Airports in Vietnam - a traveler’s guide for Vietnam

Vietnam has become in the last few years a traveler’s favorite destination. Have you got your visa for Vietnam? Are you ready to visit Vietnam, the land of Mekong Delta, pagodas and incredible beaches? Then you will need to know how to get there. One of the main ways of getting there is through its airports. In this article we will explore the main airports in Vietnam, their distance to main cities and tourist hotspots and some of their services. 

How many airports does Vietnam have? 

There are approximately 30 airports in Vietnam, but most international flights come through one of the three main airports: 

• Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) in Hanoi 
• Da Nang International Airport (DAD) in Da Nang 
• Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City

Major tourist hotspots like Nha Trang and Phu Quoc have also got international connections to some of the main international cities. 

Main international airports in Vietnam

Main Airport in Vietnam in the north 

Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)

40 minutes to an hour from Hanoi city center. 30 km from Hanoi’s center.

Hanoi’s International airport is the closest to the area of Hanoi and it is one of the largest airports in Vietnam. It has two airport terminals, T1 or the old airport is used for domestic flights and T2 or the new airport is for international flights. There is a shuttle bus that connects both terminals.

Metered taxis to and from the airport can cost around VND 345,000 ($14). If you have a Vietnamese SIM card, you can use a ride-hailing app like GrabCar, Be, and Go Viet. This is the option if you are on a tighter budget since the ride typically costs about 250,000 VND ($10). If you prefer to use public transport, there is the orange 86 Express Bus which connects the airport and Hanoi. It runs from 6:30am to 11pm, and tickets are 30,000 VND  ($1.20). 

Airports in Vietnam in the center

Da Nang International Airport (DAD)

10 minutes to Da Nang city and 30 minutes to Hoi An. 5 km away from Da Nang and 29 km away from Hoi An Ancient Town. 

Da Nang International Airport is the third largest airport in Vietnam and one of the most modern and developed airports. This airport is the closest to Da Nang and it has two terminals. T1 for domestic flights and T2 for international flights are really close and you can walk from one to the other.

Although it is an international airport, it is less busy than the airports of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. You can easily move around the area with a taxi. Taxis to the city center of Da Nang can cost around VND 130,000 ($5) and to the beach area can cost about VND 150,000 ($6). You can also go for ride-hailing apps, if you have a Vietnamese SIM card, or go for a shuttle van to Da Nang City and Hoi An.

Phu Bai International Airport (HUI)

20 minutes to Hue’s city center and 3 hours to Hoi An. 15 km from Hue and 100 km from Hoi An. 

Hue’s airport services Hue and Hoi An. There are frequent buses to Hue from the airport and these cost around VND 40,000 ($1.60). You can also hail a taxi for VND 250,000 ($10) or a motorbike taxi for VND 120,000 ($5). To go to Hoi An, you will have to catch a bus or a taxi from Hue.

Airports in Vietnam in the South

Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)

20 minutes up to 50 minutes to the city center of Ho Chi Minh. 8 km away from the city.

Ho Chi Minh City’s airport is one of the most busiest airports in Vietnam, if not the busiest. It is the airport in Vietnam with the largest service capacity and it has two terminals (T1 for domestic flights and T2 for international flights) connected by a 500m covered walkway. 

Since it is one of the most overcrowded airports in Vietnam, you should allocate extra time to get through security. The security line can get clogged.

You can get to Ho Chi Minh via taxi and expect to pay between 130,000 VND  ($5) to 190,000 VND ($8) for a ride to Ho Chi Minh city center or via a ride-hailing app. If you prefer public transport, you can get the yellow buses that will drive you to the city. You can expect to pay from 20,000VND ($1) to 40,000 VND ($1.62).

Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC)

20 minutes to the city center of Phu Quoc city center. 10 km from the main town of Duong Dong.

Phu Quoc Airport is close to Duong Dong Town on Phu Quoc Island. In recent years, it has undergone an expansion in order to accommodate the increasing number of tourists visiting the island. This expansion is reflected in a new terminal building with increased capacity to handle travelers.It is an airport with service capacity of 3-4 million passengers per year.

You can move around the area through a taxi or a motorbike taxi for VND 30,000 ($1.2)-VND 50,000 ($2). 

Lien Khuong International Airport (DLI)

40 minutes from Da Lat. 30 km from downton Da Lat.

Lien Khuong International Airport serves the city of Da Lat and the area around it. This particular area is popular amongst tourists because of its beautiful mountainous landscapes. It is not one of the largest airports in Vietnam, but is a main link for those travelers who want to see highland regions. You can conveniently use a taxi to move around from the airport for no more than VND 200,000 ($8).

Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR)

35 minutes to the city of Nha Trang and 2.5 hours to Dalat. 30 km south of Nha Trang city center. 

Nha Trang Airport is one of the largest airports in Vietnam in terms of area and it is the main gate for millions of tourists that want to enjoy the coastal city of Nha Trang. It has undergone some significant expansion to accommodate the growing number of visitors to the area. For example, it has built a new terminal building. 

Domestic airports in Vietnam 

There are many international airports in Vietnam, but there are more airports than just these: there are domestic airports in Vietnam. Getting on a plane is the easiest way of moving and visiting the country. Some popular companies are Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, and Jetstar Pacific who offer economical fares. Here are some of the main domestic airports in Vietnam: 

• Buon Ma Thuot (Dak Lak)
• Ca Mau
• Co Ong (Con Dao)
• Dien Bien Phu
• Dong Hoi

What services do airports in Vietnam offer? 

When you travel to an airport in Vietnam you can expect to see some food services (specially chain restaurants like Burger King, and Star Cafe), souvenirs shops, duty-free shops and money exchange stalls. You will also see taxi services. We recommend you to use a taxi from the company Mai Linh or Vinasun.

The majority of airports in Vietnam have free WiFi, water drinking stations, currency exchange centers, smoking lounges for passengers and ATMs outside the entrances of the airports in Vietnam.