Dark by four, drizzle on the bus stop. Meanwhile Vietnam is heading into its best months of the year.
Air China is flying return from London to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City from £352, with one stop in Beijing. Dates run from November 2026 right through to March 2027.
✈️ The Deal
- From: London, United Kingdom
- To: Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Airline: Air China
- Stops: 1 stop
- Price: £352–£399 return
- When: November 2026 - March 2027
London to Hanoi, example dates:
04/11/2026 - 19/11/2026
09/11/2026 - 26/11/2026
01/12/2026 - 25/12/2026
06/01/2027 - 19/01/2027
11/01/2027 - 27/01/2027
03/02/2027 - 25/02/2027
03/03/2027 - 23/03/2027
London to Ho Chi Minh City, example dates:
03/11/2026 - 17/11/2026
02/12/2026 - 20/12/2026
07/01/2027 - 21/01/2027
03/02/2027 - 17/02/2027
10/03/2027 - 25/03/2027
💰 How far does your money go?
A pint in a London pub now costs around £6.50. In Vietnam, a bottle of Bia Hanoi or Bia Saigon is about 80p. A steaming bowl of pho on a plastic stool costs £1.60, less than a coffee at a Tube station. A sit-down dinner for two rarely goes over £8. Eat where the locals eat and a week of food costs less than one big supermarket shop back home.
☀️ The Weather
Ho Chi Minh City is in its dry season from November to April, with highs of 30°C to 32°C and very little rain. Hanoi is cooler over the same months. Expect 20°C to 24°C in November and December, then 17°C to 20°C in January and February, with misty mornings that clear by lunch. By March, Hanoi warms back up to around 23°C.
🏨 Where to Stay
Base yourself in Hanoi's Old Quarter or District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Poppy Hanoi: 8.6/10 · From £25/night Bright, colourful rooms a short walk from Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter's street food.
Aurora Oriental Hotel: 9.2/10 · From £65/night Quiet, central and one of the best-rated stays in the Old Quarter.
Park Hyatt Saigon: 9.1/10 · From £140/night French colonial elegance opposite the Opera House. The one to splurge on.
🎯 What to Do
Two very different cities, both made for wandering on foot or on the back of a motorbike.
Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter: Hanoi's busiest few streets, with scooters circling a lake full of legends.
Egg coffee in Hanoi: Thick, sweet and whipped with egg yolk. Nothing like a flat white.
Cu Chi Tunnels: The wartime tunnel network outside Ho Chi Minh City. A sobering half-day trip.
Ben Thanh Market after dark: Grills, fresh spring rolls and iced coffee in the middle of District 1.
🗺️ Where to Go From Here
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are the bookends. The rest of Vietnam sits in between.
Ha Long Bay: Limestone islands and overnight boat trips, about 2 hours 30 by road from Hanoi.
Sapa: Rice terraces and mountain villages, an overnight train or 5 to 6 hours by bus from Hanoi.
Da Nang and Hoi An: Beaches and a lantern-lit old town, around 1 hour 20 by domestic flight from either city. Search flights
Phu Quoc: White sand and clear water, about 1 hour by flight from Ho Chi Minh City. Search flights
Mekong Delta: Floating markets and river villages, a 2 to 3 hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City.
£352 return to Vietnam with five months of dates to choose from. The Christmas dates will go first, so pick yours now.
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