Viet Nam’s domestic aviation market is poised for a vibrant summer in 2025, as airfares on many routes drop and airlines ramp up flight frequencies and seat capacity to meet a surging demand for travel.
Passengers arriving in Da Nang by air. Photo by: Thanh Lan
With students across Viet Nam beginning their summer break, families are gearing up for vacations, marking the start of a bustling peak season for the country’s tourism and aviation industries.
Airlines are scaling up operations in response to surging demand, with a projected 68,558 domestic flights set to take off during this period, averaging 745 flights per day.
The total seat supply is expected to reach nearly 14 million, up more than 21% compared to last summer. Many routes are offering lower fares, unlocking more travel opportunities for local passengers.
Vietjet Air plans to add over 400,000 seats, equivalent to around 1,600 additional flights, between June 1 and July 15. These flights will connect major hubs like Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang with popular tourist destinations such as Nha Trang, Hue, Quang Binh, Quy Nhon, Tuy Hoa and Phu Quoc.Vietnam Airlines is also ramping up capacity.
From May 20 to August 15, the national flag carrier operates more than 43,000 flights across its domestic and international networks, providing nearly 9 million seats. Of these, about 33,000 are domestic flights, offering over 6.3 million seats, an increase of 28% over the regular schedule, equivalent to nearly 1.4 million additional seats.
The airline is also continuing to deploy early morning and late-night flights as part of its strategy to meet peak-season demand.
Routes connecting Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City with top travel destinations like Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Da Lat, Hue, Quy Nhon, and Thanh Hoa are expected to be particularly busy. Airlines are prioritizing added capacity on these high-traffic routes.
On the major air corridors linking Ha Noi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, carriers are projected to operate 26,800 flights, providing nearly 5.9 million seats. As of now, seat availability remains ample, and airlines are prepared to scale up operations if demand spikes.
booking platforms report a sharp uptick in passenger interest on routes connecting Da Nang with Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, Phu Quoc, Ha Noi, and Hai Phong.
Especially notable is the Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang route, one of Vietnam’s most vibrant tourist corridors. Fares this year are more competitive, with Vietravel Airlines offering one-way tickets for under VND 1 million, while Vietjet prices range from VND 1.1 to 1.6 million.
On shorter routes such as Ha Noi–Da Nang, Vietjet fares start at VND 1.2 million, going up to VND 1.9 million depending on the airline and booking time. These are attractive rates for early summer getaways.
However, many of the lowest fares apply to late-afternoon or night flights, an ideal fit for families heading home for the summer. Daytime peak-hour flights typically carry a premium, with prices higher by several hundred thousand to nearly a million dong per leg, depending on the airline and departure time.
Passengers waiting to board at the Da Nang International Airport. Photo by: Thanh Lan
As Viet Nam's summer travel season gains momentum, local families are applauding the stability of airfares, an encouraging sign for both tourism and consumer confidence.
“This summer’s ticket prices are surprisingly reasonable compared to previous years. It’s the perfect chance for our family to finally explore some of our favourite destinations”, said Ms. Pham Thi Le from Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang.
Mr. Nguyen Tan Son, also from Ngu Hanh Son, shared that he had already booked tickets for a family getaway to Ca Mau. “Unlike past summers, prices haven’t spiked dramatically,” he noted.
Data shows that airfare levels from now until mid-July remain relatively stable compared to the same period last year. Prices began rising slightly in late May and are expected to peak in June. While many domestic routes have seen competitive pricing, certain niche routes such as Ha Noi to Da Lat or Con Dao are still priced steeply. A round-trip fare from Ha Noi to Con Dao currently averages around VND 8.7 million (roughly USD 340), with virtually no promotions in sight.
Although airlines are launching aggressive promotional campaigns, experts note that snapping up discounted fares requires both flexibility and early booking. Promotions are often limited to off-peak travel times and require advance planning.
Airlines are advising passengers to book tickets early, particularly for high-demand domestic and international routes, through official platforms such as websites, mobile apps, authorized agents, or ticket offices.
To ease congestion during peak travel times, passengers are also encouraged to check in online within 24 hours before departure via the airline’s digital platforms or through the integrated “Air Travel Services” feature on Viet Nam’s level-2 digital ID app, VNeID.
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