The five airlines in Vietnam most travellers choose between for domestic flights in 2026 are Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Sun PhuQuoc Airways, Vietravel Airlines and Bamboo Airways. Vietnam Airlines is the full-service flag carrier, Vietjet is the big low-cost operator with the most flights, and Sun PhuQuoc Airways is the fast-growing newcomer that began flying on 1 November 2025. Vietravel and Bamboo are small players with short route lists, and Pacific Airlines survives as a three-aircraft subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines.
Flying is the practical way to cover a country that stretches well over 1,500 kilometres from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City: the flight takes about two hours, the train more than a day. This guide compares each carrier on network, fares, baggage and reliability, then explains which airline suits which kind of trip.
How we compared these airlines: We looked at each carrier's current fleet and routes using Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam fleet data reported in September 2026 and airline announcements, plus baggage rules published by the airlines. Fleets and routes in Vietnam change quickly, so the figures here are dated October 2026 and you should confirm details on the airline's own site before you book.
A few numbers frame the choice. CAAV data for September 2026 put Vietjet at 107 aircraft and Vietnam Airlines at 94, the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City flight takes 2 hours, and Vietjet's standard hand-baggage allowance is 7 kg.
Vietnam domestic airlines: quick comparison table
The five main domestic airlines in Vietnam are Vietnam Airlines, the full-service carrier with the largest network and checked bags in the base fare; Vietjet Air, the low-cost airline with the lowest fares and most frequencies; Sun PhuQuoc Airways for Phu Quoc and Da Nang holidays; Vietravel Airlines; and Bamboo Airways, with a very small network in 2026.
| # | Airline | Type | Checked bag in base fare | Network size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vietnam Airlines | Full-service | Yes | Largest domestic and international | Comfort, connections, reliability |
| 2 | Vietjet Air | Low-cost | No | Very wide | Lowest fares, most frequencies |
| 3 | Sun PhuQuoc Airways | Full-service, resort-focused | Check fare | Growing fast, Phu Quoc hub | Phu Quoc and Da Nang holidays |
| 4 | Vietravel Airlines | Hybrid, tourism-led | Varies | Small | Package holidays |
| 5 | Bamboo Airways | Hybrid | Varies | Very small in 2026 | Occasional trunk-route deals |
Read the "checked bag" column first, because it decides the real price. On Vietjet's Eco fares the included allowance is hand baggage only, capped at 7 kg in total as of October 2026, and anything heavier must be prepaid, which is far cheaper online than at the airport counter. Vietnam Airlines economy fares on domestic routes normally include a checked bag, though the allowance varies by fare family, so confirm the weight shown on your booking. Sun PhuQuoc Airways, Vietravel and Bamboo sell several fare brands with different inclusions, which is why the table says "check fare" or "varies".
"Network size" is a guide to how many routes and daily frequencies each airline runs, not to fleet quality. A small network matters most when something goes wrong: if a flight is cancelled, an airline with several departures a day on your route can rebook you within hours, while a carrier with one daily flight may move you to the next day.
Top 5 airlines in Vietnam for domestic flights: full guide
Vietnam Airlines
Vietnam Airlines, the full-service flag carrier, is our best all-round pick and the safest default for most international visitors. It is a SkyTeam member, so connecting tickets with partners such as Korean Air, Air France or Delta are straightforward, and Lotusmiles points can be earned on domestic sectors.
Its domestic network links Hanoi Noi Bai and Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat with almost every commercial airport in the country, including Da Nang, Hue, Cam Ranh for Nha Trang, Da Lat, Phu Quoc, Quy Nhon, Dong Hoi and Con Dao. On the busy trunk routes it often uses widebody Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 aircraft, which makes a two-hour hop noticeably more comfortable than on a narrowbody.
Economy fares usually include checked baggage and a snack or meal, and seats are assigned at check-in or earlier. Business class on the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City route is a realistic upgrade for travellers who want lounge access and priority lines. The honest caveat: on short routes Vietnam Airlines can cost noticeably more than Vietjet, and its lower-fare economy tickets come with stricter change rules, so read the fare conditions before paying.
- Main hubs: Hanoi Noi Bai, Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat (Terminal T3 for domestic since 2025)
- Price band: Mid to high; promotions on trunk routes
- Baggage: Checked bag included on most economy fares
- Fleet: About 94 to 96 aircraft (CAAV figures, Sept 2026)
First-time visitors, business travellers and anyone with a tight connection get the most from it. In Ho Chi Minh City its domestic flights leave from Terminal T3, not the old domestic terminal.
