The Best Ways To Fly to Vietnam With Points and Miles [Step-by-Step]

Key Takeaways

• The best programs to book award flights to Vietnam include Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, ANA Mileage Club, American Airlines AAdvantage, and Air Canada Aeroplan.
• Transfer points from American Express, Chase, or Citi programs to these airline partners to boost your miles balance.
• There are currently no nonstop routes to Vietnam from the U.S., so you will have to connect via places such as Beijing (PEK), Hong Kong (HKG), Seoul (ICN), or Tokyo (NRT).

Vietnam is the fastest-growing country for tourism, full stop. With an annual tourism growth rate exceeding 20% to 30%, one might wonder why exactly Vietnam is poised to become one of the world’s economic powers after being ravaged by war in the mid- to late-20th century.

Simply put, Vietnam is more attractive than ever from a foreign investment perspective. The country also has a relatively stable government and strong geographic centrality to the rest of Asia.

All of these factors contribute to the growth of tourism in Vietnam. While nonstop routes to the U.S. are not currently available, they may soon become a reality since Vietnam has received the FAA certification to do so. With all being said, visiting this Southeast Asian country is a must-do for all travelers.

Flying deep into Southeast Asia can be challenging, especially with all the route possibilities of connecting flights such as on Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and more. In this guide, we’ll be working to demystify the process for booking flights to Vietnam with points.

Best Programs To Use To Book Flights

With such a vast network of connecting flights to Vietnam, it can be easy to get overwhelmed quickly. When flying to Vietnam, you will typically fly to 1 of 3 airport hubs:

1. Da Nang (DAD) in Central Vietnam
2. Hanoi (HAN) in North Vietnam
3. Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) in South Vietnam

Award bookings consist of 2 parts:

• Frequent flyer miles
• Taxes and fees (of which fuel surcharges make up a majority)

While flights to Europe typically command $500 to $1,000+ in fuel surcharges on top of the miles/points you pay, fuel surcharges above $300 per person round-trip to Asia are incredibly rare. In other words, seeing large taxes and fees above a couple of hundred dollars per person is more the exception than the norm.

This is good news because it’ll minimize your out-of-pocket costs when thinking about which flights to book. In any case, let’s take a look at the best programs to consider when booking flights to Vietnam.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Without a doubt, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is one of the most attractive frequent flyer programs in the world. Alaska miles are worth around 1.8 cents per point, making them the most valuable airline miles according to our valuations.

The rich partnerships and best-in-class award redemption rates are why there are so many great ways to redeem Alaska miles for maximum value. Alaska Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance, which includes airlines like Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines, and also has non-alliance partnerships with some of the best airlines in the world like Emirates and Singapore Airlines.

In addition to this, it has generous low fuel surcharges, often less than $100 round-trip. Lastly, Alaska Airlines has an awesome stopover allowance on one-way flights, which is the icing on the cake.

These are the major reasons why Alaska Airlines has managed to preserve its mileage value in the face of competitors devaluing its currency. The most helpful airlines for flights to Vietnam are:

1. Cathay Pacific
2. Japan Airlines
3. Korean Air (round-trip flights only)

The following table illustrates the one-way award costs to/from the U.S. and Southeast Asia, which includes Vietnam:

* Korean Air redemptions are only available round-trip

As you can see, Cathay Pacific has the best mileage prices. Pair this with the quality of the Hong Kong-based airline and flying on Cathay Pacific is essentially a no-brainer.

Also, Hong Kong is a short, 2-hour hop away from Vietnam, so it’s as close to a nonstop flight as you can get without actually having a nonstop flight. In particular, the Cathay Pacific first class and business class prices are insanely good, especially when you take into consideration that you can book a stopover in Hong Kong for free.

Cathay Pacific is cutting back on first class in Asia; luckily for travelers originating in the U.S., you can book the majority of your itinerary in long-haul first class (14 to 16 hours). Be sure to refer to our guide on Cathay Pacific’s direct routes from the U.S. when planning your trip.

Here are some great example routes you can take:

• Boston (BOS) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in Cathay Pacific first class and business class for 70,000 Alaska miles + ~$19 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Da Nang (DAD) one-way in Cathay Pacific business class for 50,000 Alaska miles + ~$19 in taxes and fees
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Hanoi (HAN) one-way in Cathay Pacific economy class for 30,000 Alaska miles + ~$19 in taxes and fees

Hot Tip: Alaska Airlines doesn’t currently allow online bookings for Cathay Pacific, so you’ll want to call them to book Cathay Pacific first class and business class.

