Travelling around Vietnam has never been easier with the wide domestic flight network. This article will give you some essential info when traveling by plane in the S-shaped country.

1 | Main Domestic Hubs

2 | Airlines at a Glance

* VNA “Economy Lite” = carry-on only.
† Add-on fees in Section 5.

3 | Booking & Fare Tips

• Compare, then book direct. Use Google Flights / Skyscanner to see deals, but finalize on the airline’s own site for free seat selection and easier changes.

• Flash-sale windows: Tue–Thu, ~11:00–14:00 VN time. Zero-dong or 19 000 đ seats vanish fast—pay immediately.

• Peak surcharges: Tết (Lunar New Year) adds US $40–100 per leg; lock flights 60+ days out.

• Itinerary > fare. A cheap SGN ticket is pointless if your whole tour is northern—domestic hops will erase the saving.

4 | Check-in & Boarding Rules

*Smaller airports may still print you a paper pass free of charge.

How early to arrive?
• Checked bag: ≥ 90 min domestic / 2 h international.
• Carry-on only: 60 min is usually safe—if you already hold a mobile BP.

Missed counter?
Full-service flex tickets re-route for a fee; most low-cost fares are forfeited—you’ll buy a walk-up seat at day-of prices.

5 | Baggage Allowances & Add-On Pricing

*VNA “Economy Lite” excludes checked bag.

Rules to note
• Lithium power banks > 100 Wh must ride in cabin.
• Fresh durian or strong fish sauce banned in cabin—check it or lose it.

6 | Fly to Saigon or Hanoi — Which one is better?

Choosing the port of entry must be mainly based on your trip itinerary and aspirations to explore the country. A handful of travelers usually begin in the south by flying into Ho Chi Minh City since the airfare to the biggest city of Vietnam is cheaper than that to the capital city. Moreover, it is said that Ho Chi Minh City offers first-time travelers a slightly “softer” landing culturally in Vietnam.

Nonetheless, you should balance two factors between itinerary and budget in order to make the right decision. For example, your journey just covers only Northern and Central Vietnam, but you make a reservation to Ho Chi Minh City thanks to the cheaper price as usual. It leads to a consequence that you have to waste much money on domestic flights to move among places. Hence, the amount of money you spend is much more than your original thought.

In essence, to come up with the optimal choice, you have to keep a cool head and don’t let yourself be allured by promotions that you are under impression that you catch the amazing bargain.

6.1 Air-Fare Economics

Take-away: the headline saving into SGN is often erased by one northbound hop if your route is northern-heavy.

6.2 Match Entry Port to Itinerary

6.3 “Soft Landing” & Jet-Lag Comfort

If you’re travel-weary, SGN’s riverside districts and new T3 arrivals hall feel less frenetic than Hanoi’s Old Quarter at rush hour.

6.4 Time-Cost Matrix

6.5 When a Cheaper Ticket Is Actually Worth It

1. Mileage runs / status seekers – if you need the flight credits, grab SGN even for a northern loop.

2. Ultra-tight budget – a US $150 family difference may outweigh the 2-hour domestic hop.

3. Multi-country start – coming from Cambodia or Thailand, SGN fares / connections are often better.

6.6 Decision Checklist

1. Map your first three hotel nights.

2. Price open-jaw (into HAN, out of SGN or vice-versa).

3. Factor one domestic hop (US $60-120) if you ignore Step 1.

4. Check arrival-day climate – high-humidity Hanoi June–August vs. scorching but dry Saigon.

5. Book. Promotions that break Steps 1–3 are not bargains.

Bottom line:

• Land at HAN for northern icons, SGN for southern river-and-island life.

• Use an open-jaw ticket for a full north-to-south run.

• Only chase a cheaper fare if it doesn’t force an extra domestic leg that steals both time and money

7 | FAQ – Domestic Flights in Vietnam (2025)