Vietjet Air
For low fares, look first at Vietjet. The low-cost carrier is Vietnam's largest airline by fleet, with about 104 to 107 all-Airbus aircraft on the register in September 2026, and it flies more domestic frequencies than anyone else. Its promotional fares are famous, and on routes such as Hanoi to Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc it is usually the cheapest option.
The base Eco fare includes 7 kg of hand baggage only. Checked bags, seat selection and meals are paid extras, and adding a bag online at booking is far cheaper than paying at the airport. Staff do weigh hand luggage at the gate, so a heavy backpack plus a shopping bag can trigger a charge. Deluxe and SkyBoss fares include more baggage and flexibility, and SkyBoss adds lounge access and priority boarding.
The trade-off is punctuality. Delays and schedule changes are the most common complaint, especially around Tet and in summer, so avoid booking a Vietjet domestic flight with a short connection onto an international departure. Vietjet also flies widely across Asia, which makes it useful for open-jaw trips.
- Main hubs: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Terminal T1 domestic per 2025 reports), Da Nang
- Price band: Lowest base fares; extras add up
- Baggage: 7 kg hand baggage on Eco; checked bags extra
- Fleet: About 104 to 107 Airbus aircraft (Sept 2026)
Vietjet rewards budget travellers who pack light and keep their plans loose. Buy any checked baggage when you book, and leave a wide buffer before an onward flight.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways
The newest name on the list, Sun PhuQuoc Airways, is based on Phu Quoc and owned by Sun Group, the developer behind many resorts and cable cars on Phu Quoc island. Ticket sales opened on 15 October 2025 and the first commercial flight left Hanoi for Phu Quoc on 1 November 2025 with 220 passengers on an Airbus A321.
At launch the airline flew Phu Quoc to Hanoi, Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, then added Da Nang routes in early 2026. The Civil Aviation Authority approved international operations in November 2025, with Seoul and Taipei named as the first targets. Fleet reports vary because the airline is adding aircraft quickly, from 10 in one September 2026 report to more than 20 in another.
For travellers, the appeal is new aircraft and a network built around holiday islands and beach cities. It is worth comparing on any route touching Phu Quoc. Its short track record means fewer reviews and less certainty about how it handles disruption, so treat it like any new carrier and keep your plans flexible in its first years.
- Main base: Phu Quoc, with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
- Price band: Competitive with Vietnam Airlines on launch routes
- Key routes: Phu Quoc, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang
- Fleet: Airbus A321 family; growing through 2026
It makes most sense for Phu Quoc trips and resort stays. Price the flight against a Sun Group resort package too, since bundles sometimes beat separate bookings.
Vietravel Airlines
Owned by Vietravel, one of the country's biggest tour companies, Vietravel Airlines is a small hybrid carrier that started flying in 2021 and specialises in holiday traffic. Many of its seats are sold inside package holidays, which explains why it chases leisure routes and not business frequencies.
The fleet is small: a September 2026 report put it at five aircraft, one Airbus A320 and four A321s, after a new delivery that month. Routes centre on Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with beach and heritage destinations, and schedules can thin out outside peak holiday periods.
Fare rules vary by ticket type, so check whether a checked bag is included before comparing prices with Vietjet. With so few aircraft, one technical problem can mean a long delay or a rebooking, which is the main risk to weigh against a good fare.
- Main hubs: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
- Price band: Mid; often bundled with tours
- Baggage: Depends on fare type
- Fleet: About five Airbus aircraft (Sept 2026)
Package holiday travellers are its main customers. If your package uses Vietravel, ask the agent before you pay what happens when a flight is cancelled.
Bamboo Airways
Check Bamboo Airways carefully before booking. The airline, set up by FLC Group, launched in 2019 as a hybrid carrier between full-service and low-cost, and grew to a peak of 44 aircraft in 2022. A long financial crisis followed, and the airline has shrunk sharply since.
Reports in 2026 describe the fleet falling from eight aircraft at the start of the year to three by the end of July, and a September 2026 fleet count listed only a handful. Its schedule now covers a limited number of trunk routes linking Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.
When Bamboo does sell a fare on your route, it may include a checked bag and compete well on price. The risk is cancellation and consolidation of flights at short notice. If you book, use a card with purchase protection and avoid relying on it for a tight connection.
- Main routes: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang
- Price band: Mid; occasional promotions
- Baggage: Some fares include a checked bag
- Fleet: Very small in 2026
A good Bamboo fare suits flexible travellers. Look at the schedule again a week before departure.