If flying on Japan Airlines or having a stopover in Tokyo is more desirable to you, you can make that happen with Alaska miles. Once you’ve taken a look at Japan Airlines’ direct routes from the U.S., you’ll probably want to book. Check out some great example routes you can take:

• Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo (NRT) – Hanoi (HAN) one-way in Japan Airlines first class and business class for 70,000 Alaska miles one-way + ~$33 in taxes and fees
• Dallas (DFW) – Tokyo (NRT) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in Japan Airlines business class for 60,000 Alaska miles one-way + ~$33 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo (NRT) – Hanoi (HAN) one-way in Japan Airlines first class and business class for 70,000 Alaska miles one-way + ~$33 in taxes and fees

Hot Tip: Japan Airlines’ first class and business class are industry-leading, so heavily consider these when thinking about how you’re going to get to Vietnam. 

You can book your Japan Airlines flights completely online when using Alaska miles, so check out our step-by-step guides on the best ways to book Japan Airlines’ first class and business class for more information.

Although the award availability on Korean Air is limited and you’re required to book round-trip flights, some travelers may understandably be interested in either trying Korean Air business class (you can’t book Korean Air first class using Alaska miles) or stopping in Korea to visit the land of K-pop.

Korean Air’s nonstop U.S. routes are plentiful, so you have plenty of American airports to depart from. Remember that you must always connect in Seoul (ICN).

Let’s talk about some great example routes to Vietnam via Seoul:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Seoul (ICN) – Hanoi (HAN) round-trip in Korean Air business class for 120,000 Alaska miles + ~$78 in taxes and fees
• Seattle (SEA) – Seoul (ICN) – Nha Trang (CXR) or Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) – Seoul (ICN) – Seattle (SEA) in Korean Air business class for 120,000 Alaska miles + ~$78 in taxes and fees

Here’s how you can book Korean Air business class using Alaska miles:

1. Visit Alaska Airlines.
2. On the homepage, you’ll see a search box.
3. Check off the box that says Use miles.
4. Type in your city pairs.
5. Choose your departure and return dates.
6. Select the number of passengers.
7. Click Find Flights.
8. Find the Korean Air flights that work for your schedule and preferences.
9. Check out, spend your miles, and pay for any applicable taxes and fees with your credit card.

Earning Alaska Airlines Miles

While not as easy to earn as some other miles, you can still earn Alaska miles easily. The first option to explore is the co-branded Alaska Airlines Visa Signature^® Credit Card. There is also a business equivalent, and both credit cards routinely offer big welcome bonuses.

The second, and perhaps the easiest way to earn Alaska Airlines miles is to transfer from Marriott Bonvoy, Alaska’s only transfer partner. The transfer ratio is 3:1, and you’ll receive a transfer bonus of 5,000 Alaska miles for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred. Transfers to Alaska Airlines take around 4 business days to complete.

The maximum you can transfer in a single day from Marriott Bonvoy is 240,000 points, which would equate to 100,000 Alaska miles. There are loads of ways to earn lots of Marriott Bonvoy points, so don’t sleep on this method to accrue Alaska miles!

Hot Tip: Thinking of other ways to spend Marriott Bonvoy points? Check out our best ways to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for flights, as well as for hotel stays, too.

The last major option to earn Alaska miles is to buy them. Alaska Airlines frequently offers sales with a 30% to 50% bonus on purchased miles, which can make business class and first class flights ridiculously cheap.

Bottom Line: Overall, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan’s partnerships with Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and Korean Air make it an extraordinarily useful loyalty program to utilize on flights to Vietnam. Additionally, the award redemption prices, particularly on Cathay Pacific, represent a too-good-to-pass-up deal, especially when taking advantage of its stopover policy and low taxes/fees. 

ANA Mileage Club

Our next pick for the best booking programs is All Nippon Airways Mileage Club, or ANA Mileage Club for short. ANA offers spectacular value consistently, and this instance is no exception. However, ANA is subject to a few more rules that make it slightly more complicated than other booking programs.

