnam
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 Vietnam’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 Vietnam, 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.
Avoid currency exchange kiosks at Vietnamese airports
It is always a good idea to bring some cash with you to Vietnam. 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 Vietnamese airports 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 airports and all over the country. Virtually all of them accept foreign Visa and MasterCards.
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 Singapore, 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.
Airlines of Vietnam
Vietnam’s national flag carrier is Vietnam Airlines, based at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. It offers many long-haul direct flights to Vietnam from all over the world, including Frankfurt, London, Paris, Sydney, and Melbourne. It is probably the best Vietnamese carrier – in terms of available routes and service quality, however, it is also the more expensive. Most of its long- and medium-haul flights to Vietnam have meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment onboard.
Other Vietnamese airlines – Bamboo Airways, VietJet Air, Vietravel Airlines, Pacific Airlines, Hai Au Aviation, and Vietnam Air Services Company – are much smaller carriers that mostly focus on short-haul flights. They may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight refreshments, meals, or onboard entertainment. In most cases, their tickets are fixed and non-refundable if there is a no-show or cancellation.
Flights to Vietnam
from Australia and New Zealand
- Australia and New Zealand offer robust flight networks to key APAC locations, Vietnam included. While domestic carriers like Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand provide solid options, several major international airlines also serve these routes. These include ANA, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways — expanding your choices for travel between Australasia and Asia.
There are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Vietnam. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia. Four airlines operate direct flights to Vietnam 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 Vietnam. Traveling from Australia or New Zealand to Vietnam by air takes between 9 and 15 hours depending on your route. - Airlines have different pricing strategies for different routes. Depending on airline partnerships, demand, and even the time of year, a flight to Vietnam could be significantly cheaper from Sydney than from Melbourne.
Compare fares from main international airports in Australia: SydneySYD, BrisbaneBNE, MelbourneMEL, PerthPER, AdelaideADL, CairnsCNS, Gold CoastOOL, CanberraCBR, DarwinDRW, and in New Zealand: AucklandAKL, WellingtonWLG, ChristchurchCHC, and QueenstownZQN. - If you’re looking to save, consider flying from Australia or New Zealand to a primary Asian hub, then catch a connecting flight to Vietnam with a regional budget airline such as AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Cebu Pacific, IndiGo, Jetstar, Nok Air, Scoot, and Tigerair Taiwan.
For the initial leg of your trip, full-service airlines such as Qantas or Virgin Atlantic offer premium comfort and exceptional service, albeit at a premium price. However, many Asian airlines, including budget carriers, operate out of Australia and frequently feature sales and promotions. For instance, AirAsia runs deals to Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore; Cebu Pacific to Manila; Scoot to Singapore; VietJet Air to Ho Chi Minh City; Jetstar to Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo; Bamboo Airways to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing; Batik Air to Jakarta and Singapore.
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Flights to Vietnam
from major hubs in Asia
- Being part of a complex flight network in Asia, Vietnam is well connected to other countries in the region. Quick, direct flights depart to its two main airports in HCMC and Hanoi 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 Vietnam 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 Vietnam 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 AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet. 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 Vietnam dataset
