Superdeals: 40–80% off flights from Europe to Vietnam

Direct flight routes to Vietnam

Currently there are very few non-stop flight options between Europe and Vietnam:

• Paris (CDG) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) – Air France – 12h 10m


• London (LHR) to Hanoi (HAN) – Vietnam Airlines – 11h 55m


• Paris (CDG) to Hanoi (HAN) – Vietnam Airlines – 11h 40m


• Frankfurt (FRA) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) – Vietnam Airlines – 11h 45m

Layover/stopover options

Singapore (SIN) – Singapore Airlines hub, known for efficient connections averaging 2 hours. Modern terminal with butterfly garden and free city tours for layovers over 5.5 hours.

Bangkok (BKK) – Thai Airways main hub, typical connection times 3-4 hours. Spacious airport with excellent Thai food options and massage services.

Doha (DOH) – Qatar Airways hub with consistent 2-3 hour connections. Modern facilities and generous stopover programs including free hotel stays.

Istanbul (IST) – Turkish Airlines hub offering competitive prices, average connections 3-4 hours. Convenient location for European departures with free city tours on longer layovers.

Time vs money

Direct flights typically command a premium of 20-30% over connecting flights. One-stop connections through Middle Eastern hubs often offer the best value-for-money ratio.

Tips and recommendations

• Middle Eastern carriers often offer the best combination of price and service quality, particularly Qatar Airways and Emirates.


• Booking separate tickets through Bangkok or Singapore can save money but increases risk during delays.


• Tuesday and Wednesday departures typically offer lower fares for both direct and connecting flights.


• Consider opposite season booking – winter flights booked in summer (or vice versa) often have better availability and lower prices.


• Multi-city tickets with intentional stopovers rarely cost more than regular connecting flights if booked within the same alliance.

• Turkish Airlines offers some of the lowest fares from European cities to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with typical savings of 15-20% compared to direct flights. Their wide-body aircraft (primarily Boeing 787-9) feature comfortable 32-inch pitch in economy. Connection times in Istanbul average 2-3 hours, making it an efficient routing despite the stop.
• Flying via Bangkok on Thai Airways provides excellent value, especially when booked as a multi-city ticket with a free stopover. Thai’s A350 aircraft to European destinations offer superior comfort with 32-inch pitch and 18-inch width seats, while the short hop to Vietnam features generous baggage allowance. Current promotional fares from Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Brussels show prices up to 25% below market average.
• Consider departing from secondary European airports like Milan or Warsaw, which often price 15-30% lower than major hubs for Vietnam routes. Qatar Airways and Emirates both serve these cities with modern aircraft and compete aggressively on price, while maintaining high service standards.
• The new Bamboo Airways service via Frankfurt offers competitive pricing on their Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, with fares typically 10% below market average. Their direct routing to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City features one of the most generous economy seat pitches (33 inches) among carriers serving Vietnam.
• For premium economy seekers, Vietnam Airlines’ direct flights from Paris and Frankfurt provide excellent value with their new A350-900 aircraft. Their premium economy product averages 20% cheaper than competitors while offering 38-inch pitch and priority airport services.

1. Booking non-protected connections Instead of choosing a single ticket with protected connections through major hubs like Bangkok or Singapore, travelers book separate tickets that leave them vulnerable to missed connections and lost baggage without airline support.
2. Flying into Hanoi when heading south Many Europeans automatically book flights to Hanoi without realizing that if their final destination is in central or southern Vietnam, flying into Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) could save them significant domestic travel time.
3. Visiting during Tet holiday Booking flights during Vietnamese New Year (usually January-February) leads to extremely high airfares and overcrowded airports as millions of locals travel during this period.
4. Ignoring midnight arrival times Choosing flights that land between midnight and 5 AM in Vietnam without pre-arranging airport transfer can leave travelers stranded as public transportation is limited and taxi scams are common during these hours.
5. Missing visa requirements Arriving at European departure airports without proper e-visa or visa approval letter (depending on nationality) can result in denied boarding, as Vietnam’s visa requirements are strictly enforced at check-in.

Emirates

Best for: Most convenient connections through Dubai and widest choice of European departure points.

Operates from 19 European airports to Vietnam (biggest: London Heathrow, Paris CDG, Frankfurt), offering consistent 2-4 hour layovers in Dubai. Economy class features generous 32-34 inch seat pitch, acclaimed entertainment system with 4500+ channels, and high-quality meals with complimentary wines. Passengers consistently rate their Economy experience 4.2/5, particularly praising cabin crew service and modern aircraft fleet consisting mainly of A380s and Boeing 777s.

Qatar Airways

Best for: Superior Economy Class comfort and service quality.

Connects 16 European cities to Vietnam (biggest: London Heathrow, Paris CDG, Munich) via Doha hub. Economy seats offer industry-leading comfort with 32-33 inch pitch and better recline than competitors. Their dining program features restaurant-quality meals and dedicated snack menu. Consistently receives highest passenger ratings (4.4/5) for Economy service among airlines flying to Vietnam.

Turkish Airlines

Best for: Most affordable premium Economy experience with generous baggage allowance.

Services 15 European airports to Vietnam (biggest: Istanbul, London Heathrow, Frankfurt) with competitive fares. Economy passengers enjoy 31-32 inch seat pitch, flying chefs preparing meals onboard, and complimentary amenity kits unusual for Economy class. Offers generous 30kg checked baggage allowance. Passenger ratings average 4.0/5, with particular praise for food quality.

Vietnam Airlines

Best for: Only airline offering direct flights from Europe to Vietnam.

Operates from 3 European cities (London Heathrow, Paris CDG, Frankfurt) with unique non-stop services to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Economy offers 32 inch seat pitch, Vietnamese-inspired meals, and latest entertainment systems on their Boeing 787s and A350s. Rated 3.8/5 by passengers, with strongest points being direct routing and Vietnamese hospitality, though inflight service can be inconsistent.

Smart routing through Asia’s budget carriers

When traveling from Europe to Vietnam, splitting your journey into separate bookings with regional Asian carriers can lead to significant savings. The key is to target major Asian hubs as intermediate stops.

1. Book main flight to a major hub: Focus on reaching Bangkok, Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur from Europe, as these destinations often have competitive fares from major carriers.
2. Utilize regional carriers: From these hubs, leverage budget airlines like AirAsia, VietJet Air, or Jetstar Asia for the final leg to Vietnam. These carriers typically offer fares at a fraction of what major airlines charge.
3. Timing strategy: Book the regional segment at least 24 hours after your main flight arrival to account for potential delays and immigration processing.

For example, flying Paris to Hanoi might cost €900 direct, but breaking it into Paris-Bangkok (€500) plus Bangkok-Hanoi on AirAsia (€80) could save over €300. This strategy works best when booking 3-4 months ahead, particularly during shoulder season.

Remember to factor in any baggage fees and terminal transfers, as budget carriers often use secondary terminals at major airports.