These are:

1. 2 award charts (ANA-operated versus partner flights)
2. Seasonality rules (award price ranges depending on the dates you fly)
3. One-way flights are not permitted

ANA is in the Star Alliance, which includes airlines like United Airlines. You can also fly on one of its extremely useful non-Alliance partners, Vietnam Airlines.

Here are the most useful airlines that we’ll be exploring using ANA miles:

• Air Canada (for Canada-based travelers)
• Air China (based in Beijing)
• ANA (based in Tokyo)
• Asiana Airlines (based in Seoul)
• EVA Air (based in Taipei)
• United Airlines (based in Chicago)

Flying on ANA is the cheapest, especially when doing so during low season. However, the taxes and fees will generally be the highest, running at around $420 round-trip.

Here is the ANA award chart on its flights to Asia 2, which includes Vietnam.

To figure out whether your travel dates fall under low, regular, or high season, visit ANA’s international flight awards page and click on the button that says Seasonality and Required Mileage Charts.

As you can see, the difference in seasonality can have a huge impact on how many points you’ll spend on these flights, so it’s important to plan accordingly.

Here are a few great example redemptions you can make for ANA flights to Vietnam using ANA miles:

• Houston (IAH) – Tokyo (NRT) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) round-trip in ANA business class during low season for 100,000 ANA miles + ~$420 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo (NRT) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) round-trip in ANA first class and business class during low season for 195,000 ANA miles + ~$420 in taxes and fees
• San Jose (SJC) – Tokyo (NRT) – Hanoi (HAN) round-trip in ANA business class during regular season for 110,000 ANA miles + ~$420 in taxes and fees

If trying out ANA business class or first class is something you’ve already done, you can also book the partners we discussed above on flights to Vietnam. Here’s the ANA award chart for partner-operated flights:

You’ll pay 80,000 ANA miles for round-trip economy, 136,000 ANA miles for round-trip business, and 240,000 ANA miles for round-trip first class. We generally don’t recommend booking first class with partners using ANA miles for 2 reasons:

• High mileage cost (better deals elsewhere)
• No first class products are flown to Vietnam from Asia

You’d essentially be paying the difference between a business and first class round-trip booking for the initial long-haul flight from the U.S.

That being said, let’s examine some great example routes:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Beijing (PEK) – Hanoi (HAN) round-trip in Air China business class for 136,000 ANA miles + ~$82 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Taipei (TPE) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) round-trip in EVA Air business class for 136,000 ANA miles + ~$102 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Hanoi (HAN) round-trip in United Polaris business class and Vietnam Airlines business class for 136,000 ANA miles + ~$72 in taxes and fees
• Seattle (SEA) – Seoul (ICN) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) round-trip in Asiana Airlines economy and Vietnam Airlines economy for 80,000 ANA miles + ~$100 in taxes and fees
• Toronto (YYZ) – Shanghai (PVG) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) round-trip in Air Canada business class and Vietnam Airlines business class for 136,000 ANA miles + ~$60 in taxes and fees

Hot Tip: When using ANA miles, you can book up to 1 stopover and 1 open-jaw. Use these to add extra value and convenience to your trip. 

Here’s how to redeem ANA miles for flights to Vietnam:

• Visit ANA’s website.
• Click Award Booking on the homepage search box.
• Log in with your ANA Mileage Club number and password.
• Choose either Round-trip or Multiple cities/Mixed classes.
• Type in your city pairs, travel dates, class of service, and the number of passengers.
• Click Search.
• Choose your flights and pay for taxes and fees.

Earning ANA Miles

Earning ANA miles is easy, especially since ANA is an Amex transfer partner and a Marriott transfer partner. Transfers from Amex take around 2 to 3 days at a 1:1 ratio, whereas Marriott Bonvoy takes 4 days at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred.

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Bottom Line: ANA’s amazingly attractive redemption sweet spots are for business class redemptions on its airplanes. In addition to this sweet spot, ANA Mileage Club offers some similarly fantastic rates for partner flights to Vietnam. Be sure to take advantage of the plentiful ways to earn ANA miles, stopover/open-jaw allowances, and unique non-alliance partnership with Vietnamese flag carrier Vietnam Airlines.

American Airlines AAdvantage

Spending American Airlines miles is very attractive for flights to Vietnam. Although award availability on American Airlines’ own long-haul flights is terrible, you’ll have luck by exploring its Oneworld partners, specifically Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

Hot Tip: Crossing the Atlantic Ocean en route to Asia on an airline like Qatar Airways is not a permissible routing in AAdvantage’s eyes and can’t be booked as a single itinerary.

