How Long Does It Take to Fly to Vietnam?

Quick Answer

16–20 hours is the typical total travel time from major US cities to Vietnam, including one connection. There are currently no nonstop flights between the US and Vietnam. The most efficient one-stop routes connect through Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, or Hong Kong, with total journey times of 16–20 hours including a 1–3 hour layover.

Flight Times from Major US Cities

Departure City	Total Time (1 Stop)	Common Layover
San Francisco (SFO)	16–19 hours	Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo
Los Angeles (LAX)	17–20 hours	Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo
Seattle (SEA)	16–18 hours	Seoul, Tokyo
New York (JFK)	19–23 hours	Seoul, Tokyo, Doha
Chicago (ORD)	19–22 hours	Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei
Houston (IAH)	20–23 hours	Tokyo, Seoul
Dallas (DFW)	19–22 hours	Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong
Washington, DC (IAD)	19–22 hours	Seoul, Tokyo

West Coast departures have a clear advantage — San Francisco and Los Angeles are 2–3 hours closer to Southeast Asia than East Coast cities.

Ho Chi Minh City vs. Hanoi

Vietnam has two main international gateways. Flight times between them from the same origin differ only slightly.

Route	Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)	Hanoi (HAN)
From LAX (1 stop)	17–20 hours	17–19 hours
From JFK (1 stop)	20–23 hours	19–22 hours
From SFO (1 stop)	16–19 hours	16–18 hours

Hanoi is slightly closer to Northeast Asian hubs (Seoul, Tokyo), while Ho Chi Minh City is closer to hubs like Singapore and Bangkok. The difference is typically 30–60 minutes.

Other Vietnamese Airports

Airport	Code	International Service	Best For
Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat)	SGN	Major hub	Southern Vietnam, Mekong Delta
Hanoi (Noi Bai)	HAN	Major hub	Northern Vietnam, Ha Long Bay
Da Nang	DAD	Limited international	Central Vietnam, Hoi An
Phu Quoc	PQC	Limited international	Beach resort island
Cam Ranh (Nha Trang)	CXR	Charter flights	Coastal resorts

Common Layover Hubs

Choosing the right connecting hub can save hours on your journey. Here are the most popular options:

Layover Hub	Airlines	Layover Time	Total from LAX
Seoul (ICN)	Korean Air, Asiana	1–3 hours	17–19 hours
Tokyo (NRT)	ANA, Japan Airlines	2–4 hours	17–20 hours
Taipei (TPE)	EVA Air, China Airlines	1.5–3 hours	17–19 hours
Hong Kong (HKG)	Cathay Pacific	2–4 hours	18–20 hours
Singapore (SIN)	Singapore Airlines	2–4 hours	20–22 hours
Doha (DOH)	Qatar Airways	2–5 hours	21–24 hours
Bangkok (BKK)	Thai Airways	2–4 hours	19–22 hours

Korean Air via Seoul (ICN) is consistently one of the fastest and most popular routings from the US West Coast. EVA Air via Taipei is another excellent option with competitive pricing and award-winning service.

Airlines Flying to Vietnam from the US

Airline	Routing	Service Quality
Korean Air	US → Seoul → SGN/HAN	Full-service, excellent connections
EVA Air	US → Taipei → SGN/HAN	Highly rated, Star Alliance
ANA	US → Tokyo → SGN/HAN	Premium service
Japan Airlines	US → Tokyo → SGN/HAN	Full-service
Cathay Pacific	US → Hong Kong → SGN/HAN	Premium, oneworld
Vietnam Airlines	via Asian hubs → SGN/HAN	National carrier, SkyTeam
Qatar Airways	US → Doha → SGN/HAN	5-star, longer routing
Singapore Airlines	US → Singapore → SGN/HAN	5-star, longer routing

Tips for Booking Flights to Vietnam

• Fly from the West Coast if possible — it saves 2–4 hours compared to East Coast departures.
• Seoul and Taipei connections offer the shortest layovers and total travel times.
• Avoid double connections — some itineraries route through two Asian cities and can push total time past 28 hours.
• Book 6–10 weeks ahead for best pricing. November through March is peak season.
• Consider arriving in one city, departing from another (open jaw) to see more of Vietnam without backtracking.
• Vietnam e-visa can be obtained online in 3 business days — apply at least 2 weeks before travel.
• Overnight flights from the West Coast departing around 11 PM–1 AM arrive in Asia in the morning, giving you a full day for your connection.