Domestic Flights in Vietnam: Which Airline Should You Choose?
Vietnam stretches for more than a thousand kilometres between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. If you have two or three weeks to explore the country, flying is often the most efficient way to connect major destinations without losing entire days in transit.
Routes such as Hanoi–Da Nang, Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City and Ho Chi Minh City–Phu Quoc make it possible to create a much smoother itinerary and devote more of your holiday to actually discovering Vietnam.
But when it comes time to book, one question comes up again and again: Which airline should you choose for domestic flights in Vietnam?
Our first piece of advice is simple: never compare fares based solely on the initial price displayed. A very cheap ticket can quickly become less attractive once checked baggage and additional services are added. Conversely, paying slightly more may be worthwhile if the flight time avoids an extremely early departure or makes an important stage of your itinerary more secure and comfortable.
When choosing a domestic flight in Vietnam, we therefore focus on four key factors: the final price; the baggage allowance; the flight schedule; and how the flight fits into the overall itinerary. The cheapest ticket is not necessarily the best flight.
Which Airlines Operate Domestic Flights in Vietnam?
Vietnam’s aviation market continues to evolve. For travellers planning a journey today, two airlines play a particularly important role on the country’s major domestic routes: Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air.
Their business models, however, are very different. Understanding those differences is essential before comparing prices.
Vietnam Airlines: Vietnam’s National Carrier
Vietnam Airlines operates as a traditional full-service carrier and serves the country’s principal cities and tourist destinations.
One of its advantages is that certain fares include services that would otherwise need to be added separately.
In 2026, on domestic flights, Economy Flex and Economy Classic fares include a checked baggage allowance of 23 kg, together with cabin baggage and a personal item within the applicable total allowance. However, lighter fare categories have different conditions. Economy Super Lite, for example, does not generally include checked baggage.
Conditions may also vary according to the aircraft, route and specific ticket purchased.
This is an important point: Even when flying with a traditional airline, never assume that every fare includes exactly the same services.
In the tailor-made journeys we create, Vietnam Airlines can be particularly attractive when we are looking for a convenient schedule, when travellers have checked luggage, or when simplicity and comfort are priorities.
Vietjet Air: The Low-Cost Alternative
Vietjet Air follows a very different model. As a low-cost airline, it frequently offers attractive starting fares on Vietnam’s major domestic routes.
However, the important question is: What does the fare actually include?
For domestic flights, Vietjet currently offers several fare categories. An Eco fare includes a cabin baggage allowance but checked baggage is charged separately. The Deluxe fare includes a checked baggage allowance, while higher fare categories provide additional benefits and larger allowances.
For travellers packing light, this can be an extremely economical option. If you are travelling with cabin baggage only and find a flight at a convenient time, there is no reason to automatically exclude a low-cost airline.
For a couple travelling with two large suitcases, however, checked baggage costs must be added before comparing the final price with Vietnam Airlines. That calculation can significantly change which airline offers the better value.
Vietnam Airlines or Vietjet: Which Should You Choose?
This is probably the most common question travellers ask when organizing domestic flights in Vietnam.
Our answer is deliberately nuanced: Choose the flight first, then the airline.
Imagine Vietnam Airlines offers a departure at 10:00 a.m., while Vietjet offers a cheaper flight at 6:00 a.m.
The difference in price may initially seem attractive. But if the cheaper option means leaving your hotel in the middle of the night, missing breakfast and arriving far too early at your next destination, the saving becomes considerably less appealing.
On another route, Vietjet may offer the most convenient schedule. In that case, once baggage costs and fare conditions have been checked, it may fit perfectly into your itinerary. The airline matters, but the overall travel experience matters more.
Choose Vietnam Airlines for Greater Simplicity
For travellers carrying checked luggage, Vietnam Airlines can offer an attractive overall package when the selected fare already includes baggage.
The airline also offers different conditions regarding ticket changes and refunds depending on the fare category.
For example, Economy Flex, Classic and Lite do not necessarily offer the same flexibility.
We therefore tend to consider Vietnam Airlines first when the flight occupies an important position within the itinerary, such as: a day with several transfers; an important connection after arrival; a tightly organized stage of the journey; or when travellers simply want to minimize additional options during the booking process.
This does not mean Vietnam Airlines is automatically the best choice. A very low fare may also come with more restrictive conditions. Always check the exact fare category before purchasing your ticket.
Choose Vietjet When the Schedule and Final Price Make Sense
Vietjet becomes particularly attractive when three conditions are met: a convenient schedule, a genuinely lower final fare and manageable baggage requirements.
