You have three popular choices for flying into Vietnam: Saigon, Hanoi, and Da Nang.
Before
arriving at one of Vietnam's three major international airports, you'll
have to have a travel visa already in your passport or a Visa Approval
Letter to receive your visa on arrival at the airport. If you arrive
without a visa, you will be denied entry into the country.
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| Fare to Vietnam |
Book Cheap Flight Fares to Vietnam, Saigon or Hanoi?
Obviously,
your trip itinerary and plans should be taken into account, however,
most people wishing to see the entire country start in Saigon (Ho Chi
Minh City).
For
different reasons, flying into Saigon (airport code: SGN) is almost
always cheaper than flying into Hanoi (airport code: HAN). In fact,
Saigon's Tan Son Nhat Airport handles approximately 75% of all
international traffic in and out of Vietnam. If you intend to see the
entire country, consider starting in the south and then applying the
difference in flight costs to take the scenic Reunification Express
train from Saigon to places of interest in the north, including Hanoi.
When leaving Vietnam to fly home, structure your trip so that you can
fly out of Saigon.
The cheapest flight fares to Vietnam
typically originate from Bangkok, Singapore, and China. The state-run
Vietnam Airlines handles international flights to Australia, Europe and
the United States. International flights depart from Terminal 2 at the
airport in Saigon.
Vietnam
Airlines is a member of the SkyTeam alliance; with a little luck you'll
be rewarded with Delta SkyMiles when flying with them.
Airports in Vietnam
The airports in Saigon and Hanoi are functional and very easy to navigate.
Because
the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Saigon is located within the
city and cannot be easily expanded, construction on a new international
airport is already underway. The new Long Tanh International Airport
will be located around 31 miles northeast of Saigon and is expected to
start handling flights in 2020.
Leaving Saigon Airport
Many
hotels offer airport pickup -- which must be arranged in advance -- for
about the same as you would pay for a taxi. Otherwise, you'll need to
enter the taxi stand in front of the airport. Taxis have a nefarious
reputation of ripping off new arrivals by either demanding more money or
using broken meters. Wait for and demand a VinaSun taxi -- the most
reputable taxi company in Saigon.
Regardless
of which company you choose, you'll still have to pay a small airport
fee directly to the driver in addition to whatever the meter says.
Tip:
Keep your luggage on the back seat rather than in the trunk of the
taxi. If you need to get out of the taxi after a bad interaction, a
dishonest driver may demand more money before releasing the trunk!
Vietnam Departure Tax
An
international departure tax of US $14 for adults and US $7 for children
is levied when you fly out of Vietnam. Most airlines include the tax in
the price of your ticket. If the departure tax is not included in your
ticket price, you'll need to go to a counter to pay before you get to
your gate.
A very insignificant tax (less than US $1) is added to domestic departures.
Tip:
Spend all of your Vietnamese dong before exiting the country.
Exchanging dong outside of Vietnam is nearly impossible. The airport in
Hanoi does not have money-changing facilities once you pass through the
immigration checkpoint.
Getting Around Vietnam
Getting
around Vietnam has its challenges, however, fares are still
surprisingly cheap for the distances covered. Vietnam's unique shape
means that most tourist stops are strung out along the north-south route
between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
Aside
from the most expensive option of hiring a private driver, you have
three primary options for getting around Vietnam: flights, buses, and
trains. Foreigners are not allowed to rent or drive cars.
While
foreigners can get away with driving scooters in Vietnam without a
license, make sure you've got what it takes to contend in the famously
congested streets of Saigon or Hanoi before renting one. Scooters are a
great way to reach the sights in smaller places such as the sand dunes
in Mui Ne.
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