Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) is Vietnam's busiest airport and the main international gateway to Ho Chi Minh City, with regular connections across Asia and growing long-haul links to Europe, North America and Australia. See our airport guide for what to expect once you land.
Direct vs. connecting flights
From within Asia (Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, and other regional hubs), direct flights to Ho Chi Minh City are common and generally straightforward to book. From North America, Europe or Australia, most itineraries route through a regional hub — commonly Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul or a Gulf hub — rather than flying non-stop, since genuinely non-stop long-haul routes to Ho Chi Minh City remain limited. Budget extra time and check layover length carefully when comparing fares.
Which airlines fly there
Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are the main Vietnamese carriers, alongside a wide range of international airlines serving SGN from their home hubs, plus low-cost regional carriers like AirAsia and Scoot connecting from Southeast Asian cities. For budget regional connections (Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore, Penang), low-cost carriers are often significantly cheaper than legacy airlines, at the cost of fewer included baggage allowances and less flexible rebooking.
Arriving from elsewhere in Vietnam or the region
If you're already travelling in Vietnam or nearby Southeast Asia, short regional flights connect Ho Chi Minh City with Da Nang, Nha Trang, Da Lat and Phu Quoc domestically, and with regional hubs like Bangkok, Siem Reap (for Angkor Wat) and Phnom Penh internationally, making it a workable base for a wider Southeast Asia itinerary rather than a single-country trip.
| Airport | Tan Son Nhat International (SGN) |
|---|---|
| From the West | Almost always one stop via a regional hub |
| Book ahead for | Dry season (Dec–Apr) and Tet, which sell out furthest ahead |