Planning a holiday to Vietnam or a wider Indochina loop? Start here. This guide covers all 21 commercial airports, their international links, sample prices and quick advice on choosing the right gateway.
1. Network Snapshot
Vietnam runs 21 airports: 11 international and 10 domestic-only, stretching the length of the country.
| Category | Count | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| International | 11 | Nine offer year-round routes; two handle mainly seasonal or charter flights. |
| Domestic-only | 10 | Key for caves, islands and highlands unreachable by rail. |
2. The Three Primary Hubs
2.1 Tan Son Nhat (SGN) – Ho Chi Minh City
- Terminal 3 opened 17 Apr 2025 – all domestic flights now depart here; 10-min walk to T1–T2 (international).
- Europe: London, Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow (Vietnam Airlines); Paris (Air France); Moscow (Aeroflot); Zurich (Edelweiss seasonal).
- Middle East: Doha (Qatar), Istanbul (Turkish), Dubai (Emirates), Abu Dhabi (Etihad).
- Australia & NZ: Sydney, Melbourne (Vietnam Airlines & Bamboo), Auckland (seasonal Air NZ).
- Northeast Asia: Daily links to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Seoul, Busan plus seven mainland-China cities, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.
- Southeast Asia: Bangkok (both airports), Chiang Mai, Phuket, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Vientiane, Yangon, Jakarta, Bandar Seri Begawan.
- USA non-stop: SGN ⇄ San Francisco (daily A350-900). SGN ⇄ Los Angeles (non-stop B787-9) launches late 2025/early 2026.
2.2 Noi Bai (HAN) – Hanoi
- Apron upgrade for A350/787; city light-rail connection due late 2026.
- Europe: Frankfurt, Paris, (seasonal) London, Moscow, Zurich.
- Middle East: Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi.
- Australia: One-stop via SGN/SIN to Sydney & Melbourne.
- All major Northeast & Southeast Asian capitals; slightly fewer frequencies than SGN.
2.3 Da Nang (DAD) – Central Coast
- 30 min to Hoi An, 2 h to Hue.
- Direct Asia: Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Busan, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Siem Reap.
- 1-stop Europe/Australia: easiest via Singapore, Seoul, Bangkok or Doha.
Fare cue: Non-stop London/Frankfurt ⇄ SGN from £700/€800 return in shoulder season; 1-stop via Doha/Istanbul often €550–650 when booked 8–10 weeks ahead.
3. Other International Airports
| Airport | Region | Typical Links & Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Cam Ranh (CXR) | Nha Trang coast | Seoul (4–5 ×/day via HAN/SGN), Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, 10+ Chinese cities, seasonal Moscow charters – best for diving & resorts. |
| Phu Quoc (PQC) | Island (30-day visa-free) | Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, seasonal China & UK/Scandi charters – prime winter-sun escape. |
| Van Don (VDO) | Ha Long Bay | Domestic SGN; Seoul & Amsterdam only as 1-stop/charter. 50 km (<1 h) to cruise port. |
| Cat Bi (HPH) | Hai Phong / Cat Ba | Bangkok, Seoul, Guangzhou charters, seasonal Taipei – direct to Lan Ha Bay. |
| Can Tho (VCA) | Mekong Delta | Kuala Lumpur, seasonal Singapore & Taipei – quickest entry to floating-market cruises. |
| Lien Khuong (DLI) | Da Lat highlands | Seoul (Jin Air), seasonal Bangkok – cool-climate retreats. |
| Phu Bai (HUI) | Hue | Domestic hubs plus seasonal Hong Kong & Seoul charters – gateway to Imperial City. |
| Vinh (VII) | Northern Central Coast | Domestic hubs, seasonal China/Korea charters – handy for Pu Mat & western mountains. |
| Chu Lai (VCL) | Quang Nam | Domestic only; occasional China charters – serves My Son & quiet beaches south of Hoi An. |
4. Domestic-Only Airports (10)
- Dien Bien Phu (DIN) – battlefield & Northwest rice terraces.
- Dong Hoi (VDH) – gateway to Phong Nha caves.
- Phu Cat (UIH) – Quy Nhon’s quiet beaches.
- Pleiku (PXU) – Central Highlands coffee region.
- Tuy Hoa (TBB) – Phu Yen’s uncrowded coastline.
- Rach Gia (VKG) – jump-off for Nam Du & nearby islands.
- Ca Mau (CAH) – southernmost city, bird sanctuaries.
- Buon Ma Thuot (BMV) – coffee farms & waterfalls.
- Tho Xuan (THD) – Thanh Hoa, also for Pu Luong nature reserve.
- Con Dao (VCS) – protected marine park; ATR-72 only from SGN/Can Tho.
Budget tip: Short-haul VASCO turboprops (<300 km) run about US $40–50 one-way if booked three weeks ahead (carry-on only).
5. Next Up – Long Thanh (LTIA)
- Phase 1 completion target: 31 Dec 2025; first flights early 2026.
- Designed for 100 million passengers per year once fully built.
6. Quick Gateway Picks
| Trip Goal | Best Airport | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 14-day north-to-south tour | Arrive HAN, depart SGN | Zero back-tracking, efficient rail/air hops. |
| Same-day Ha Long cruise | VDO | 50 km (≈1 h) to pier versus 3 h from Hanoi. |
| 5-day beach & dives | CXR | Direct KL/HK/Seoul links; 45 min to Nha Trang strip. |
| Visa-free winter sun | PQC | 30-day waiver; EU/Scandi charters Nov–Mar. |
| Cool-climate honeymoon | DLI | Da Lat gardens & coffee 1 h from runway. |
7. Frequently Asked Questions
Q1 – Is Tan Son Nhat still crowded?
Terminal 3 has pulled domestic flights out of T1–T2; peak queues are down about 40 percent.
Q2 – Cheapest months for Europe ⇄ Vietnam tickets?
Late October–November and February–March. One-stop deals via Doha or Istanbul often fall below €600 return if booked 8–10 weeks ahead.
Q3 – Do I need a visa if I land on Phu Quoc?
No. Stays up to 30 days are visa-free if you arrive & depart PQC and remain on the island.
Q4 – How do I match airports to my route?
• North highlights → fly into HAN. • Central heritage/beaches → use DAD. • South islands & Mekong → pick SGN or CXR/PQC. Open-jaw tickets (HAN in, SGN out) save time and domestic legs.
Q5 – Non-stop flights to the US or UK?
Yes. SGN ⇄ San Francisco operates daily; SGN ⇄ Los Angeles launches late 2025/early 2026. Non-stop London ⇄ Hanoi / Ho Chi Minh City also run (Vietnam Airlines).
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