Air travel is by far the easiest and most cost-effective means of distant travel in Vietnam. If you want to get there, choose the plane, if you want to see the country, choose the train. I have traveled around Vietnam by plane, train, bus and motorbike. Like most people, I book a plane when I want to get there. Here is what I have found about booking air travel in Vietnam.
Booking air travel in Vietnam is quite easy, the cost is quite reasonable and the service is great. The planes are clean and modern. I don’t speak Vietnamese. Young people under about 25 years old are relatively fluent in English and they are very helpful. Vietnamese are friendly, even to rude foreigners.
If you want to get where you’re going, choose to fly. Vietnam is a big country for trains. The ticket prices are about the same from Danang to Nha Trang for flying or train. The flight takes under two hours and the train will take nearly 12 hours.
Air travel is not within the budget of all Vietnamese, but many choose to fly to distant locations. All major cities have airports that are served by modern aircraft. I flew directly from San Francisco to Danang (with a short stop in Korea).
I flew directly to Danang (Đà Nẵng) Vietnam from San Francisco in 2017. During the last five years, I have traveled to Huế, the popular ancient town of Hội An, Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi, Tam Kỳ, Hồ Chí Minh City, Nghệ An, and Kon Tum. I have also traveled by Grab car and Grab motorbike (motorcycles are called motorbikes).
On the other hand, there is lots to see in Vietnam! Traveling by train or bus is a way to see more of this beautiful country. Traveling by ground transportation allows you to see things you would otherwise miss. There are lots of ways to get around.
See this article for more information on other ways to travel in Vietnam.
There are several airlines operating in Vietnam. Bamboo Airways, Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, and Pacific Airlines. I personally have flown on Vietnam Airlines and VietJet. Bamboo is a new company and seems to be doing well. I enjoyed my flights and would fly again.
What Is the Main Airport in Vietnam?
There are 10 international airports and another 23 airports for the smaller cities in Vietnam. The three biggest cities, of course, are Hanoi (the capitol) in the north, the most popular is Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) in the south, and the biggest airport is Danang in the center. The airport for Nha Trang is the closest to the marina, Anamarina.
The code for Ho Chi Minh is SGN, which is derived from the city’s former name, Saigon. The code for Danang is DAD. The code for Hanoi is HAN. Nha Trang has a modern airport and that code is NHA.
What Is the Best International Airport in Vietnam to Fly Into?
Vietnam is served by many airlines. I flew on Asiana Airlines, a Korean airline. The most popular airports are for Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh), Danang, Hanoi, and soon, Nha Trang. Nha Trang is where the new marina has opened and it will undoubtedly become a major destination soon.
What is the Best Way to Fly In Vietnam
There are several airlines operating within Vietnam. Bamboo Airways, Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, and Pacific Airlines. I personally have flown on Vietnam Airlines and VietJet. Bamboo is a new company and seems to be doing well. I enjoyed my flights and would fly again.
There are several airlines operating in Vietnam. Bamboo Airways, Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, and Pacific Airlines. I personally have flown on Vietnam Airlines and VietJet. Bamboo is a new company and seems to be doing well. I have flown on Vietnam Airlines. I enjoyed my flights and would fly again.
Booking Vietnam Air Tickets on Websites
The airlines have modern websites and accept international bank cards. The majority also have published phone numbers. There are ticket agents who will book your flight for you, confirm by email or messenger and take payment.
If you stay a while, as your friends who can book you a ticket. Vietnam still has travel agents. They know the system better and can maybe find you a better connection or a lower price. They also make a commission and will be happy to help. Both of my recent flights were booked for me by Vietnamese friends.
Of these airlines, VietJet Air is described as the low cost carrier. Most of these airlines also have apps for Apple and Android. Apparently, JetStar doesn’t want to talk to people, even for help in emergencies. However, many travel agents should be able to reach them for you. If there’s a problem, contact your agent.
The Five Airlines in Vietnam
Here is the list of the five airlines that serve domestic flights in Vietnam, and their contact phone and website. They usually also have an App for Apple and android, which might be more convenient. They often have a link near the bottom of their page.
| Airline | Website | Phone |
| Vietnam Airlines | https://www.vietnamairlines.com/vn/en/ | +84 1900 1800 |
| VietJet Air | https://www.vietjetair.com/en | +84 1900 1886 |
| Bamboo Air | https://www.bambooairways.com/vn-en/ | +84 1900 1166 |
| JetStar Air | https://www.jetstar.com/vn/en/home | ?? |
| Vietravel Airlines | https://www.vietravelairlines.com/vn/en | +84 1900 6686 |
I have listed the English pages of these websites. Most all airline websites include English, but you may have to select your language preferences more than once.
I have friends who are ticket agents. I usually let them handle the process because they have more familiarity with the language and the airline. Most of the airlines (and other public offices) have employees who speak English. Sometimes they need to call you back, but they usually do. Vietnamese are friendly people in my personal experience.