Is it cheaper to book a return flight or two one-ways?

For international flights, a round-trip ticket is almost always cheaper. For domestic travel within Vietnam, booking two one-way tickets on budget carriers is standard and cost-effective.

Does it matter which airline I choose?

If you are flying from outside Asia, major carriers like Vietnam Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines offer competitive rates. For domestic hops, VietJet is the cheapest, but be prepared to pay extra for baggage.

How to book cheap flights to Vietnam

To get the best price, book your flight 3 to 4 months in advance using Google Flights to track price drops. Avoid flying during the Tet holiday (late January or February) when demand and prices spike significantly.

Set up price tracking. Go to Google Flights, enter your home airport and your preferred Vietnam airport (usually HCMC or Hanoi). Toggle the 'Track prices' switch to receive email notifications when fares change.
Be flexible with airports. Don't just look for one airport. Vietnam has two major hubs: Tan Son Nhat (SGN) in the south and Noi Bai (HAN) in the north. Compare flying into one and out of the other (multi-city ticket) to save money and transit time.
Identify the cheapest months. Use the Google Flights calendar view to identify off-peak months. Flights are generally cheapest from May to September, excluding the weeks around major national holidays.
Use a VPN for regional pricing. Check the price of domestic flights within Vietnam (like VietJet or Bamboo Airways) using a Vietnamese IP address or by setting the currency to VND, which can sometimes bypass international booking markups.

Is it cheaper to book a return flight or two one-ways?: For international flights, a round-trip ticket is almost always cheaper. For domestic travel within Vietnam, booking two one-way tickets on budget carriers is standard and cost-effective.
Does it matter which airline I choose?: If you are flying from outside Asia, major carriers like Vietnam Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines offer competitive rates. For domestic hops, VietJet is the cheapest, but be prepared to pay extra for baggage.