- Vietnam Special Tips & Tours -

MALAYSIAN TRAVELERS

The best time of year to visit the whole Vietnam is spring (February to April) and autumn (September to November). The temperatures are more moderate, and rainfall is lighter. In spring, March and April have the lowest rainfall across all destinations and temperatures are pleasant, though still cool in the far north.

It is the fact that Vietnam is a year-round destination. Every time of year, you can always find the sun somewhere (more or less).

You can check the detailed guide to know exactly where and when to go in Vietnam throughout the year.

As a citizen of this country, you are required no entry visa for a stay of maximum 30 days in Vietnam.

If staying longer than 30 days in Vietnam, Malaysian passport holders need to get a visa.

For more information, you can check our guide for Vietnam Tourist Visa Policy here.

For the flight cost, check the information below in this article (Getting to Vietnam from Malaysia)

Our recommended spending for your journey in Vietnam is about $120-150/person/day (group of 2 people). Of course, you can either spend less at about $90-100/person/day (even $30/day - backpacker style) or you can spend much higher depending on the services you expect on spot.

Here is our detailed guide for Budget & Currency for travelling in Vietnam

From Malaysia, you can get the flight to Vietnam from some popular cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kota Kinabalu

All flights from the Malaysia to Vietnam will terminate at one of three international airports: Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), otherwise known as Hanoi Airport in the north; Da Nang International Airport (DAD) in the center of the country and Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), otherwise known as Ho Chi Minh City Airport, in the south.

The capital city of Hanoi is the largest in northern Vietnam and is the principal airport in the country. There are only two other regional airports in the area: Dien Bien Phu Airport (DIN) in the west and Cat Bi Airport (HPH) in the city of Hai Phong in the east, so you should take care with your travel plans in this area.

Vietnam has several towns and cities that dominate its central coast along the South China Sea stretching from Vinh in the north down to Nha Trang and Da Lat in the south. On arrival at Da Nang Airport, you can take a connecting flight to any of the airports along the coast, or Pleiku Airport (PXU) and Buon Ma Thuot Airport (BMV) to explore the central interior.

Flight FAQs

Q. When is the best time to book flights to Vietnam?

Aim to have your flight tickets secured at least four months in advance to give yourself a chance of finding the cheapest flights to Vietnam. If you can then book them even further ahead, especially if your dates coincide with a major event or the peak season. 

Once you’ve narrowed down your destination by choosing a city, usually either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city, you’ll be able to figure out what dates offer the cheapest flights to Vietnam and go from there. 

Flexibility is the key to securing discounted flight tickets so if you’re not governed by a particular set of weeks or to a specific location then you’ll give yourself the best chances of finding the cheapest flights to Vietnam. 

Don’t worry too much about which side of the plane to sit on as each has their benefits and offer equally impressive view through your flight.

Q. How long is the flight to Vietnam?

Kuala Lumpur to Ho Chi Minh City

The nearest airport to Kuala Lumpur is Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and the nearest airport to Ho Chi Minh City is Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)

Non-Stop flight duration from Kuala Lumpur to Ho Chi Minh City is 1 hour 50 minutes (Operated by Vietnam Airlines)

Quickest one-stop flight takes close to 5 hours. However, some airlines could take as long as 26 hours based on the stopover destination and waiting duration.

Distance Between Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia & Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is 1050 Kilo Meters

Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi

The nearest airport to Kuala Lumpur is Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and the nearest airport to Hanoi is Noibai International Airport (HAN)

Non-Stop flight duration from Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi is 3 hours 5 minutes (Operated by AirAsia)

Distance Between Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia & Hanoi, Vietnam is 2100 Kilo Meters

Kuala Lumpur to Da Nang

The nearest airport to Kuala Lumpur is Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and the nearest airport to Da Nang is Da Nang Airport (DAD)

Non-Stop flight duration from Kuala Lumpur to Da Nang is 2 hours 30 minutes (Operated by AirAsia)

Quickest one-stop flight takes close to 5 hours. However, some airlines could take as long as 27 hours based on the stopover destination and waiting duration.

Distance Between Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia & Da Nang, Vietnam is 1640 Kilo Meters

Q. Which Vietnamese airport is closest to Hue?

If you want to visit historic sites like Khai Dinh’s tomb and Đại Nội Citadel in Vietnam’s former capital, then you should fly to Phu Bai International Airport (HUI), which is to the south of Hue. Alternatively, Da Nang International Airport is a 92.6 km drive away and is centrally located within Vietnam.

