Which airport to fly into in Vietnam: Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang and Da Lat

Choose the airport closest to the first city on your route: Noi Bai (HAN) for Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh and Sapa; Da Nang (DAD) for Da Nang, Hoi An and Ba Na Hills; Tan Son Nhat (SGN) for Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta. Phu Quoc, Nha Trang and Da Lat each have their own airport. Sapa has none.

Which airport matches each destination?

The table below pairs popular destinations with the airport that serves them. Check that your airline actually flies the route before booking, because the route list differs from airport to airport.

How do you get from Noi Bai (HAN) into Hanoi?

Noi Bai sits about 45 km from central Hanoi and is served by airport bus, taxi and ride-hailing, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).

• Regular city routes are 07 (to Cau Giay), 17 (to Long Bien), 90 (to Kim Ma), 109 (to My Dinh) and E10 (to the Ocean Park urban area).
• Routes 68 (to Ha Dong) and 86 (to Ha Noi Railway Station) are listed as higher-quality services.
• Hai Van operates airport routes NB01 (Ring Road 2 loop) and NB02 (urban areas loop).
• Only taxi companies licensed at the airport may wait for passengers at the terminals; contract cars wait at T1 halls A and E on the ground floor and at the east end of the T2 ground floor.

Check fares and operating hours on the official Noi Bai Airport website before you travel.

What about Tan Son Nhat (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City?

Tan Son Nhat is described as Vietnam's busiest airport and lies just 7 km from the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. VNAT lists taxis, ride-hailing and city buses as the ways into town.

For the planned Long Thanh airport serving Ho Chi Minh City, check the opening status and which airlines use it on official announcements and your airline's page before booking.

Is Da Nang (DAD) the right airport for Hoi An, Hue and Ba Na Hills?

Yes. Da Nang International Airport is the gateway for Hoi An and Ba Na Hills, because the Hai Van Bus suburban route links the Cua Dai parking lot in Hoi An directly with the airport.

• Da Nang's official site states T1 is domestic and T2 is international.
• Danabus Route 12 and Route 06 serve the airport.
• The airport names Grab, GoJek and Xanh SM (SM Green Taxi) for car and motorbike rides; set the pickup at the correct terminal.
• Listed taxi firms include Mai Linh, Tien Sa, VinaSun, Hai Van, Datranco, Danang Taxi and Xanh SM.

Hue has Phu Bai Airport about 15 km from the city, but many travellers land in Da Nang and continue to Hue by train or the Hai Van Pass road, both of which VNAT says link the two cities.

Which airport do you use for Sapa?

There is no airport to choose for Sapa, because the town does not have one. VNAT describes reaching it by night train or expressway from Hanoi to Lao Cai and then a short transfer up to the town, so land at Noi Bai (HAN) first.

Check train schedules and journey times with the operator Vietnam Railways (dsvn.vn). The Fansipan cable car is in the Sapa area.

Where do you land for Nha Trang, and where is the Da Lat airport?

For Nha Trang, land at Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR), which VNAT places about 30 km south of the city. Shuttles, taxis and ride-hailing run from the airport.

Da Lat's airport is Lien Khuong (DLI), about 30 km from town, with flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and buses from Nha Trang. Phu Quoc is reached through PQC, which has direct flights from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and abroad; ferries also run from Rach Gia and Ha Tien.

Why does mobile data matter when you land?

The moment you land you need data to call Grab, Xanh SM or GoJek, set the pickup at the right terminal and follow an airport bus on the map. Without it you lose time at the pickup point.

• Install an eSIM before you leave and switch it on after landing.
• Save your hotel name and address in Vietnamese on your phone to show the driver.
• Download an offline map as a backup.

For more, read “Going to Vietnam: how to get online and what to prepare”, and pick a plan from the Vietnam eSIM page below.

Scopri i piani eSIM per il Vietnam