Overview
Vietnam packs an enormous amount into one long, curving country: limestone bays, terraced rice fields, motorbike-filled cities and some of Asia's finest street food. It's a firm favourite with UK travellers, whether you're planning a two-week north-to-south tour or adding a beach week onto a wider Southeast Asia trip. Seven Zones Travel books flights into every Vietnamese city we serve, so you can fly into Hanoi and home from Ho Chi Minh City without backtracking.
Best time to fly to Vietnam
Vietnam stretches over 1,000 miles, so the weather varies hugely by region. For a whole-country trip, March to April and October to November usually give the most reliable conditions. The north (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sapa) is cool and drier from October to April, with a real chill in midwinter. Central Vietnam (Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue) is at its best from February to August; September to November brings heavy rain and the occasional typhoon. The south (Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc) is dry from November to April and humid with afternoon downpours from May to October. Fares rise around Christmas and Tet (Lunar New Year, usually late January or February), so check the When to book chart above before fixing your dates.
Main gateway cities & airports
Most UK travellers arrive into Noi Bai International (HAN) for Hanoi and the north, or Tan Son Nhat International (SGN) for Ho Chi Minh City and the south. Da Nang International (DAD) is the useful third gateway for Hoi An, Hue and the central coast. For beach trips, Cam Ranh (CXR) serves Nha Trang, while Phu Quoc (PQC) has its own international airport.
Airlines and routes
Vietnam Airlines operates the only non-stop service from the UK, flying London Heathrow to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in around 11 to 12 hours. One-stop options are plentiful and often cheaper: Qatar Airways via Doha, Emirates via Dubai, Singapore Airlines via Singapore, Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong and Turkish Airlines via Istanbul all connect through to Vietnamese cities. From Manchester, Edinburgh or Birmingham you'll connect via a Gulf or Asian hub, with total journeys of roughly 15 to 18 hours.
Popular places to visit in Vietnam
- Hanoi: the atmospheric capital, with a tangle of Old Quarter streets, lakeside cafes and French-colonial architecture.
- Halong Bay: thousands of forested limestone islands, best explored on an overnight cruise from Hanoi.
- Hoi An: a lantern-lit former trading port near Da Nang, known for tailors, food and its car-free old town.
- Ho Chi Minh City: the fast-moving southern hub for history, rooftop bars and Mekong Delta day trips.
- Sapa: a far-northern mountain town with terraced valleys and hill-tribe villages, reached by overnight train or road from Hanoi.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Vietnam
- Compare non-stop Vietnam Airlines fares against one-stop carriers — the price charts on this page show how much a connection can save.
- Fly midweek and avoid the Christmas and Tet peaks; late spring and early autumn often bring the best value.
- Consider an open-jaw booking, into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City, to save time and a domestic fare.
- Set a fare alert and book two to five months ahead, using the When to book chart above to time it.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders can currently visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days; for longer stays, apply online for the official Vietnamese e-visa before you travel. Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity. The currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND); cards are widely accepted in cities, but carry cash for markets, rural areas and smaller towns. For the best fares, stay flexible with your dates and check the price charts on this page before booking.
