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Who flies within Vietnam in 2026?
Two airlines dominate. Vietnam Airlines is the state-owned flag carrier, with full service and a flexible fare range. Vietjet is the low-cost carrier, usually cheaper on the headline fare, with extras such as bags and seat choice sold separately. Together they carry roughly 90 per cent of domestic passengers (Vietnamese press, January 2026), and either will take you between the big cities and most tourist airports.
The rest of the field has changed a great deal since this page was first written. The airlines named in the old guide, Jetstar Pacific and Indochina Airlines, are gone: Jetstar Pacific was renamed Pacific Airlines, and Indochina Airlines stopped flying years ago. In their place:
| Airline | What it is in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Vietnam Airlines | Full-service flag carrier; the widest domestic network |
| Vietjet | Low-cost carrier; largest by flights; extras are paid |
| Pacific Airlines | Vietnam Airlines’ budget arm; stopped flying in March 2024, resumed on 26 June 2024 using aircraft leased from its parent, and its leasing deal was extended in June 2026 |
| Vietravel Airlines | Small carrier with about three aircraft (January 2026), backed by new investors |
| Bamboo Airways | Restructured; schedule cut by more than half in April 2026 |
| Sun PhuQuoc Airways | Newer carrier based on Phu Quoc, flying since late 2025 and adding international routes |
Tickets are sold on each airline’s own site and app, by travel agents and by comparison sites. Pay close attention to what the fare includes before comparing prices.
Flight times from Saigon
Times are gate to gate, rounded, and vary a little by airline and wind.
| Route | Flight time |
|---|---|
| Saigon (SGN) to Hanoi (HAN) | About 2 hours |
| Saigon to Da Nang (DAD) | About 1½ hours |
| Hanoi to Da Nang | About 1¼ hours |
| Saigon to Phu Quoc (PQC) | About 1 hour |
| Saigon to Nha Trang (Cam Ranh, CXR) | About 1 hour |
| Saigon to Da Lat (DLI) | Under 1 hour |
| Saigon to Con Dao (VCS) | Under 1 hour |
What changed in 2026
Fuel shortage and cuts. From March 2026 a jet-fuel shortage tied to the Middle East conflict hit Asian airlines. From 1 April 2026 Vietnam Airlines suspended seven domestic routes (including Hai Phong to Can Tho and Phu Quoc, and Ho Chi Minh City to Rach Gia, Van Don and Dien Bien), cutting about 23 flights a week. Vietjet reduced domestic flights by about 20 per cent that month, and Bamboo Airways more than halved its schedule. The government waived some fuel taxes and the aviation authority allowed domestic fuel surcharges for the first time, set for April to June 2026. If you have a flight on a smaller route, check it is operating before you plan around it.
Terminals at Saigon. Tan Son Nhat now splits domestic flights between two terminals. The new Terminal 3 opened in April 2025. Vietnam Airlines moved its domestic flights there in 2025, and Bamboo Airways followed on 18 August 2025. Vietjet’s main domestic flights have stayed at Terminal 1. Both are on the same airport grounds, and Terminal 2 handles international flights. A new road linking T2 and T1 opened in August 2026.
Da Lat airport reopened. Lien Khuong airport was shut from 4 March to 19 August 2026 for runway reconstruction. Flights have resumed. If you booked a Da Lat trip earlier in the year and rebooked by road, the airport is an option again.
Airports and the road to town
Most visitors use five airports. Distances and times below are by road and vary with traffic.
- Tan Son Nhat (SGN), Saigon. About 6-8 km from District 1, 20-45 minutes in normal traffic, longer at rush hour. Our Saigon airport transfers cover pickup and drop-off for both terminals.
- Long Thanh (LTH), Saigon’s second airport in Dong Nai. Not open yet; see the Long Thanh page for the opening date and the drives it will shorten.
- Lien Khuong (DLI), for Da Lat. About 30 km from the city centre, around 40-50 minutes.
- Cam Ranh (CXR), for Nha Trang. About 30-35 km from the city, 40-60 minutes.
- Phu Quoc (PQC) and Con Dao (VCS), both close to town. Con Dao has its own page with flights and ferries.
Flight, train, bus or car?
Fly for the long hops: Saigon to Hanoi, Hue or Da Nang is a day or more by land, and 1½ to 2 hours in the air. Vietnam’s trains and buses are cheap and safe on the right routes, and getting around Vietnam compares them. Under about four hours from Saigon, a private car often beats flying once you count the airport journeys at both ends: Vung Tau, Mui Ne, Can Tho and the Mekong Delta have no practical flights from Saigon, so the choice is road or rail.
When you do fly, the airport run is the part to plan. Check-in closes well before departure, and the road to Tan Son Nhat slows sharply between 4 and 7 pm and on holiday eves. A booked car with a known driver and fixed price avoids hunting for a taxi after a late landing, and flight tracking means the driver is there whether you land early or late.
Booking tips
- Compare the total, not the headline fare. Vietjet’s lowest fares exclude checked baggage and seat selection, and the cheapest fares of other airlines can too. Read the fare rules for what is included.
- Book early for Tết, the 30 April to 1 May break, 2 September and summer weekends. Flights to Phu Quoc, Con Dao and Da Lat fill first.
- Allow slack. Typhoon season on the central coast runs roughly from October to December, and delays and cancellations on Hue and Da Nang flights are common then.
- Keep your passport with you for check-in, and hand-luggage within the airline’s weight limit: low-cost carriers do check.
- If you have an international connection the same day, leave at least three hours between the flights, and note that you may change terminals at Saigon.