Cheap flights to Vietnam

The tourism industry is relatively new in Vietnam, but it’s not hard to see why people book flights to Vietnam. Rated one of the most beautiful countries in the world, Vietnam also maintains its status as one of the romantic countries thanks to its lush landscape. While some travelers book flights to Vietnam to experience the breadth of the culture and scenery, others travel to Vietnam for far more personal reasons. The country played a huge part in American history, and today many travelers book flights to Vietnam to retrace the steps of generations past. But when visiting Vietnam, it’s also important to respect the local culture and keep personal politics quiet during your trip. The Vietnamese kept their doors tightly shut to outsiders for many years and they are just starting to welcome foreigners back into their land. 

The first step in supporting the Vietnamese economy is booking a flight to Vietnam. From there, dine in local eateries, buy amenities (soap, water, toothpaste, sanitary items) from small family-owned shops and before buying souvenirs, make sure they are produced in Vietnam. As a tourist in Vietnam, your role is to appreciate the people and respect the culture. Do so, and the Vietnamese will continue to open their doors, and minds, to foreign travelers. 

Book a flight to Vietnam for an experience like no other.

How long is the flight to Vietnam?

Traveling to Vietnam from the United States isn’t just a quick jaunt down the street. In fact, the average flight from the United States to Vietnam takes 22h 43m. You’re definitely going to need to bring some in-flight entertainment with you. Depending on where you’re flying into in Vietnam, flights can vary drastically. The most common desitination is Ho Chi Minh City. The most common flight from the United States to Vietnam is Los Angeles to Ho Chi Minh City, which takes about 20h 5m.

Which cities offer direct flights to Vietnam?

Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from the United States to Vietnam at this time. Save time and sometimes money with Vietnam flight deals on flights with one or more stops to Vietnam. Currently, you can find flights with just one stop from Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), New York City (JFK), and Washington, DC (IAD).

What is the best way to travel around Vietnam?

The hustle and bustle of Vietnam’s major cities make it a tourist hub, and that means all these travelers need to get around! Fortunately, cities like Ho Chi Minh City have plenty of transportation options that vary from simple and fast to slower and slightly more dangerous. Vietnam boasts more than 1,600 miles of rails, ensuring that trains can take tourists from the big cities to smaller hubs quickly and efficiently. There are various classes of trains, and as with many things, you get what you pay for. The higher class trains cost more, but offer more comfort and features like air-conditioning. Open tour buses are also a great option for getting around and can help you save money if you have a larger group.

What are some things to do in Vietnam?

There are lots of things to see and do in Vietnam, depending on where you travel to in the country. Ho Chi Minh City is the most traveled to city there, and for good reason. This bustling metropolis is a tourist’s dream, with everything from cultural sites to beautiful beaches. In Ho Chi Minh City, the Mausoleum Complex is a must-see spot, as well as Giac Lam Pagoda, the oldest temple in the city. Enjoy a Bonsai River Cruise, and don’t forget to visit Pham Ngu Lao Street for plenty of nightlife. In Hanoi, visitors one popular spot is the Hanoi Old Quarter, which boasts bars, vendors, and lots and lots of street food. Beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake is another must visit area in Hanoi.

Do I need a passport or visa to fly to Vietnam?

Travelers taking a trip to Vietnam from the United States will need not only a valid US passport, but also a valid visa. US passports must be in good standing and valid for at least six months past the travel date. Prior to traveling to Vietnam, US citizens must apply for and receive either a tourist visa or a business visa, depending on their reason for traveling. Visas can be applied for at the US Embassy.

Vietnam climate

Northern Vietnam and southern Vietnam have two very different climates. November through April is cool and dry in the north, while the rest of the year is hot and rainy. It’s not much different on the central coast north of Nha Trang, where the winter monsoon brings wet, cool weather from December to February. In contrast, it’s hot and humid all year in the south. The central highlands aren’t much different, but winters are cooler with temperatures close to freezing. 

Back to top

Best Time to Fly to Vietnam

Peak season:

Vietnam has a varied climate and there is no bad time to book flights to Vietnam, unless humidity is a turn-off. In the north of the country the winter months take in November to April, when the weather is cool and wet. The summer months are May to October; weather is hot with heavy rains.

In the south, Vietnam experiences a dry, hot season between December and April and a wet season between May and November. It is most humid between March and May.

In the center of Vietnam, there are often very heavy rains between December and February.

Off Season:

Christmas is a family-centric time in Vietnam as is Tet (Lunar New Year) around February.

Find cheap flights to Vietnam

Back to top

Getting around Vietnam

Vietnam Airlines offers a good domestic network of Vietnam flights, linking Ho Chi Minh City with several destinations including Buon Me Thuat, Da Nang, Dien Bien, Da Lat, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hue, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Rach Gia.

Pacific Airlines also offers domestic Vietnam flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi and Danang.

Vietnam Railways operates the rail network in Vietnam. The main line runs from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, taking in Danang, Hue and Nha Trang. The journey takes about two days.

Bus services are popular and cheap, but can be slow and overcrowded. The best way of getting around the country (between popular destinations) is by tourist open-tour bus. A journey between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City costs less than $30 (about 500,000 Vietnamese Dong).

The following chart gives approximate journey times from Hanoi (in hours and minutes) to other major cities and towns in Vietnam.

The following chart gives approximate journey times from Ho Chi Minh City (in hours and minutes) to other major cities and towns in Vietnam.

Back to top

Vietnam Travel Information

• Hue was the capital of Vietnam between 1744 and 1945, when the last emperor abdicated. Located on the northern bank of the beautifully named Perfume River, the Imperial Citadel (Thanh Noi) has ten entrances; each gate has a watchtower on top. There are three ramparts: Capital Citadel, Imperial and Forbidden Citadel. Sadly, much of the interior of the citadel was destroyed during the Tet Offensive in 1968. The Forbidden Purple City was mostly razed, but there are some smaller buildings still standing and restoration work is ongoing.
• Drive, cycle or hike the more than 745 miles of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, which extends from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City along battlefields such as Khe Sanh; Ben Hai Bridge; Truong Son National Cemetery (Vietnam’s national war cemetery); and Dak Rong Bridge, the start of Highway 15, leading south to “Hamburger Hill”.
• Vietnam’s best known national parks are Cuc Phuong (established in 1962); Cat Ba on Cat Ba Island in Halong Bay; and Con Dao National Park on Con Dao Island.
• Halong Bay: Halong means “where the dragon descends to the sea” in Vietnamese. The bay is composed of nearly 2,000 limestone islands and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Several of the islands are hollow, ie, caves, and two are inhabited – Tuan Chau and Cat Ba – and offer tourist facilities such as hotels, golf course and fishing club.
• Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is Vietnam’s largest city, business center and major port, and a must see spot for travelers booking flights to Vietnam. It was also the capital of the French protectorate of Cochinchina. The French left their mark: wide boulevards, colonial villas, café society and cuisine. Some of the must-sees are the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee (Town Hall), Notre Dame Cathedral; bustling Ben Thanh Market (for souvenirs); Quoc Tu Pagoda; Xa-loi Pagoda; War Remnants Museum and nearby Reunification Palace, complete with NVA tank outside.

Find flights to Vietnam

Back to top