- Vietnam’s two main international gateways are Hanoi (Noi Bai) and Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat), and the one you arrive into shapes your entire trip.
- Cheap flights to Vietnam are most reliably found 8–12 weeks before departure, especially on routes through Asian hub cities like Bangkok, Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur.
- How long is the flight to Vietnam depends heavily on your origin — anywhere from 6 hours (parts of India) to 22+ hours (east coast Canada or the US).
Vietnam sits at a crossing point between Southeast Asia’s budget trail and a more considered slow travel experience. It draws backpackers moving quickly between cities, couples who want a mix of coastline and culture, and slow travellers who settle into a neighbourhood for weeks at a time. The country is also genuinely varied — the north and south feel like different countries, and the central coast operates on its own rhythm entirely. The country rewards all three approaches, but it helps to arrive knowing what you’re walking into — a dense, fast-moving place where the gap between tourist infrastructure and everyday life is narrower than most expect.
Before arrival, getting your mobile connectivity sorted is one of those practical decisions that matters more than it sounds. A Vietnam eSIM with Local Coverage lets you connect as soon as you land — no hunting for a SIM stall at the airport, no waiting in line after a long-haul flight. For travellers arriving late or navigating an unfamiliar transfer, having data from the moment you clear immigration removes a layer of friction that the first day of any trip simply doesn’t need.
Flights to Vietnam from the US
American travellers drawn to Southeast Asia for the first time often land in Vietnam as their entry point. The flight from the US west coast (Los Angeles, San Francisco) runs approximately 16–18 hours door-to-door including a layover. From east coast cities like New York or Chicago, expect 20–23 hours. There are no nonstop options — common carriers include Korean Air (via Seoul), Japan Airlines and ANA (via Tokyo), Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines. Seoul Incheon tends to offer the most convenient layover windows on this route.
Economy fares from the west coast typically run USD 700–1,100 roundtrip. Book 8–12 weeks in advance and avoid the Tet period (late January or early February) unless experiencing the holiday is the point — prices spike and some services slow.
Arrival Airports in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) serves southern Vietnam and the Mekong Delta. Hanoi (HAN) is the gateway for the north, Halong Bay, and Sapa. Da Nang (DAD) suits central Vietnam and Hoi An, though it requires a connection.
Practical Tips Before Flying. US passport holders need a Vietnam e-visa — check this well in advance. Getting a Vietnam eSIM Tourist before departure means you can navigate from the moment you land without scrambling for connectivity in the arrivals hall.
Flights to Vietnam from Australia
Vietnam is one of Australia’s most popular Southeast Asian destinations — close enough to manage on annual leave, different enough to feel like a genuine trip. From Sydney or Melbourne, expect roughly 9–10 hours to Ho Chi Minh City or 10–11 hours to Hanoi. From Perth, the journey is shorter at around 7–8 hours to HCMC.
Vietnam Airlines runs direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Jetstar Asia, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines are popular alternatives. Direct flights exist on this route — one of the few in this list — though one-stop options via Singapore or Bangkok often undercut direct fares significantly on low-cost carriers. Cheap flights to Vietnam from Australia sit in the AUD 500–800 range roundtrip, with Perth routes often cheaper.
Avoid Australian school holidays (July and December/January) for better pricing. April to early June is a quieter and more affordable window. Book 8–10 weeks out.
Arrival Airports in Vietnam. Most Australian routes land at Tan Son Nhat (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City or Noi Bai (HAN) in Hanoi. Da Nang is accessible via a short domestic connection.
Practical Tips Before Flying. Australian passport holders access the Vietnam e-visa online. Domestic Vietnam flights between cities are inexpensive and worth using if your itinerary covers multiple regions.
Flights to Vietnam from the UK
British travellers to Vietnam tend to take longer trips — two to three weeks minimum — given the flight time investment. Vietnam suits those who want to move through multiple cities or pair it with neighbouring countries like Cambodia or Laos.
How long is the flight to Vietnam from the UK? Expect 11–13 hours of pure flying time, with total door-to-door travel running 14–18 hours. There are no nonstop options. London Heathrow is the primary hub. Vietnam Airlines, Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong), Emirates (via Dubai), Singapore Airlines, and Qatar Airways (via Doha) all serve this route. Gulf carriers offer competitive fares but longer journey times due to westward routing; Asian hub airlines are faster but often pricier.
How much is a flight to Vietnam from the UK? Expect GBP 450–750 roundtrip in economy. Book 10–14 weeks out. School half-terms and the summer break add a noticeable premium — January to March, outside of Tet, offers some of the year’s lowest fares.
Arrival Airports in Vietnam. Heathrow routes connect to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City via hubs. Let your itinerary determine your arrival city rather than the cheapest fare alone.
