Vietnam from Australia: flights, visa and pickleball costs in AUD

Getting from Australia to Vietnam is easier than most people think: nonstop flights leave Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, the flight is shorter than a trip to Hawaii, and Vietnam is only one to four hours behind you, so there is almost no jet lag. You will need a US$25 e-visa, and your Australian dollar goes a long way once you land. Here is everything an Aussie player needs to plan the trip, with costs in AUD.

Can you fly direct from Australia to Vietnam?

Yes. As of October 2026 there are nonstop flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to Ho Chi Minh City, and from Sydney and Melbourne to Hanoi. Vietnam Airlines and VietJet run most of them, and Jetstar has flown some Australian routes to Saigon too. Schedules change by season, so check each airline before you book.

There is no nonstop flight from Australia to Da Nang, the airport for Hoi An, as of October 2026. Fly into Saigon or Hanoi and take a domestic flight of about 1 hour 20 minutes, or connect in Singapore, which has nonstop flights to Da Nang. Our domestic flights vs trains guide helps you plan the legs inside Vietnam.

The best routing for most trips is open-jaw: fly into Hanoi and home from Ho Chi Minh City, or the other way round. You avoid flying back up the country, and you save a day. From Melbourne or Sydney that's easy, since both cities have nonstops to each end.

Do Australians need a visa for Vietnam?

Yes. Australians need an e-visa, which costs US$25 for a single entry or US$50 for multiple entries and lets you stay up to 90 days. Unlike UK, French and German travellers, who currently get 45 days visa-free, Australian passport holders have no exemption.

• Apply only at evisa.gov.vn. Lookalike websites charge A$80 to A$150 for the same visa.
• Allow a week. Most e-visas arrive in three to five working days, but leave a margin around Christmas and Tet.
• Choose multiple entry if you might pop over to Cambodia, Laos or Thailand mid-trip.
• Print it and keep a copy on your phone. Airlines check it at check-in in Australia.

Our step-by-step Vietnam e-visa guide shows the form field by field, including the photo rules that trip people up.

What does a pickleball trip to Vietnam cost in Australian dollars?

Plan on about A$700 to A$1,300 for a return economy flight, then A$100 to A$250 a day on the ground for a comfortable trip with games. Vietnam is one of the few places where an Australian dollar still feels strong: in October 2026 it bought about 18,000 dong.

The cheapest courts are early in the morning, which is also when it's coolest. Evening peak slots from 5 to 8pm cost the most. Our full breakdown, what a pickleball trip to Vietnam costs, has three sample budgets, and money in Vietnam explains cards, cash and ATMs.

When is the best time to go from Australia?

It depends where in Vietnam you want to play, because the country has three climates. For the whole country in one trip, March and April are best. In the Australian winter, head for Da Nang and Hoi An.

• Australian summer holidays (December to January): the south (Saigon, Phu Quoc) is dry and hot, ideal. Hanoi is cool, 15 to 20°C, and good for long days of play. The central coast is still rainy in December. See December and January.
• Easter (Good Friday is 26 March 2027): close to perfect everywhere. Read Vietnam in March, and book early, as Easter is busy with Aussies and Europeans.
• Australian winter (June to August): escape the cold on the central coast, which is dry and sunny, with the sea at its calmest. Hanoi and Saigon are hot with afternoon storms, so play early.
• Spring school holidays (late September to early October): Hanoi is at its best. Avoid the central coast from October to December, the flood season.

Our best time to visit Vietnam guide goes month by month.

How bad is the jet lag?

Hardly any. Vietnam is on UTC+7 all year, one hour behind Perth and three or four hours behind the east coast. That works in your favour: the body clock you bring from Sydney wakes you at 5am in Hanoi, which is exactly when the locals are out playing. Use it. Our jet lag guide has a few tricks for the first night.

What should Aussie players sort out before they fly?

Four things catch Australian travellers out: travel insurance that excludes sport, motorbike rules, vapes and the electricity plugs.

