Where to Fly Into and Out of Vietnam
Moving through Vietnam on short leave: flying home from a different city can save you a backtrack.
Fly into one city and home from another when your route runs in one direction and you have a week or less. It saves the day you would otherwise spend going back. If you stay around one base, a plain return is simpler.
When does it save a backtrack?
Vietnam is long and thin. The railway from Hanoi to the south is 1,726 km6, and the Reunification Express takes about 30 hours end to end7. Nobody on short leave wants to cover that twice.
That is why a north-to-south trip, such as Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, is a good candidate for a different departure city. A trip that stays within one region rarely needs it.
How do the common pairings compare?
| Plan | Fly in | Fly out | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| One base | Same city both ways | Same city | Families, elders, short leave |
| North to south | Hanoi | Ho Chi Minh City | A full trip down the country |
| Centre then south | Da Nang | Ho Chi Minh City | Beach, then city and food |
| Centre then north | Da Nang | Hanoi | Beach, then culture |
Between the two cities you will need a domestic flight, so count it in the budget.
Which arrival city fits your route?
Hanoi is listed from Kuala Lumpur with AirAsia, Batik Air Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines and VietJet Air1. Da Nang has the same four2. Ho Chi Minh City is listed with Malaysia Airlines, VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines and AirAsia3.
Penang’s airport lists only Ho Chi Minh City among Vietnam destinations4, so a Penang start nudges you toward the south. Hue has no direct international routes5, so a Hue-focused plan still begins in Da Nang. Our KL arrival guide compares the three gateways.
What does it do to the quote?
Price the plain return first. Then price the pair of cities you prefer and add the domestic flight between them. The difference is the real cost of saving a day.
Our open-jaw pricing guide explains the fare rules to check. Fares change by season, so we do not print figures here.
What should you check before you book?
- The order of your cities, and whether the direction suits the weather in each.
- The domestic flight time and where it falls in your day.
- Your leave days, counting the arrival and departure days as part days.
Test the plan in the route chooser, then lay it out in the travel-day checker. The Flying from Malaysia hub has more.
Tell us the cities you want to see and your leave dates, and we can show which arrival and departure pair saves the most time for your route.
Common questions
What is an open-jaw flight?
An open-jaw ticket means you fly into one city and home from another, for example into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City. You make your own way between them, usually by a short domestic flight. It removes the need to return to your arrival city.
When does flying into one city and out of another make sense?
It makes sense when your route runs in one direction, such as north to south. Without it you would fly or travel back to the first city, and that wastes a day on a short trip. For a round trip based in one city, a plain return is simpler.
Does an open-jaw ticket cost more?
It can, because the price depends on the fare rules of each airline. Sometimes it is close to a return, sometimes it is higher. Get a quote for both on the same dates and add the domestic flight between cities before you decide.
Which city is easiest to arrive in from Kuala Lumpur?
All three major gateways are linked to Kuala Lumpur by at least one airline each. Pick the one that sits at the start of your route, not the one with the lowest-looking fare. Our KL arrival guide compares them for first-timers.
Can I fly into Hue or Hoi An directly from Malaysia?
No. Hue's airport has no direct international routes. You fly into Da Nang and continue by road to Hue or Hoi An. This is why Da Nang is the usual central gateway.
Sources
- Kuala Lumpur International to Hanoi Noi Bai is listed as served by AirAsia, Batik Air Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines and VietJet Air. Wikipedia. Wikipedia destination table; check airline sites for current schedules.
- Da Nang to Kuala Lumpur International is listed as served by AirAsia, Batik Air Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines and VietJet Air. Wikipedia
- Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat to Kuala Lumpur is listed as served by Malaysia Airlines, VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines and AirAsia. Wikipedia
- Penang International Airport lists Ho Chi Minh City as its only Vietnam destination, served by AirAsia. Wikipedia. No Penang to Hanoi or Da Nang listed.
- Phu Bai (Hue) airport has no direct international routes. Wikipedia
- The North-South (Reunification Express) railway route is 1,726 km. Wikipedia
- Typical end-to-end journeys on the Reunification Express last about 30 hours; express timetables run about 33 to 34 hours. Wikipedia. Timetables change; check dsvn.vn.
Keep planning
Tell us the cities you want to see and your leave dates, and we can show which arrival and departure pair saves the most time for your route.