For a relatively short flight such as Ho Chi Minh City–Da Nang, saving money on the ticket can make perfect sense if it does not affect the comfort or organization of the rest of your journey.
The mistake would be to compare a Vietjet Eco fare without checked baggage against another airline’s ticket that already includes a suitcase.
Our rule is therefore straightforward: Always compare the final price, not the headline fare.
Baggage: Check the Real Cost of Your Ticket
Baggage is probably the most important detail to check when booking a domestic flight in Vietnam.
With Vietnam Airlines, many domestic Economy fares include a checked baggage allowance, although lighter fare categories may be exceptions. The airline also indicates that purchasing additional baggage in advance can be less expensive than buying it at the airport.
With Vietjet, the basic Eco fare does not normally include checked baggage, while other fare categories include different allowances.
Before clicking “Book”, always check: the number of suitcases; the permitted weight; cabin baggage allowance;
checked baggage allowance; and the total cost of all options for every passenger.
For a couple or family, this simple calculation can completely change the result of your price comparison.
Which Airline Is Best for Your Travel Style?
There is no single airline that is perfect for every traveller. For each domestic flight, we first consider the requirements of the itinerary and the profile of the passengers.
- If you are travelling with several suitcases, compare the final fare after adding all baggage. Vietnam Airlines may become more attractive when checked baggage is already included in the selected fare.
- If you are travelling with cabin baggage only, a Vietjet Eco fare can be particularly economical when the flight schedule works well.
- For a honeymoon or premium tailor-made journey, we generally place greater importance on convenient schedules and ticket conditions than on saving a relatively small amount.
- For families, calculate the total cost for all passengers, including luggage and any additional services.
- Before an important connection, prioritize a flight that provides a comfortable safety margin.
You should also consider the true impact of the departure time. A 6:00 a.m. flight may look convenient on a booking website, but in reality it means leaving your hotel several hours earlier. Saving a small amount on the ticket can therefore mean sacrificing part of your night and arriving tired at your next destination.
For us, the best domestic flight in Vietnam is the one that fits almost naturally into your itinerary.
When Should You Book Domestic Flights in Vietnam?
There is no universal booking window that guarantees the lowest fare. Prices vary according to the route, travel period, demand and remaining fare categories.
However, we generally recommend avoiding last-minute bookings when a particular flight plays an important role in your itinerary.
This becomes especially relevant during periods of high demand. Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, generates significant domestic travel throughout the country. Major holiday periods and public holidays can also increase demand on popular routes.
Booking in advance is not only about securing a better price. It also gives you a wider choice of departure times.
And when designing a multi-stop journey, a 10:00 a.m. flight may be considerably more comfortable than a 6:00 a.m. departure, even when the price difference is relatively small.
Once your travel dates and itinerary are confirmed, we therefore recommend booking the main domestic flights rather than waiting indefinitely for a possible reduction in price.
Be Careful When Connecting to an International Flight
This is one of the most important points when organizing flights independently in Vietnam.
Imagine your journey ends in Phu Quoc. You separately book a Phu Quoc–Ho Chi Minh City domestic flight followed a few hours later by your international flight home.
On paper, the schedule may look perfectly efficient. But if the domestic flight is delayed, rescheduled or cancelled, your international connection could become problematic—particularly when the two flights were purchased separately and are not protected under the same ticket.
You also need to consider: collecting checked baggage; potentially changing terminals; checking in again; security and immigration procedures; and the international airline’s check-in deadline.
For this reason, we strongly advise against tight connections between two independently booked flights.
When an international departure is particularly important, allow a generous safety margin. Depending on the itinerary, spending your final night in the city from which your international flight departs can sometimes be the most relaxing solution.
Saving a few hours on paper is rarely worth the stress of potentially missing your flight home.
Our Advice for Choosing Domestic Flights in Vietnam
Vietnam Airlines or Vietjet? After comparing the two, our recommendation can be summarized in one sentence:
Don’t simply choose an airline — choose the flight that best protects the rhythm of your itinerary.
Vietnam Airlines can offer greater simplicity when the selected fare already includes the services and baggage allowance you need. Vietjet can be an excellent alternative when the schedule is convenient and the total price remains competitive after adding baggage and other necessary options.
Whatever airline you choose, check four things before booking: departure time, final price, baggage allowance and ticket conditions.
At Senteurs du Vietnam, we integrate domestic flights into the overall design of our tailor-made journeys.
Our objective is not simply to move you from one city to another. We select connections that preserve the rhythm of your trip, avoid unnecessary fatigue and allow you to make the most of every destination.
Because a successful itinerary depends not only on where you travel, but also on how you connect each stage of the journey.
