Flights to Vietnam — Booking Tips, Airlines & Best Deals

Vietnam stretches roughly 1,650 km from the Chinese border to the Mekong Delta, and the airport you fly into shapes your entire itinerary. Most travellers covering both the north and south save time and money with an open-jaw ticket — flying into one city and out of another rather than backtracking.

Major International Airports

Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) — Hanoi

The main gateway for northern Vietnam. Hanoi is the starting point for trips to Ha Long Bay, Sapa, and Ha Giang. Noi Bai sits about 30 km from the city centre — allow 45–60 minutes by taxi depending on traffic. A metered taxi to the Old Quarter costs approximately VND 350,000–450,000 (around USD $14–18 as of 2026). Grab is widely used and slightly cheaper.

Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) — Ho Chi Minh City

For decades Vietnam’s busiest airport, SGN sits only 7 km from the centre, though traffic can stretch the journey to 30–60 minutes. This is the gateway for the Mekong Delta, Cu Chi Tunnels, and onward travel to Phu Quoc or Cambodia. A Grab to District 1 runs approximately VND 100,000–150,000. As of mid-2026, Tan Son Nhat retains domestic and some regional international services, while most long-haul international traffic is moving to the new Long Thanh airport (below).

Long Thanh International Airport (LTT) — Ho Chi Minh City region (new in 2026)

Long Thanh began commercial operations in June 2026 and is the biggest change to flying into Vietnam in decades. Phase 1 handles 25 million passengers annually, and the majority of long-haul international routes — Europe, North America, India, the Middle East — are relocating here from Tan Son Nhat from the outset.

The catch: Long Thanh sits in Dong Nai Province, approximately 40 km east of Ho Chi Minh City — a 45–60 minute drive via the dedicated expressway in normal traffic. Taxi zones, ride-hailing pick-up points, and an airport bus operate from opening; a rail link to the metro is planned but not yet running as of 2026.

Check your arrival airport at booking. If you are flying to Ho Chi Minh City from mid-2026 onward, confirm whether your airline lands at Long Thanh (LTT) or Tan Son Nhat (SGN) — the transfer difference is significant, and domestic connections (for example to Phu Quoc or Con Dao) initially still depart from Tan Son Nhat, which can mean an inter-airport transfer. More detail in our Long Thanh opening report.

Da Nang International Airport (DAD) — Central Vietnam

Increasingly well-connected internationally, Da Nang serves the central coast. Hoi An is 30 km south (45 minutes by taxi), Hue is 90 km north. Several Asian airlines fly direct to Da Nang from regional hubs including Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, and Bangkok.

Airlines Serving Vietnam

Vietnam Airlines is the national carrier and has the widest route network. It flies to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow, Sydney, Melbourne, and most major Asian capitals. Service is reliable, and the airline operates one-stop connections from European cities, typically via a hub in Asia.

Bamboo Airways is a growing Vietnamese carrier with expanding international routes. Check current schedules as the network has shifted over recent years.

Qatar Airways connects via Doha and is consistently competitive on price from the UK and Northern Europe. Routes cover both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Total journey time from London via Doha is approximately 14–16 hours.

Emirates routes via Dubai with connections from most European cities. Expect 16–18 hours London to Hanoi including the layover.

Singapore Airlines routes via Singapore Changi — one of the most efficient transfer airports in the region. Strong option from Australia and New Zealand.

Cathay Pacific routes via Hong Kong, useful for travellers from Australia and parts of Asia.

Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways connect via Bangkok, a major Southeast Asian hub with frequent onward flights to all three Vietnamese international airports.

Korean Air and Asiana connect via Seoul (ICN), with good coverage of both HAN and SGN.

Flight Times from Major Hubs

Origin	Route	Approximate Total Time
London	Via Doha (Qatar Airways)	14–16 hours
London	Via Dubai (Emirates)	16–18 hours
Paris	Via Singapore or Doha	13–16 hours
Sydney	Via Singapore	10–12 hours
Los Angeles	Via Seoul or Tokyo	16–19 hours
New York	Via Doha or Dubai	19–22 hours
Bangkok	Direct	2 hours
Singapore	Direct	2.5 hours

No non-stop flights operate between Europe and Vietnam as of 2026. One stop is the minimum for all European and North American routes.

The Open-Jaw Strategy

For trips covering a significant stretch of Vietnam — Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south — the standard approach is to fly into HAN and out of SGN (or vice versa). This avoids backtracking and saves one or two travel days. Open-jaw tickets are often the same price as a return to a single city, sometimes cheaper. Compare both options on Aviasales before booking.

Domestic Flights Within Vietnam

Once in Vietnam, domestic flights are cheap and frequent. VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines, and Bamboo Airways connect Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, and dozens of smaller airports. A Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City flight takes 2 hours and can cost under USD $30 when booked in advance — though checked baggage fees on VietJet add USD $10–20.

Domestic flights make sense for the long north-south legs. The Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City train takes roughly 30 hours; the flight takes 2. For shorter central sections like Da Nang to Hue, overland transport is more practical.

When to Book for the Best Deals

Peak season (November–February and July–August): Book 3–5 months ahead. December and January are the most expensive months for international fares, particularly from Europe and Australia.

Shoulder months (March–April, September–October): Six to eight weeks ahead is usually sufficient. Fares drop noticeably in these windows.

Cheapest periods: May to early June and September to October. The southwest monsoon suppresses demand, but many parts of Vietnam — including the north in September and central highlands — remain perfectly travelable.

Flexible dates tip: Shifting departure by 2–3 days can save USD $100–200 on European routes. Mid-week departures (Tuesday–Wednesday) are consistently cheaper than weekend flights. Use fare calendar tools to compare.

Budget Tips

• Book open-jaw early — the savings over a return-plus-domestic-backtrack can be USD $50–150
• Avoid Chinese New Year (late January/early February) — regional demand spikes and domestic Vietnamese flights fill rapidly
• Gulf carriers (Qatar, Emirates) regularly undercut European airlines on the London–Vietnam route by 20–30%
• Domestic budget airlines charge separately for checked luggage and meals — pack light or pre-book bags online where it is cheaper than at the airport
• Shoulder season on the east coast (September–October) combines lower fares with good weather in central Vietnam

Getting from the Airport to the City

Hanoi (HAN): Grab or metered taxi to the Old Quarter — 45–60 minutes, approximately VND 350,000–450,000. Airport minibuses run to the city for VND 45,000 but take longer.

Ho Chi Minh City (SGN): Grab to District 1 — 20–40 minutes, approximately VND 100,000–150,000. Bus 109 runs to the centre for VND 20,000.

Ho Chi Minh City (LTT — Long Thanh): 45–60 minutes to the city centre by car via the expressway. Designated taxi zones, ride-hailing pick-up, and an airport bus operate; no rail link yet as of 2026. Budget more time and money than an SGN arrival.

Da Nang (DAD): Grab to the city centre — 15 minutes, approximately VND 80,000–100,000. To Hoi An: 45 minutes, approximately VND 300,000–350,000.

All prices are approximate as of 2026 and subject to change.

Entry Paperwork Before You Fly

Two digital forms now apply to arrivals as of 2026, on top of your visa or exemption: a digital arrival card (completed within 72 hours of arrival) and, from 1 July 2026, a mandatory digital health declaration submitted no more than seven days before travel — airlines can deny boarding without it. Full requirements, portal links, and visa rules are in our Vietnam visa and entry guide.