Q. How much does it cost to fly to Vietnam?

The price ticket ranges from $70 to $650 depending on your flight route and date.

We recommend using some online ticket booking platform (Kayak, Cheapflights, or SkyScanner) to look for the cheapest flight possible according to your travel plan. They do have alert system when there is the price change on your travel date.

Here is how to get the cheapest flight possible to Vietnam

Vietnam is well served by a good network of internal flights. Given the long and thin nature of the country, if travelling north to south or vice versa, then internal Vietnam flights are a convenient and affordable option.
There is also a sleeper train that links Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Minh in the south. You should try and book tickets for this early as it can sell out, especially during the Tet holiday.

Buses are the main ground transport option, with sleeper coaches covering much of the country. Tickets are cheap due to competition from various companies, but the beds on board are seldom as comfortable as you might wish them to be.

Check How to get around in Vietnam here

1. Do I need vaccines for Vietnam?

Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for Vietnam. The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Vietnam: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza. 

Here is the article for recommended vaccinations for Vietnam.

2. How safe is Vietnam?

All in all, Vietnam is an extremely safe country to travel in. 

• The police keep a pretty tight grip on social order and there are rarely reports of muggings, robberies or sexual assaults. 
• Scams and hassles do exist, particularly in Hanoi, HCMC and Nha Trang (and to a lesser degree in Hoi An).
• Be extra careful if you’re travelling on two wheels on Vietnam’s anarchic roads; traffic accident rates are woeful and driving standards are pretty appalling.

Here is our guide for Safety and Precautions in Vietnam

3. Do I need a travel insurance for Vietnam?
Insurance is not compulsory but a must for Vietnam, as the cost of major medical treatment is prohibitive. A travel insurance policy to cover theft, loss and medical problems is the best bet.

Some insurance policies specifically exclude such ‘dangerous activities’ as riding motorbikes, diving and even trekking. Check that your policy covers an emergency evacuation in the event of serious injury.
If you're driving a vehicle, you need a Vietnamese insurance policy.

Check the detailed article for Vietnam travel insurance here

4. What should I take to Vietnam?

Here are some essential items to consider for your trip to Thailand:

• Money Belt – These are a great way to avoid pickpocketing while in Vietnam.
• Mosquito Repellent – Mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases are common in many parts of Vietnam. Make sure you’re protected from these bugs while traveling.
• Walking Shoes – Visitors can walk the streets to explore the street vendors or beautiful wildlife, making good shoes a must.

Here is the detailed guide for what to pack for Vietnam

5. Are you supposed to tip in Vietnam?

Generally, tipping is not expected in Vietnam, but is very much appreciated. Many Vietnam workers do not earn much money and always appreciate the extra money to be made in tips.

Check out the Vietnam tipping guide & other local etiquettes here

6. Do I need to buy a Vietnam SIM Card? And where can I buy it?

It is recommended to buy a local SIM card why travelling in Vietnam as it surely has a stable connection and also the cheaper price for calling & data usage.

You can buy the SIM Card almost everywhere in Vietnam, especially inside the big cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, or Da Nang.

Check out the detailed guide for Internet & phone in Vietnam here

7. Do I need to bargain while shopping in Vietnam?

Yes, unfortunately, you will have to bargain most of the time to get the price right. Unless you plan to go to shopping mall or supermarket where price is printed on the product. It is not an intimidating task like it seems, and once you will get used to it, you will miss the bargaining scene found in Vietnam and in most of Asia. 

Tips: Look around and check with your guide to have the idea of what you are going to buy. 

Here is our guide for Buying and bargaining in Vietnam

When traveling it is very helpful to find out exactly where the Malaysian embassy or consulates are located. Keep the address written down in case you have a legal problem, you lose your passport, or you want to report a crime. Be sure to keep a copy of your passport with you in case you lose the original.

Malaysia Embassy in Hanoi

• Address: 43 - 45 Dien Bien Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Phone: +844-3734-3849; +844-3734-3836
• Fax: +844-3734-3832
• Email: [email protected]
• Website URL: http://www.kln.gov.my/web/vnm_hanoi/home

Malaysia Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City

• Address: 2102-2104, Me Linh Point Tower, No. 2, Ngo Duc Ke Street, Distric 1.Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• Phone: +848-829-9023; +848-829-3132
• Fax: +848-829-9027
• Email: [email protected]
• Website URL: http://www.kln.gov.my/web/vnm_ho-chi-minh-city/home