Falling fuel costs, increased capacities, and fierce competition among carriers make the unexpected price drop ideal for exploring the country.
Minh Ha of Ho Chi Minh City bought round-trip tickets to Hanoi for a combined business and leisure trip in late July for VND2.6 million on weekday nights.
She had paid VND5 million for the same flights in early June, and VND4 million in the same period last year.
Passengers complete check-in procedures using biometric technology at the counter before boarding their flight at Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi, October 2025. Photo by Read/Giang Huy |
Pham Anh Vu, deputy general director of Du Lich Viet Tourism, said this summer is unfolding differently from previous years, with domestic airfares cooling down even during the peak travel season.
Fares on many routes have dropped by 30 to 50% since April and May, when fuel prices spiked due to Middle East tensions.
Now, round trips cost VND1.2-2.2 million on the Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang trip and VND1.8-3 million on the Ho Chi Minh City – Nha Trang route.
The very busy Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi route now costs just VND3-3.5 million, sharply down from VND5-6 million in March and April.
Vu Thi Hau of Hoang Ky Ticketing Agency in Hanoi says airfares began falling in mid-July, and nearly in half on several routes.
Current price levels are “quite rare for mid-summer,” she added.
The fares have fluctuated along with jet fuel prices this year.
This, along with rising early summer demand, drove ticket prices higher.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, average domestic airfares rose by 15-20% in early April 2026.
The price hike was driven by a global jet fuel crisis linked to Middle East conflicts, which pushed up operating costs and forced airlines to scrap budget fare options.
Besides demand has also been falling amid ongoing economic challenges, with many watching their purse strings closely and opting for road trips over air travel.
“Passengers are the beneficiaries,” Nguyen Tien Dat, vice president of the Hanoi Tourism Association, says.
Vu says the lower airfares have made it easier to sell tour packages and reduced last-minute cancellation rates, particularly.
“Even a price drop of a few hundred thousand dong per ticket can quickly change a customer’s decision to book a tour.”
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