The award costs for one-way flights to/from the U.S. and Vietnam are:

The main appeal of AAdvantage is that there are more ways to earn AAdvantage miles from credit card spending.

Unfortunately, there are no stopovers allowed, but your taxes and fees will be extremely low.

Here are some great example routes you can take:

• New York (JFK) – Tokyo (HND) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in Japan Airlines first class and business class for 110,000 AAdvantage miles + ~$45 in taxes and fees
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Hanoi (HAN) one-way in Cathay Pacific business class for 70,000 AAdvantage miles + ~$61 in taxes and fees

You can book most partner itineraries completely online, including Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

Here are the instructions:

1. Visit American Airlines’ website.
2. On the homepage, click the checkbox that says Redeem miles.
3. Fill out the search box, submit it, and find the flight you like.
4. Finish the redemption process by entering the travelers’ information and using a credit card for taxes and fees.
   • If you’re not ready, you can book a 5-day award hold. Just be cautious, however, in making sure you book the ticket before the expiration because the tickets may not always go back into inventory if the award hold expires.

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

By focusing on co-branded American Airlines credit cards, you can earn a lot of American AAdvantage miles. Both Citi and Barclays offer several American Airlines credit cards, so your options are plentiful.

If you don’t quite have enough AAdvantage miles to make a redemption, you can top off your balance by transferring from Marriott Bonvoy. Transfers come at a 3:1 ratio and they take around 2 business days.

Bottom Line: Using American Airlines AAdvantage miles represents an easy way to book award travel to Vietnam. With a simple pricing structure, great redemption prices, and numerous ways to earn miles, it’s not exactly a secret why AAdvantage is a great program to leverage on flights to Vietnam. 

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada Aeroplan is a great partner to utilize, especially if you have lots of Capital One miles. Aeroplan uses a distance-based award chart for flights between North America and the Pacific:

Aeroplan points can be used for any Air Canada partners, which includes the entire Star Alliance. Aeroplan is also partners with Cathay Pacific, but its use is limited since you can only redeem award flights between Hong Kong (HKG) and:

Hot Tip: If you fly on one-way itineraries between the U.S. and Vietnam using Aeroplan points, you can add a stopover or open-jaw for just 5,000 miles! 

Here are some great example routes you can take:

• Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo (HND) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in ANA business class for 85,000 Aeroplan points + ~$182 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Taipei (TPE) – Hanoi (HAN) one-way in EVA Air business class for 85,000 Aeroplan points + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Newark (EWR) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in United Polaris class and Cathay Pacific business class for 85,000 Aeroplan points + ~$20 in taxes and fees

Air Canada Aeroplan presents an option for travelers to book Star Alliance flights at a great price without having to book round-trip flights as required when using ANA miles. Other highlights of this method include low taxes and fees and the stopover allowance for another 5,000 miles.

Earning Air Canada Aeroplan Points

Air Canada Aeroplan is an Amex transfer partner, Chase transfer partner, Capital One transfer partner, and Marriott transfer partner.

Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, and Chase Ultimate Rewards have the best transfer ratio, sitting at a simple 1:1 ratio. Transfers from Amex, Capital One, and Chase to Aeroplan are instant.

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• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Bottom Line: Over the years, Aeroplan has fallen off the radar of many points enthusiasts. However, the addition of Capital One as a transfer partner makes it most appealing for Capital One loyalists. Remember that you can add a stopover on one-way flights for just 5,000 miles, which can add significant value to your trip. Aeroplan provides a straightforward method to redeem your points for high-value flights to Vietnam. 

Avianca LifeMiles

LifeMiles falls closely behind Air Canada Aeroplan and ranks lower due to the relatively inflexible nature of its booking engine. Avianca LifeMiles struggles tremendously with any bookings with 2 stops. Furthermore, it is known to not show all available flights, which can be aggravating.

That being said, its abundance of transfer partners, competitive award pricing to Vietnam, and the absence of fuel surcharges make LifeMiles an excellent option nevertheless.

Here’s the award chart for one-way flights from the continental U.S. to Vietnam:

As you can see, LifeMiles charges 7,000 fewer miles than Aeroplan for one-way business class flights, and it is significantly cheaper for first class bookings. However, there are no open-jaws allowed, which is why LifeMiles falls just behind Aeroplan.

