Cheap flights from London to Hanoi

February is the cheapest month on this route, and the price calendar shows it. Late winter and early spring are the quiet stretch; the British summer holidays and the weeks before Christmas push fares up in both directions. Tet, Vietnam's lunar new year, falls around the end of winter and can fill seats quickly, so book well ahead if your dates land near it. Midweek departures usually cost less than weekend ones, and Tuesday and Wednesday are worth comparing. For the direct flights, booking a few months out gives you the widest choice; for connecting itineraries, watch the calendar for dips instead of assuming the first fare you see is the lowest.

All the airlines on this route are full-service carriers, so the choice is really about the routing. A direct flight is available, and the connecting options run through Gulf, Chinese or Nordic hubs: Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways via the Gulf, Finnair via Helsinki, and Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and Hainan Airlines via their home airports in China. Vietnam Airlines and British Airways are the other names you will see. Baggage is normally included on these carriers, but the lightest fare families often sell without a checked bag, so read the fare rules before you choose. A connection costs you time; a direct flight costs more.

Hanoi is served by Noi Bai International Airport, the city's only airport, and it sits well outside the centre, so treat the transfer as part of the journey rather than an afterthought. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are the usual ways in, and there is an airport bus for those travelling light. Agree the fare or insist on the meter, and be wary of drivers who approach you inside the terminal. Traffic in Hanoi is heavy, so allow slack if you have a connection onward or a hotel check-in to make. If you land late, arrange your transfer before you fly rather than at the kerb.

Currency

VND (₫)

Power sockets

Type A, C, F, G · 220 V

Language

Vietnamese

Emergency number

113, 114, 115

Driving side

right

Calling code

+84

Internet domain

.vn

Population of Hanoi

8.7 M (2024)

Time zone

UTC+07 (Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport your fare leaves from — Heathrow, Gatwick, London City, Luton and Stansted are not interchangeable.
• Confirm what your ticket includes, as the lighter fares on these carriers may not cover a checked bag.
• If you book separate tickets to save money, leave a long connection, because a missed leg is yours to fix.
• Check Vietnam's entry rules and your passport validity before you book, not at the airport.
• Book early if your dates fall near Tet or the British school holidays, when this route fills up.
• Compare February with the months either side, where the calendar usually shows the lowest fares.