Practical Tips Before Flying. UK passport holders need a Vietnam e-visa with at least six months of passport validity beyond departure. Travel insurance covering connection delays is worth the cost on this route.
Flights to Vietnam from India
India is one of Vietnam’s closer neighbours, and the route suits travellers looking for cultural exploration or a first Southeast Asian trip without a long-haul commitment. Business travellers use it regularly too.
How many hours flight from India to Vietnam? From Delhi, expect around 5–6 hours on a direct service or 7–9 hours with a connection. Mumbai timings are similar. IndiGo, Air India, Vietnam Airlines, and Vietjet cover direct routes; connections via Bangkok or Singapore are also common and often cheaper. Fares from India are among the most competitive in this list — INR 18,000–35,000 roundtrip is achievable with advance planning. Book 6–10 weeks ahead and avoid Diwali, Holi, and the May/June school break if price is a priority.
Arrival Airports in Vietnam. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City both receive direct flights from India. Da Nang is reachable via a short domestic connection.
Practical Tips Before Flying. Indian passport holders require a Vietnam e-visa — apply online before departure, as processing is usually fast. Vietnam works particularly well for Indian travellers seeking a beach-and-culture combination that feels genuinely different from neighbouring destinations, without the time commitment of an intercontinental flight.
Flights to Vietnam from Canada
Canada’s large Vietnamese diaspora means some travellers on this route are visiting family. Others are backpackers or slow travellers for whom Southeast Asia has been a long-planned destination. Either way, this is a significant journey.
How long is the flight to Vietnam from Canada? From Vancouver, expect 14–16 hours total including a connection. From Toronto or Montreal, total travel reaches 20–22 hours. Korean Air (via Seoul), Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong), Japan Airlines (via Tokyo), and China Airlines (via Taipei) are the most commonly used carriers. One connection through a major Asian hub is standard on all routes. Expect CAD 900–1,400 roundtrip from Vancouver and CAD 1,100–1,600 from Toronto or Montreal. Book 10–14 weeks out; Canadian summer and December/January both see elevated fares.
Arrival Airports in Vietnam. Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are accessible via standard connections. Let your itinerary determine your arrival city rather than price alone.
Practical Tips Before Flying. Canadian passport holders need a Vietnam e-visa. A planned stopover in Seoul, Tokyo, or Hong Kong can break the journey and add genuine value to the overall trip.
Flights to Vietnam from New Zealand
New Zealand travellers share a similar profile to Australian travellers — relatively close by Pacific standards, with Vietnam often chosen after already visiting Thailand.
From Auckland, the flight to Vietnam runs approximately 10–12 hours including a layover. Direct legs to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur take around 10 hours, with the onward leg adding 1.5–2.5 hours. Air New Zealand operates to regional hubs, with Vietnam Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Malaysia Airlines covering onward legs. Jetstar and Scoot handle low-cost connecting segments. Routing through Singapore or KL is generally faster than routing through Australia, though Australian connections sometimes offer better fares.
How much is a flight to Vietnam from New Zealand? Roundtrip fares from Auckland typically run NZD 800–1,300, with low-cost carrier combinations occasionally bringing the total below NZD 700. NZ school holidays in July and December/January push prices up. April to early June is a quieter period. Book 8–12 weeks out.
Arrival Airports in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are the main arrival points. Da Nang is accessible but requires a connection within Vietnam.
Practical Tips Before Flying. New Zealand passport holders require a Vietnam e-visa. Vietnam Airlines has been gradually expanding connectivity toward the Pacific, so checking their fares directly alongside established carriers is worth the extra step.
What to Know Before You Land
Vietnam rewards travellers who arrive with some preparation rather than a set of assumptions. The country is efficient in ways that can surprise, and frustrating in ways that rarely appear in travel guides. Infrastructure between major cities is better than its reputation suggests — the train between Hanoi and Da Nang is comfortable and scenic in a way few people expect. The gap between the listed price and the price paid is real, particularly in tourist-heavy areas, and building that awareness in before you land helps more than most pre-trip tips.
Connectivity matters from the moment you clear arrivals. Airport transfers, navigation apps, and accommodation confirmations all depend on a working data connection, and Vietnam’s 4G coverage in cities and along major tourist routes is genuinely reliable. Having a local data plan ready before arrival — rather than sorting it out in the arrivals hall after a long-haul flight — removes one decision from a moment when you already have too many. TravelKon’s Vietnam eSIM options are worth reviewing before you fly, particularly for travellers who plan to move between cities or spend time outside the obvious tourist corridors.
The flight itself, whatever your origin, is part of the experience. A long connection through Seoul or Singapore is a chance to reset before arrival — not just a time cost to endure. Arrive rested, with your visa confirmed and your data plan sorted, and the country is considerably easier to navigate from the first hour. Build that buffer in deliberately and you’ll be in better shape for whatever Vietnam puts in front of you on day one.