Avianca LifeMiles is capable of booking Star Alliance itineraries, so you’ll want to stick with the airlines we mentioned in the ANA and Aeroplan sections to get inspiration for routes.

You can also explore the direct U.S. routes on Asiana and Air China for further analysis.

Earning Avianca LifeMiles

Avianca LifeMiles is one of the easiest types of miles to earn out there. You can earn LifeMiles easily by doing 1 or more of the following:

1. Transfer from Amex Membership Rewards (1:1 ratio)
2. Transfer from Brex Rewards (1:1 ratio)
3. Transfer from Citi ThankYou Rewards (1:1 ratio)
4. Transfer from Capital One Miles (1:1 ratio)
5. Transfer from Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 ratio)
6. Buying LifeMiles

Transfers from Amex, Citi, Brex, and Capital One are nearly instant, and transfers from Marriott Bonvoy take less than 1 business day, so you’ll have very few issues with transferring to LifeMiles. Furthermore, be on the lookout for transfer bonuses of 25% to 30% from Amex and Citi.

Also, Avianca LifeMiles regularly offers mileage sales with up to a 125% to 200% bonus, which is a huge discount. You can purchase LifeMiles for around 1.0 to 1.5 cents per mile during these times.

Recommended Citi Card

Citi Premier^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

*The information regarding the Citi Premier card has expired, and the card is no longer open to applicants.

Citi Premier^® Card

*The information regarding the Citi Premier card has expired, and the card is no longer open to applicants.

Welcome Offer

No offer available

No offer available

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$0

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.24% - 29.24% variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Premier^® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
• Access to Citi transfer partners
• Annual hotel credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• No welcome offer available
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
• 60,000 ThankYou^® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.24% - 29.24% variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Bottom Line: Avianca LifeMiles is one of the most underrated programs. There are tons of ways to redeem LifeMiles for maximum value, but the ease of earning, absence of fuel surcharges on award bookings, and easy online booking process makes this method a no-brainer, particularly for Citi loyalists. 

United MileagePlus

United Airlines’ frequent flyer program is known as MileagePlus, and as you’ll find out, booking using United miles is exceedingly simple.

That, along with the presence of Chase as a core transfer partner and the network of Star Alliance routes to Vietnam, is why United MileagePlus makes it on our list of best ways to fly to Vietnam.

Let’s first look at the partner award chart on one-way flights from the U.S. to Vietnam (United uses dynamic award pricing, so the actual cost may fluctuate):

While using United miles for first class redemptions isn’t the best idea out there, it might be your only shot if you are especially low on other transferable currencies.

If you’re open to having a connection in Hong Kong (HKG), Tokyo (NRT), or Taipei (TPE), you might even be able to locate Saver-level availability on United Polaris for a cheaper price of 70,000 to 75,000 United miles.

You can then purchase a cheap positioning flight to get to your final destination in Vietnam, saving 15,000 to 20,000 United miles in the process.

When using United miles, another luxury you’ll experience is the lack of fuel surcharges, which will do wonders to minimize your overall out-of-pocket costs.

Here are some great example routes you can take:

• San Francisco (SFO) – Taipei (TPE) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in United Polaris class and EVA Air business class for 99,000 United miles + ~$11 in taxes and fees
• Seattle (SEA) – Seoul (ICN) – Hanoi (HAN) one-way in Asiana business class for 99,000 United miles + ~$20 in taxes and fees

Earning United MileagePlus Miles

One of 2 Chase transfer partners covered in this piece, United Airlines MileagePlus, is an extremely simple way to use points to book flights to Vietnam. Chase transfers at a 1:1 ratio to United almost instantly.

United Airlines miles are easy to earn due to the suite of co-branded Chase United credit cards and the abundance of credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points, Chase’s proprietary rewards currency.

Marriott Bonvoy also transfers to United. It’s at a 3:1 ratio with a 10,000-point bonus for every 60,000 points transferred. This means that every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred to United will result in a total of 30,000 United miles.

Bottom Line: The process of using United miles to book awards online is probably one of the easiest in the world. If you’re looking for a simple way to book flights to Vietnam leveraging the Star Alliance and using Chase Ultimate Rewards points, United is probably your best bet. 

