How to Travel to Vietnam? Your Ultimate Guide to Reaching Vietnam!

Vietnam is a fascinating destination that attracts many travelers from all over the world. However, before you pack your bags and book your flight, you need to know how to get to Vietnam from your country of origin. There are different options available, depending on your budget, preference, and convenience. In this blog post, we will tell you the best way to get to Vietnam by air, land, or sea, based on the information from reliable sources.

Written by Lan DUONG (Travel Counsellor) Updated on 10-06-2024

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Table of contents

Traveling to Vietnam by Air
Traveling to Vietnam by Road
Traveling to Vietnam by Sea
Vietnam bound: Comprehensive guide to flights from major global cities
Fly to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City?

Traveling to Vietnam by Air

If you are planning to visit Vietnam, the best way to travel is by plane. There are three main international airports in Vietnam: Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang Airport in Da Nang. Depending on your destination, you can choose the most suitable airport for your flight. You can book your ticket online with any of the airlines that fly to these airports.

Best Websites to Check Flights

When searching for flights, consider using popular and reliable websites to find the best deals:

Skyscanner: Offers a comprehensive search of multiple airlines and booking sites.
Google Flights: Provides an easy-to-use interface and powerful filters.
Momondo: Aggregates data from numerous airlines and travel sites.
Expedia: Combines flight searches with options for hotels and car rentals.
CheapOair: Focuses on finding budget-friendly flight options.

*A view of a Vietnam Airlines Airbus parked at the terminal of Tan Son Nhat Airport.*

>>> Advice for Finding the Best Deals

You may not find a good deal for direct flights to Vietnam, but you can save money by taking a connecting flight that stops at Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, or Singapore. Make sure you have at least 3 hours between your flights in case the first one is delayed.

Traveling to Vietnam by Road

If you want to travel to Vietnam by land, you have many options to cross the international borders. You can enter Vietnam from Cambodia through five different crossings, from Laos through six different crossings, and from China through at least two different crossings. Each crossing has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your travel plans and preferences.

>>> Tips for Crossing Land Borders

If you are planning to cross into Vietnam by land, here are some practical tips:

From Cambodia: Popular crossings include Moc Bai, Xa Xia, and Tinh Bien. Each offers different routes and conveniences depending on your travel plans.
From Laos: Consider crossings like Nam Can, Cau Treo, and Lao Bao. These are commonly used and well-supported with transport options.

Moc Bai Border Gate — *Moc Bai border gate*

Traveling to Vietnam by Sea

Cruise travel is a less common but delightful way to arrive in Vietnam. Major ports like Nha Trang, Cai Lan (near Ha Long Bay), and Phu My (near Ho Chi Minh City) receive international cruise ships. Cruises offer a leisurely and scenic entry into the country, often combined with stops in other Southeast Asian destinations.

a cruise is landed on the vietnam sea port — *You can sail to Vietnam on a cruise ship and dock at some of the ports that welcome foreign visitors*

Vietnam bound: Comprehensive guide to flights from major global cities

You can easily reach Vietnam by air from many countries around the world. Vietnam has three main international airports: Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport (HAN), Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN), and Danang’s Danang Airport (DAD). Most tourists fly to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, which have more flight options and destinations. Danang Airport only serves a few international flights to some Asian countries.

Flying from North America to Vietnam

There are no direct flights from North America to Vietnam at the moment. You will have to take a connecting flight with a stopover in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, or Taipei), Japan (Tokyo), or South Korea (Seoul). For instance, you can fly from Los Angeles to Taipei and then to Ho Chi Minh City, or from New York to Hong Kong and then to Hanoi. The total travel time is about 20–22 hours, and the average price for a round-trip economy class ticket is between 1,000 and 1,500 USD (prices may vary by season). Some of the airlines that offer these routes are China Airlines, Emirates, Korean Air, China Southern, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Qatar Airways, Jin Air, and Asiana Airlines.

Flying from Australia to Vietnam

You can fly directly to Ho Chi Minh City from Sydney or Melbourne with Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar, or to Hanoi from Sydney. These flights take about 10–12 hours, and the average price for a round-trip ticket is between 500 and 700 USD (prices may vary by season). If you want a cheaper option, you can take a connecting flight with a layover in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, or Hong Kong. Air Asia, Scoot, and Jetstar may have lower fares, but be aware that baggage may not be included in the quoted price.

Flying from Europe to Vietnam

You can find direct flights to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City from London, Paris, and Frankfurt with Vietnam Airlines and Air France. These flights take about 12–15 hours, and the average price for a round-trip ticket is between 700 and 1,200 USD (prices may vary by season). If you prefer a connecting flight, you can check with airlines like Thai Airways, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, British Airways, or Aeroflot for the best flight connections and shortest stopovers to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.

Other Asian Destinations to Vietnam

Vietnam is well connected to other Asian countries by air. You can fly directly to Vietnam from Thailand, Cambodia, China, Laos, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines with airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Scoot, Air Asia, Viet Jet and Jet star. The flight duration is only a few hours and the ticket price is around 50–200 USD one way (The price may change depending on the season so check online for the latest price).

Fly to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City?

Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) is the most popular airport in Vietnam for international flights. Many foreign tourists choose this airport to enter and exit Vietnam. It also has more flight options and sometimes cheaper fares than other airports. However, because the airport is in the city and cannot be expanded, a new international airport (Long Thanh International Airport) is being built and expected to open in 2025. Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport (HAN) is the second-most popular airport in Vietnam for international flights, but it has fewer passengers than SGN. You may not find as many good flight deals or schedules as SGN for some international routes.