Domestic airfares in Vietnam began falling on some major routes in late July. Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang runs around 800,000 dong one way (about 4,900 yen), and flights to Phu Quoc have appeared under 1,000,000 dong (about 6,200 yen). Prices easing during the peak of summer holidays comes from a mix of added capacity and lower fuel costs. For Japanese travelers and residents in Vietnam, it's a reason to rethink 'when and at what time of day to book for a cheaper fare.' Exchange rates use 1 yen = about 162 dong as of July 21.
What happened
According to local paper Tuoi Tre, on Vietnam's domestic routes in late July, one-way fares that had stayed high edged down on several routes. It's centered on the main resort routes out of Ho Chi Minh City—Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Tuy Hoa, Da Nang and others—where booking early turns up flights well under 10,000 yen. Behind it: domestic seat supply is up more than 10% year on year, and carriers are offering discounts of up to 20% for early bookings, weekdays and groups.
Why fares ease at the summer peak
Normally July and August, overlapping with school summer break, are when fares rise. The main reason they fell anyway is that airlines added flights and aircraft to pile on seat supply. To move seats they can't fill into early-booking and weekday discounts, fares eased mainly in low-demand time slots. On top of that, jet fuel recently fell 11.4% to $141.64 a barrel, lightening operating costs themselves. On Phu Quoc routes, newcomers like Sun PhuQuoc Airways and Vietravel Airlines now fly alongside Vietnam Airlines, and competition within the routes is pushing fares down.
Actual fares by route
We've laid out the late-July one-way fares confirmed in reporting, alongside yen conversions. Amounts shift with the time of day and booking date, so treat them as a rough guide to 'the level at which cheap flights are showing up.'
| Route (from Ho Chi Minh City) | One-way fare (dong) | Approximate yen conversion |
|---|---|---|
| Nha Trang (Vietnam Airlines) | 800,000 to 955,000 dong | About 4,900–5,900 yen |
| Nha Trang (Vietjet) | 657,000-800,000 dong | About 4,000-4,900 yen |
| Phu Quoc | 600,000 to 900,000 dong | About 3,700–5,600 yen |
| Tuy Hoa | About 740,000 dong | about 4,600 yen |
| Da Nang (late-night departure) | about 840,000 dong | About 5,200 yen |
| Buon Ma Thuot | A bit over 900,000 dong | about 5,600 yen and up |
Hanoi-Da Nang, too, has flights under 1 million dong (about 6,200 yen) if your dates are flexible. On Ho Chi Minh City-Phu Quoc, Vietnam Airlines flights VN1829, VN1833 and VN1835 were priced below 1 million dong on July 20-26.
Even on the same route, fares differ 30 to 50% by time of day
The most useful thing about this drop is the wide gap by time of day. Late-night and early-morning flights run 30–50% cheaper than the convenient daytime ones. Flights at 'easy hours'—weekends and mornings—remain high. So it's more accurate to see it not as fares falling across the board, but as flights at low-demand hours getting boldly cheaper. The more a traveler can tolerate an early start or a late-night move, the more they gain from the discount.
When should residents and travelers book
Translating this into booking behavior, there are three points. First, if your dates are set, book early. Many discounts require early booking, and the cheap slots vanish as departure nears. Second, think first about whether you can shift the day and time. Swapping a Friday or Saturday daytime flight for a weekday late-night one can change the price by thousands of yen over the same distance. Third, on routes where airlines have multiplied, like Phu Quoc, compare Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, and the newcomers side by side. Especially on itineraries that fly from Vietnam to an island resort, covering these three points alone yields a difference of thousands of yen one way. If you're looking for options from the north, new routes are increasing, such as the Hai Phong-Phu Quoc direct flight set to launch on July 25 (The northern skies open up: a Hai Phong–Phu Quoc direct flight launches July 25）。
Is the added supply temporary, or here to stay?
Whether this dip lasts hinges on how long the added flights are kept. A 10% year-on-year rise in seats means airlines stacked supply ahead, expecting domestic demand to grow. With cheap fuel adding in now, it's easy to cut fares, but if fuel rebounds, discounts are likely to return to being centered on red-eye flights. Over the medium to long term, the giant Long Thanh airport, expected to begin commercial operations within 2026, is set to reshape the route structure, leaving room for arrivals and departures in the Ho Chi Minh City area to grow further (Giant Long Thanh airport opens December 1: how to use it alongside SGN?). If capacity keeps rising structurally, cheap flights will get easier to find for travelers who can pick their hours.
Practical info to check before booking
| Target | Mainly domestic resort routes out of Ho Chi Minh City (Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Tuy Hoa, Da Nang, etc.) |
|---|---|
| When fares drop | Late July. Phu Quoc discount flights confirmed for July 20-26 |
| Flights to target | Late-night and early-morning departures (30–50% cheaper than daytime), weekdays, early-booking slots |
| Discount conditions | Up to 20% off with early booking, weekdays, and groups |
| Airlines compared | Vietnam Airlines / Vietjet / Sun PhuQuoc Airways / Vietravel Airlines |
| Exchange-rate guide | 1 yen = about 162 dong (as of July 21, 2026) |
Summary
On Vietnam's domestic routes in late July, a mix of added capacity and cheaper fuel has pushed fares down, especially on late-night, early-morning and weekday flights. From Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang or Phu Quoc, some flights can be had for 4,000–6,000 yen one way. The booking tricks: lock in your dates early, shift your time slots, and on routes with added flights, compare several carriers side by side. If you plan to tour the islands or central resorts this summer, start by rebuilding your shortlist around late-night and weekday flights and searching again for fares under 10,000 yen one way.
Sources:Tuoi Tre News