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 bonus points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.99% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

21.99% - 28.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025

Cons

• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.99% - 28.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

INTRO OFFER

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

Welcome Offer

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

Up to $300 cash-back

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Freedom Unlimited^® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases

Cons

• 3% foreign transaction fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited^® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Freedom Flex^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Freedom Flex^®

The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.

Welcome Offer

Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ sure does pack quite a punch — especially for a no-annual-fee card.

The Freedom Flex card is an incredible option for those looking for a well-rounded cash-back card, or a powerful point-earner when paired with a premium card in the Ultimate Rewards family.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
• Powerful cash-back earner: 5% back on quarterly categories and travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases
• No annual fee

Cons

• 3% foreign transaction fees in U.S. dollars

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99%-28.74%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex^® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Air France/KLM Flying Blue

Air France/KLM’s Flying Blue employs a variable award pricing structure, and it can be difficult to predict just exactly how much a certain ticket is going to cost in points.

Specifically, here is the best estimation for one-way flights from the U.S. to Vietnam using Flying Blue miles:

Interestingly, Flying Blue is one of the few programs that permits transatlantic routes to Vietnam without adding to the mileage price. We can exploit this to get 2 long-haul business class flights in many instances, though taking the long way is going to shorten your vacation a little bit.

Here are some great example transatlantic routes you can take:

• Atlanta (ATL) – London (LHR) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in Delta One and Vietnam Airlines business class for 85,000 Flying Blue Miles + ~$20 in taxes and fees
• Detroit (DTW) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in Delta One and Vietnam Airlines business class for 85,000 Flying Blue Miles + ~$20 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Moscow (SVO) – Hanoi (HAN) one-way in Aeroflot business class and Vietnam Airlines business class for 85,000 Flying Blue Miles + ~$200 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Paris (CDG) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in Air France business class and Vietnam Airlines business class for 85,000 Flying Blue Miles + ~$140 in taxes and fees

Keep in mind that flights that traverse the Pacific will likely be priced at 115,000 Flying Blue miles one-way, instead of 85,000 miles. So, it’s mostly more cost-effective to take the long way via Europe than the short way via Asia.

Earning Air France/KLM Flying Blue Miles

Perhaps the most flexible rewards currency out there, Air France/KLM Flying Blue takes the cake in having the most ways to transfer from credit card points. There are tons of ways to earn lots of Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles.

Even though Flying Blue has the most transfer partners of any currency out there, the miles are still extremely valuable and can be redeemed for tons of value.

Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Brex Rewards, Captial One Miles, and Citi ThankYou Rewards all transfer at a 1:1 ratio and almost all transfers are instantaneous.

Marriott Bonvoy transfers in around 1 business day at a 3:1 ratio. You will receive a 5,000 Flying Blue miles bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. You can transfer a maximum of 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy points daily, which would get you 100,000 Flying Blue miles.

Japan Airlines Mileage Plan

Another fantastic niche program is Japan Airlines Mileage Plan. Although the quality of the loyalty program has been ravaged through devaluation after devaluation, it remains one of the cheapest ways to book certain flights that would otherwise be inaccessible.

Japan Airlines miles are among the hardest airline miles to earn, which is why it tends to command lower costs for flights relative to partners like American Airlines. Nonetheless, it has 4 non-alliance partners that would be interesting on flights to Vietnam.

Specifically, these are:

• Air France (based in Paris)
• China Eastern (based in Shanghai)
• Emirates (based in Dubai)
• Korean Air (based in Seoul)

Japan Airlines Mileage Plan employs a distance-based award chart on partners as follows:

The distance computed by Japan Airlines is not always the same as calculated from Great Circle Mapper, so you’ll want to use the Japan Airlines distance calculator. Due to the distance-based pricing of award charts, longer flights will be more expensive, so flying across the Atlantic is not usually recommended.