Other airlines flying inside Vietnam
Two smaller operators complete the domestic picture. Pacific Airlines, the former Jetstar Pacific, is a low-cost subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines. It grounded all flights on 18 March 2024 after losing its leased aircraft, returned on 26 June 2024 with Airbus A321s leased from its parent, and reports in 2026 describe it as flying three aircraft. Pacific flights are often sold and codeshared through Vietnam Airlines, so check which company actually operates your flight.
VASCO, also part of the Vietnam Airlines group, flies small turboprop aircraft to destinations with short runways, most usefully the Con Dao islands from Ho Chi Minh City. If you plan a trip to Con Dao, compare VASCO and Vietnam Airlines schedules together.
For most visitors these two carriers matter only on specific routes, and they are easy to miss in search results because some flights appear under Vietnam Airlines flight numbers. The baggage allowance and check-in counter are usually those of the operating airline, so read the "operated by" line on the ticket and check in where that company tells you.
Which airline in Vietnam should you choose?
Pick Vietnam Airlines when the flight connects to an international departure or when you carry a full suitcase; pick Vietjet when you travel light and your dates are flexible; check Sun PhuQuoc Airways on any Phu Quoc route.
Price comparisons only make sense once baggage is added. A Vietjet fare that looks half the price of Vietnam Airlines can end up close to it after a 20 kg bag and a seat selection. Travellers with a single carry-on often save real money with Vietjet, while families with luggage frequently find the full-service fare competitive.
Timing matters too. The early morning departures on the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City route are the most punctual on every airline, because delays build up through the day. During Tet, the Lunar New Year in January or February, every carrier sells out and fares rise steeply, so book weeks ahead or travel outside the holiday week.
Reliability is the other deciding point for tight plans. If a domestic flight connects to a cruise departure in Ha Long Bay, a tour start or an international flight on a separate ticket, the higher fare on a carrier with more daily frequencies buys a better chance of same-day rebooking when delays happen.
Busiest domestic flight routes in Vietnam
Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City is the backbone of the network, with departures roughly every hour across the main airlines. Both cities also connect with Da Nang, the gateway to Hoi An and Hue, and with Phu Quoc, Cam Ranh for Nha Trang, Da Lat, Quy Nhon, Hai Phong, Vinh and Dong Hoi, the closest airport to the Phong Nha caves.
A classic north-to-south trip by air runs Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, then Phu Quoc for the beach. Each leg is short, so a morning flight still leaves the afternoon for sightseeing. Booking each leg separately, not as a multi-city ticket, gives you more choice of airline per sector.
Flight times are short: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City takes about two hours, and most other sectors between one and one and a half hours. The real time cost is getting to and through the airports, so a one-hour flight still uses most of a morning. Some routes are better by land: Da Nang to Hoi An is a 45-minute drive, Hanoi to Ha Long Bay is a road trip, and the overnight train between Hanoi and Hue or Da Nang is a scenic alternative for travellers with time. Fares on routes to Phu Quoc and Da Nang rise sharply during Vietnamese school holidays in summer, as well as at Tet.
Tips for flying with airlines in Vietnam
- Carry your passport. Foreign travellers need their passport for every domestic flight, not a photocopy.
- Check your terminal. At Tan Son Nhat, Vietnam Airlines group domestic flights use Terminal T3 while some other carriers stayed at T1 in 2025. Read your booking.
- Arrive early. Domestic check-in closes well before departure and security queues at Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat can be long. Allow at least 90 minutes.
- Weigh your bag. Low-cost carriers weigh hand baggage strictly. Pack to the limit at home so you are not repacking at the gate.
- Avoid Tet surprises. Book Tet travel early and expect busy airports for a week either side of the holiday.
- Leave buffers. Separate tickets are not protected if one flight is late. Allow several hours before an international connection.
Getting to Vietnam from abroad usually means flying into Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, often via Bangkok, Singapore, Doha or Dubai. Compare flights to Vietnam and book hotels in Vietnam along your route. Entry rules depend on your passport; many visitors use Vietnam's official e-visa portal. For more on budget carriers across Asia, see our guide to budget airlines, and for longer stays read moving to Vietnam.
Online check-in usually opens about a day before departure on the airline's app or website and saves queueing at busy counters, though bag-drop deadlines still apply.
Planning a trip to Vietnam? Read our Vietnam travel guide or search flights.
{{item.get_author.first_name}} {{item.get_author.last_name}}
{{item.comment_txt}}
{{item_reply.get_author.first_name}} {{item_reply.get_author.last_name}}
@ {{item_reply.reply_to}}, {{item_reply.reply_txt}}