Flights San Francisco (SFO) - Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) with Vietnam Airlines

About the flight

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located approximately 13 miles from central San Francisco in California. Flights San Francisco (SFO) - Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) with Vietnam Airlines depart from this international gateway, which is the largest bay area airport and the seventh-busiest in the US by passenger numbers. Its terminal two is the largest in America and the heaviest building worldwide that is built on earthquake protecting base isolators.

Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport (SGN) serves south-east Vietman and Ho Chi Minh City as the most vibrant airport with passenger numbers that exceeded 38 million in 2018. The airport's SGN code is derived from Saigon which was Ho Chi Minh City's former name, and it offers the most reliable destination for flights from San Francisco with Vietnam Airlines. The distance from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City is 7,838 miles, and flights San Francisco (SFO) - Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) with Vietnam Airlines take an average of 16 hours and 11 minutes to arrive.

Vietnam Airlines operates no direct flights from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City and the most popular points for connecting flights is in Hong Kong, Taipei, and Singapore International Airports. There is only one regular trip on this route a week, with four every month. June is the most popular month to visit while September is the least busy.

About the airline

Vietnam Airlines has been offering its passengers flights from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City since its re-establishment as a modernized state-owned corporation in 1996, with services to 64 global destinations. The carrier's improved services and fleet offerings enabled it to join Sky Team in 2010 as the first airline from Southeast Asia admitted to the prestigious alliance.

Vietnam Airlines offers Business, Premium Economy and Economy Classes for flights from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City. Inflight entertainment is available on selected flights with video on demand, personal TVs, games, movies, and music. Flights that offer the Business and Premium Economy classes feature extended legroom, personal touch screens, extra reclining seats and in-flight dining options that include Vietnamese delicacies.

Flights San Francisco (SFO) - Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) with Vietnam Airlines are operated mostly on Monday each week, departing at 12:05 a.m. and arrive at 6:40 p.m. with an additional two-hour stopover in Taipei. The carrier operates a fleet of Airbus A320's and A321's with some painted with Sky Team lively, for flights from SFO to SGN. Newer aircraft that ply this route include airbus A350-900's, ATR 72-500's, Boeing 787-9's, and Boeing 787-10's

Business Class and Premium Economy passengers have unlimited access to airport lounges in both San Francisco and Ho Chi Minh City airports. Pre-paid baggage and online check-in are available from between 24 to one hour before the flight's departure time.

Transportation, transfers & car rental

There are transportation options available at both San Francisco and Ho Chi Minh City International Airports, including bus shuttles, metro rail, taxi, and car-hire services. While AirTrain moves passengers to SFO en masse, BART, Caltrain, and bus stations are within the airport, with door to door rideshares, hotel shuttles, and charter services aplenty.

At Ho Chi Min City Airport (SGN), there is a bus station outside the international arrivals terminal, while traditional taxi services by the Ma Linh or Vinasun companies ply the airport. Rideshare services at SGN are available with their respective apps and include Grab and Uber.

SFO airport offers short-term and long-term parking facilities within the central and international terminals, with additional long-term slots at San Bruno and South Airport Boulevard, both connected to the terminus by shuttle bus. Car parking facilities are also available at SGN with car rental providers operating 24/7 within the arrivals section of the airport. Pham Van Dong Boulevard was officially opened in 2016 to ease congestion and connect the airport with route 1A of the national highway system.

Practical information

Passengers traveling from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City with Vietnam Airlines must have a valid passport and visa to enter Vietnam. It's also required that passports have a minimum of six months of validity after the arrival date. Visas on arrival are available at SGN and passengers who have met pre-approval requirements should have two photos that were taken not more than months months prior to their arrival.

Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam is 14 hours ahead of San Francisco in California. In Vietnam it rains more often, and the temperature is generally hotter. The official currency at SGN is the Vietnamese dong, which has an average rate of 20,000 to 21,000 VND for one US dollar, which can be exchanged anywhere from the bank to the forex bureau or the jewelry shop.

Vietnamese speak mainly Vietnamese amongst 110 recognized local dialects, with a few people available who speak English. There is a higher amount of societal tolerance in Vietnam and visitors from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City can be forgiven for mixing up cultural nuances. While dining in a Vietnamese local cuisine restaurant, travelers from San Francisco may be surprised to see diners discarding bones or tissue on the floor, which is accepted here.

Visitors to temples must observe respectful attire that covers shoulders and legs, while shoes must be left outside before entering these venerated places of worship.

Top travel tips

Top 3 places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City

The Cu Chi tunnels of the Vietnam War-era

Ho Chi Minh City was a Viet Cong guerilla hotspot during the 1968 Tet offensive against South Vietnam and its US allies. The Cu Chi tunnels provide a realistic reminder of these times with exhibitions of networks of connected chambers and tunnels.

The Jade Emperor Pagoda of Ho Chi Minh City

Dedicated to the god of the Taoists known as Ngoc Hoang or King of Heaven, The Jade Emperor Pagoda is a fancy temple laden with deity statues amidst the smoke of incense. With a roof that's a work of art by itself, the Jade Emperor Pagoda's walls are lined elaborately with wooden carvings.

Atop the soaring Bitexco Financial Tower

The Bitexco Financial Tower is a 262 meter, 68-story structure that resembles a lotus bulb and was designed by Carlos Zapata. The Saigon SkyDeck is located on the 48th floor and offers visitors a stunning vista of Ho Chi Minh City especially at sunset.

Read more about Ho Cho Minh City

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