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank is one of the last ways you can book China Eastern first class, which barely makes our best international first class airlines in the world. It is near the top of the list of best first class seats for couples because it is the only airline besides Etihad and Singapore that has double beds.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many ways to book them, but JAL Mileage Bank is an excellent way to do so. Here are some great example routes you can take:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Shanghai (PVG) round-trip in China Eastern first class for 165,000 Japan Airlines miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Shanghai (PVG) – Da Nang (DAD) one-way in China Eastern first class and business class for 120,000 Japan Airlines miles
• New York (JFK) – Shanghai (PVG) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) round-trip in China Eastern first class and business class for 190,000 Japan Airlines miles

The first option is somewhat of a misnomer since it’s technically not a route to Vietnam. It’s actually a sweet spot if you book the round-trip ticket. The round-trip ticket falls into the 12,001 to 14,000 distance bracket, while the one-way distance bracket is 6,001 to 8,000 miles. You’ll notice that the one-way flight costs 120,000 miles, but round-trip is only slightly more expensive at 165,000 miles. It’s extremely easy to book a cheap ticket from Shanghai to Vietnam if it means saving loads of miles.

If you needed a cost-effective way to fly to Vietnam from Shanghai, you can often find round-trip economy tickets nonstop for ~$240. When you consider that one-way tickets typically cost around 10,000 to 20,000 miles one-way, you’ll definitely want to use cash when you can.

You can also fly on Emirates via Dubai (DXB) to Hanoi (HAN). Unfortunately, this route doesn’t currently have first class, only business class in a 2-3-2 layout, which is an inferior arrangement. You’ll also have to shell out significant amounts in fuel surcharges to book the ticket, but it’s still an option.

Earning Japan Airlines Miles

Unfortunately, while Japan Airlines has great redemption rates, particularly for round-trip award bookings, it only has 1 transfer partner, Marriott Bonvoy.

With a 3:1 transfer ratio and transfer time of ~2 days, you’ll receive 20,000 Japan Airlines miles plus a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred.

Bottom Line: Japan Airlines is useful for niche redemptions, particularly for China Eastern first class and Emirates. However, the difficulty in earning Japan Airlines miles nullifies some of the value, but it’s still a cost-effective option to fly to Vietnam once you’ve accrued enough miles. 

Delta SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles is the last frequent flyer program we’ll talk about. The most useful partners for flights to Vietnam are:

• China Airlines (based in Taipei)
• China Eastern (based in Shanghai)
• Delta Air Lines (based in Atlanta)
• Korean Air (based in Seoul)
• Vietnam Airlines (based in Hanoi)
• XiamenAir (based in Xiamen)

On top of this, Delta routinely offers award sales to Asia that cut economy award prices nearly in half, so be sure to hold out for one of those if you want to fly in economy. Here are the normal one-way award costs:

You want to avoid booking close-in departures of 21 days or more since that will make your business class awards skyrocket in price.

The best SkyTeam partner options to fly to Vietnam are:

• China Airlines (best business class product)
• Korean Air
• XiamenAir

Booking China Airlines business class necessitates connecting flights through Taipei before continuing to Vietnam, just like Korean Air does with Seoul and XiamenAir with a Chinese airport.

Here are some great example routes you can take:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Seoul (ICN) – Hanoi (HAN) one-way in Korean Air business class and Vietnam Airlines business class for 147,500 Delta SkyMiles + ~$40 in taxes and fees
• Chicago (ORD) – Shanghai (PVG) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in China Eastern business class and Vietnam Airlines business class for 147,500 Delta SkyMiles + ~$298 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Xiamen (XMN) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in XiamenAir business class for 147,500 Delta SkyMiles + ~$135 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Taipei (TPE) – Hanoi (HAN) one-way in China Airlines business class for 147,500 Delta SkyMiles + ~$6 in taxes and fees

Earning Delta SkyMiles

Earning Delta SkyMiles is made easy by the fact that the airline is transfer partners with Amex Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

Also, Delta offers many co-branded credit cards issued by American Express.

As usual, the Amex transfer ratio is 1:1, and Amex transfers instantaneously to Delta. Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1 ratio and takes around 3 business days.

We provide an in-depth analysis of the various Delta credit cards available.

Bottom Line: With so many ways to earn Delta SkyMiles and the ease of booking SkyTeam flights, Delta’s frequent flyer program is worth considering as a good way to fly to Vietnam using points. There are few fuel surcharges, and searching for SkyTeam award availability is ridiculously easy. 

Final Thoughts

In all, there are tons of different ways to fly to Vietnam and even more ways to fly to using points and miles. Every major alliance and transferable currency has been covered in this piece, so it’s up to the traveler to pick the best frequent flyer program for their needs to get the best award redemptions to Vietnam.

Happy redeeming!