A return to Ho Chi Minh City from New Zealand is running about $1,350 to $1,500 right now. But Jetstar's one-ways are cheap in both directions, so flying in to Ho Chi Minh and home from somewhere else works out cheaper than the return, and you don't have to backtrack.
Land in Saigon, travel up through Vietnam, across to Cambodia and Thailand, or down to Singapore, and fly home from wherever you finish.
Christchurch
- Into Ho Chi Minh, 11 May: $494 (Jetstar via Hamilton and Sydney, 18h 45m). $570 on 12 May
- Home from Singapore, 31 May: $554 (1 stop, 15h 25m). $565 on 30 May
- Total $1,048, against $1,389 for a Christchurch to Ho Chi Minh return on the same dates
Other ways home from the same trip:
- Home from Bali, 15 Jun: $572, total $1,066
- Home from Bangkok, 31 May: $618, total $1,112
Auckland
- Into Ho Chi Minh, 9 Feb: $511 (Jetstar via Sydney, 1 stop, 14h 10m). This is a single date, the days either side are $780 plus
- Home from Bali, 12 Mar: $566 (1 stop, 12h 45m). $586 on 11 Mar
- Total $1,077, against $1,354 for an Auckland to Ho Chi Minh return on the same dates
Or home from Bangkok on 12 Mar for $681, total $1,192.
When to go
- February is dry season in southern Vietnam, so the Auckland dates are the pick for weather
- Mid May is when the south's wet season starts, so expect afternoon downpours on the Christchurch dates
Before you book
- These are two separate one-way tickets. Each one is a single Jetstar booking with its own connections protected, they just aren't linked to each other, so there's no tight connection to worry about between them
- Jetstar's cheapest fares are carry-on only. Add a bag when you book
- Kiwis need a Vietnam e-visa: US$25 (about $39), done online, allow about a week
- Thailand cut its visa-free stay to 30 days on 15 September, worth checking if you're finishing up in Bangkok
The link goes to Christchurch to Ho Chi Minh on 11 May. Change From or To for the other routes, and search the way home as its own one-way.
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Prices NZD, checked today.
For anyone that was unaware, like myself