Ho Chi Minh City is one of the few Southeast Asian capitals you can reach non-stop from Paris: Air France and Vietnam Airlines both fly Charles de Gaulle to Saigon in around 12½ hours on the Airbus A350. If price matters more than time, a connection is cheaper — though which non-stop you compare against changes the answer completely: checking every return fare on sale, Vietnam Airlines starts at €653 against €583 for the cheapest connection, while Air France is €1,089. This guide covers who really flies the route, what a return actually costs in euros, and when to book.
Route: Paris (CDG) → Ho Chi Minh City, Tan Son Nhat (SGN)
Distance: approximately 10,160 km (6,314 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 12h 20m eastbound (13h 30m on the return)
Direct flights: Yes — Air France (AF258) and Vietnam Airlines (VN10) fly non-stop from CDG on the A350, at €1,089 and €653–€1,057 respectively in our fare data. One-stop options are cheaper, from €583 — but Vietnam Airlines’ direct is only about €70 above that, so the non-stop is well worth pricing.
Fares from Paris to Ho Chi Minh City (EUR)
Vietnam is a year-round destination, but fares track the seasons and the school calendar. The dry season and the Christmas/New Year and Lunar New Year (Têt) peaks are the priciest; the quieter months either side are cheaper. The figures below are typical economy return fares in euros; the lowest are usually one-stop itineraries, with the nonstops sitting toward the higher end.
| Month | Demand | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | high (Têt / dry season) |
| February | — | high |
| March | — | medium-high |
| April | — | medium |
| May | — | low-medium |
| June | — | medium (summer holidays) |
| July | — | high (summer holidays) |
| August | — | high |
| September | — | low |
| October | — | low-medium |
| November | — | medium |
| December | — | very high (holidays) |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write, a typical fair price is roughly €600–€700 — the median is €652, so that band is right. The floor is €583 on a China Southern connection, so a fare under about €620 is a genuinely good one and there is nothing in the four or five hundreds to wait for. The two non-stops are very different propositions: Vietnam Airlines from €653, barely above the cheapest connection, and Air France at €1,089. Check transit-visa rules for your passport before booking a Chinese connection.
Airlines on this route
Non-stop (about 12h 20m):
- Air France — non-stop CDG → Saigon on the A350; full-service with a checked bag on standard fares.
- Vietnam Airlines — the flag carrier, non-stop from CDG on the A350; a Skytrax 4-star product and generous economy baggage.
One-stop (usually the cheapest, about 15–20 hours total):
- Qatar Airways via Doha — frequent, well-rated, often the best-value one-stop.
- Emirates via Dubai and Turkish Airlines via Istanbul — reliable connections and competitive fares.
- Singapore Airlines via Singapore and other Asian carriers — a comfortable routing, sometimes among the lowest fares in a sale.
Because the one-stop carriers compete hard, they usually undercut the nonstops. If time matters more than money, book Air France or Vietnam Airlines direct; if price is the priority, a single stop through Doha, Dubai or Istanbul is the sweet spot.
When to book & how to save
- Book 2–4 months ahead for the best balance of price and choice — long-haul fares to Vietnam rarely improve in the final weeks.
- Avoid the peaks: Christmas/New Year and Têt (late January or February) are the most expensive and busiest — and much of Vietnam slows down over Têt.
- Travel in the shoulder (May, September–October) for the lowest fares.
- Consider a one-stop through the Gulf if you’re watching the budget — it’s usually cheaper than the nonstop.
- Check checked-bag rules: Air France and Vietnam Airlines include a bag on standard fares, but the cheapest “light” long-haul fares may not — compare the all-in price.
Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City
Flights land at Tan Son Nhat International (SGN), only about 7 km northwest of the centre — one of the closest big-city airports to its downtown. The simplest ways in are the bus 109 or 152 to central District 1 (around 30–45 minutes, well under €1) or a metered/app taxi (roughly €6–€10 to the centre, more in traffic). Have the address written down, and use the official taxi rank or a ride app to avoid overcharging.
Frequently asked questions
Are there direct flights from Paris to Ho Chi Minh City?
Yes. Air France (AF258) and Vietnam Airlines (VN10) fly non-stop from Paris CDG to Ho Chi Minh City on the Airbus A350. If you’d rather save money, one-stop flights with Qatar Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines or Singapore Airlines are usually cheaper than the nonstops.
How long is the flight from Paris to Ho Chi Minh City?
The non-stop flight takes about 12 hours 20 minutes eastbound and around 13 hours 30 minutes on the return against the winds. One-stop itineraries through Doha, Dubai or Istanbul typically take 15 to 20 hours in total, depending on the connection.
How much does it cost to fly from Paris to Ho Chi Minh City?
A typical economy return runs about €600–€700, with the whole sample spanning €583–€1,089. Connections start at €583 on China Southern; Vietnam Airlines’ non-stop starts at €653 and Air France’s is €1,089. The December and Têt peaks push everything higher.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Paris to Ho Chi Minh City?
May, September and October are usually the cheapest. In the dates we could price, connecting returns started at €583 and the Vietnam Airlines non-stop at €653. Avoid December, early January and the Têt period (late January or February), which are the busiest and most expensive.
Which airlines fly from Paris to Ho Chi Minh City?
Non-stop from CDG: Vietnam Airlines (€653–€1,057) and Air France (€1,089). One-stop, cheapest first: China Southern (€583–€654, behind most of the cheap fares), Air China (€587–€717) and Qatar Airways via Doha (€901–€989). Emirates, Turkish Airlines and Singapore Airlines also sell the route but did not appear among the cheapest fares when we checked.
Which airport do I fly into in Ho Chi Minh City?
You arrive at Tan Son Nhat International (SGN), the city’s main airport, just 7 km from central District 1. It handles all international flights; a bus or short taxi ride reaches the centre in well under an hour.
How far in advance should I book Paris to Ho Chi Minh City flights?
Aim to book 2 to 4 months ahead. Long-haul fares to Vietnam tend to rise as departure approaches, especially around the Christmas peak and Têt, so early booking almost always saves money.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Often, yes — midweek departures (Tuesday to Thursday) are usually a little cheaper than Friday–Sunday, and flying out and back on weekdays can save €40–€100 on a long-haul return. Being flexible by a day or two is one of the easiest ways to cut the fare.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Indicative economy returns — always check the live fare before booking.
