Do you plan to spend weeks of vacation to travel around Vietnam but wonder if domestic flights in Vietnam are different from foreign ones? What should you notice and prepare before those domestic flights? Research beforehand will help you save time, avoid problems and enjoy the trip more. Rolling down to have some best guide to the best vietnam airlines for your domestic journey in Vietnam.
1. Which airline you should choose?
In Vietnam, there are 4 main airlines that serve domestic flights
- Vietnam Airlines
- Jetstar Airlines
- Vietjet Air
- Bamboo Airways
Both within Vietnam and to other countries abroad, Vietnam Airlines continues to be the leading carrier on the majority of routes. The airline provides relatively decent services considering its size and flies to most Vietnamese cities.
Budget airlines like Jetstar Pacific and VietJetAir frequently provide much better prices. Flying with these airlines is safe. Just be aware that these airlines don’t have an excellent track record for leaving on schedule.
The newest airline in Vietnam, Bamboo Airways, launched its first commercial flights in late 2018 and has since established a great reputation in services but has lower prices than Vietnam Airlines.
2. Domestic airports in Vietnam
| Airports | Location |
|---|---|
| Hanoi Airport – HAN (North) | 40 mins to the center of Hanoi |
| Hai Phong Airport – HPH (North) | 2.5 hours to the center of Hanoi |
| Da Nang Airport – DAD (Central) | 10 mins to the center of Da Nang and 30 mins to Hoi An |
| Hue Airport – HUI (Central) | 20 mins to the center of Hue |
| Nha Trang Airport – CXR (Central) | 35 mins to the center of Nha Trang |
| Da Lat Airport – DLI (Central) | 45 mins to the center of Da Lat |
| Vinh Airport – VII (Central) | 15 mins to the center of Vinh |
| Ho Chi Minh Airport – SGN (South) | 30 mins to the center of Saigon |
| Con Dao Airport – VCS (South) | 10 mins to the center of Con Dao |
| Phu Quoc Airport – PQC (South) | 20 mins to Duong Dong |
3. Approximate flight times
You can plan your journey better and more on track by having approximate flight times between some destinations in Vietnam.
| FROM | TO | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| Ho Chi Minh City | Hanoi | +/- 2 hours |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Phu Quoc | +/- 1 hour |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Da Lat | +/- 50 mins |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Da Nang | +/- 1 hour |
| Hanoi | Da Nang | +/- 1 hour |
| Hanoi | Hue | +/- 1 hour |
| Hanoi | Da Lat | +/- 2 hours |
| Hanoi | Phu Quoc | +/- 2 hours |
3. Baggage Allowance and Restriction
Only Vietnam Airlines offers 20kg of checked luggage at all price classes. For other low-cost carriers including Vietjet Air, Jetstar Pacific, and Bamboo Airways, the Eco tickets only include 7 kg of carry-on luggage; checked baggage must be purchased separately.
Please be aware that matches and lighters are not permitted in carry-on or checked luggage if you smoke. Beverages with an alcohol content of 70% or higher are not allowed on domestic flights in Vietnam.
Moreover, please keep in mind not to include the following items in your checked baggage: valuables like cash and jewelry, your phone, laptop, and camera. This is significant since it takes time to unpack your baggage and get these goods when the airline personnel asks for them. You can be anxious if you’re pressed for time.