• Insurance. Check your policy covers sport, including pickleball, and medical evacuation. A rolled ankle in Vietnam is cheap to treat; a flight home on a stretcher is not.
• Motorbikes. Most policies won't pay out if you ride without a licence that is valid in Vietnam, and an Australian licence isn't enough on its own. Use Grab, Xanh SM or a driver instead. See our Xanh SM guide.
• Vapes. E-cigarettes and vaping liquids are illegal in Vietnam. Don't pack them.
• Plugs. Vietnam uses 220 volts with two-pin sockets (types A, C and F). Your Australian chargers work, but you'll need an adapter.
• Smartraveller. Register your trip and read the latest advice for Vietnam. Our is Vietnam safe? post covers the scams and the traffic.
• A local SIM. An eSIM costs a few dollars and saves you roaming charges. See Vietnam eSIM and SIM cards.

Can you bring your paddle on the plane?

Yes. Paddles are allowed in the cabin and in checked bags on the airlines flying from Australia to Vietnam. The catch is weight: some budget fares include only 7 kg of carry-on, and a paddle in a hard case adds about half a kilo. If you fly VietJet, add checked baggage when you book; it's cheaper online than at the airport. Our flying with a pickleball paddle guide has the airline rules. If you'd rather travel light, buying a paddle in Vietnam is easy and often cheaper than in Australia for local brands.

Where should you play first?

Start where your flight lands: Ho Chi Minh City has the most courts, Hanoi has the friendliest drop-in culture, and Da Nang lets you play by the beach.

• Ho Chi Minh City: courts in every district, many under a roof. See where to play in Saigon. Landing late? We can meet you at Tan Son Nhat.
• Hanoi: games from 5:30am, and local players happy to rotate you in. See where to play in Hanoi, or book a morning playing with locals in Hanoi.
• Da Nang and Hoi An: play at sunrise, swim by 8am. See Da Nang's courts and Hoi An's.

How long should you stay?

Ten to fourteen days is the sweet spot from Australia. With nine hours of flying each way, a week feels rushed unless you stick to one region. Two weeks covers the north, the centre and the south with a game in each. Our two weeks in Vietnam itinerary shows the classic route, and the Da Nang and Hoi An trip is a good one-week option from Perth. Travelling on your own? Read solo pickleball travel over 50.

Vietnam from Australia: FAQ

Do Australians need a visa for Vietnam?

Yes. Australians are not on Vietnam's visa-exemption list, so you need an e-visa before you fly. Apply at evisa.gov.vn: it costs US$25 for a single entry or US$50 for multiple entries, is valid for up to 90 days and usually takes three to five working days. Our e-visa guide walks through the form.

How long is the flight from Australia to Vietnam?

Nonstop flights take about 6 to 7.5 hours from Perth and about 8.5 to 9.5 hours from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Most nonstop flights land in Ho Chi Minh City; Sydney and Melbourne also have nonstop flights to Hanoi.

Are there direct flights from Australia to Da Nang?

Not as of October 2026. To reach Da Nang or Hoi An, fly nonstop to Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi and take a domestic flight of about 1 hour 20 minutes, or connect through Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok.

How much does a pickleball trip to Vietnam cost from Australia?

Budget about A$700 to A$1,300 for a return economy flight, A$36 for the e-visa, and A$100 to A$250 a day on the ground for a comfortable mid-range trip. Court hire is about A$8 to A$39 an hour per court, so A$2 to A$10 each in a game of four.

What is the time difference between Australia and Vietnam?

Vietnam is on UTC+7 all year. That is one hour behind Perth, three hours behind Brisbane, and three or four hours behind Sydney and Melbourne depending on daylight saving. Jet lag is mild.

Is Vietnam safe for Australian travellers?

Yes. Petty theft such as bag snatching is the main risk in the big cities, and traffic is the real danger. Check Smartraveller before you go, take out travel insurance that covers sport, don't ride a motorbike without a licence valid in Vietnam, and leave your vape at home, as e-cigarettes are illegal.

The bottom line

Vietnam is one of the easiest long-haul pickleball trips from Australia: nonstop flights from four capital cities, a US$25 e-visa, almost no jet lag and courts that cost a few dollars each. Book an open-jaw flight into Hanoi and out of Saigon, apply for the e-visa at evisa.gov.vn a week ahead, check your insurance covers sport, and leave the vape at home. Then compare your options in Vietnam vs Bali for a pickleball holiday, or read Vietnam vs Thailand.