Cheap flights London to Ho Chi Minh City

October is the cheapest month on this route, and the price calendar shows fares easing from September through November before the winter peak. Southern Vietnam's dry season runs from late autumn into spring, which lines up with the months when tickets are still reasonable; the summer months are hot and wet, and the Lunar New Year period fills planes in both directions. Midweek departures from London, especially Tuesday and Wednesday, tend to be quieter than Friday and Sunday. Book a few months ahead for the dry season and for the weeks around Christmas and New Year, when seats on connecting itineraries sell out first.

None of the carriers on this route are low-cost, so expect full-service airlines with a checked bag usually included, though the allowance depends on the fare family you pick. Vietnam Airlines and Singapore Airlines are the names most people recognise, alongside Finnair from Europe and Air China, Hainan Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines from China. Turkmenistan Airlines, Royal Brunei, Oman Air and Air India fill in other connections. Every option involves a stop, and where that stop is decides the total travel time more than the airline does. Compare what each fare includes, such as seat selection, bags, and whether the connection sits on one ticket, before you choose.

Every flight lands at Tan Son Nhat, the single airport serving Ho Chi Minh City. It sits close to the centre, a short ride rather than a long transfer, though city traffic can stretch that at peak hours. Metered taxis and ride-hailing apps are the usual ways in, and local buses work for anyone travelling light. Watch the taxi queue when you come out of arrivals: agree the meter or book through an app rather than accepting a flat offer from a driver. If your connection puts you in late at night, sort your transfer before you land. The domestic and international terminals are separate, so check which one your onward flight uses if you are continuing into Vietnam.

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 Ho Chi Minh City

14.0 M (2024)

Time zone

UTC+07 (Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Decide which London airport you fly from, since Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City all serve this route.
• Check whether your fare includes a checked bag, because the cheapest connecting tickets often do not.
• Make sure both legs sit on one ticket, or leave a long gap if you are booking separate connections.
• Confirm the visa or e-visa rules for Vietnam before you pay, as they differ by passport and length of stay.
• Look at the price calendar for October and the surrounding months rather than fixing on one date.
• Check your connection airport, as a stop in China, the Gulf or Europe changes the journey time and the transit rules.