Hanoi Stopover

The big-ticket item is genuinely free: Vietnam Airlines covers a 1-night stay at a 3-star hotel in Hanoi. But "free" has edges worth knowing: you still typically pay for meals beyond anything included, any city or tourist tax, and a transit-visa fee if your passport needs one. Compare the total fare too: adding a stopover doesn't always cost the same as a plain connection.

Passengers flying Vietnam Airlines on a ticket issued by the airline, with a qualifying layover in HAN between 8 and 35 hours. Eligible booking classes: see airline. Free transit service — city tour, hotel (day-use or overnight by layover length), meals, airport transfers and transit-visa fee — for connections of 8-35 hours at Hanoi. Must be flown on Vietnam Airlines-operated flights (ticket stock 738); qualifying booking classes vary by origin market. Pre-arrange by emailing the Free City Tour Service request form to a Vietnam Airlines office at least 72 working hours ahead (8 days if a transit visa is required); it is not a walk-up service.

Your connection in HAN should fall between 8 and 35 hours. Two things travelers get caught by: flight-search sites usually show the shortest connection by default, and that's often too short to qualify. You may need to deliberately pick a longer-layover flight. And the layover shown isn't all usable: clearing immigration and any baggage steps eats into it, so give yourself comfortable margin above the 8-hour minimum.

Stopover programs are run by the airline, so the safest route is a ticket booked directly with Vietnam Airlines on an eligible fare. Award and miles tickets, and bookings made through online travel agencies or other third-party sites, often follow different rules: sometimes they don't qualify, sometimes the stopover has to be arranged another way. Before booking like that, confirm directly with Vietnam Airlines that your specific ticket type is eligible.

To leave the airport for your stopover you must meet Vietnam's transit or entry rules, and this matters before you even fly: if your passport requires a transit visa and you don't have one, the airline can deny boarding. The good news: many nationalities get visa-free transit, visa-on-arrival, or a quick e-visa, and some stopover programs include the transit visa. Select your nationality on this page to see the exact requirement for Vietnam, and arrange any visa well before departure.

Airlines do sometimes adjust schedules after you book. A change can shorten or lengthen your layover. If it drops the connection below the 8-hour minimum, or past the maximum, it can affect your eligibility. If you get a schedule-change notice, re-check your layover against the program's window and contact Vietnam Airlines to rebook or re-confirm the stopover. It's worth re-checking your itinerary a few days before departure.

On a single Vietnam Airlines ticket, your checked bags are normally tagged straight through to your final destination, so you head into Hanoi with just your carry-on, and your luggage continues on the onward flight. You'd only collect and re-check bags if part of your trip is on a separate ticket. If you'd like a checked bag with you for the overnight stay, ask Vietnam Airlines when you arrange the stopover.

Most stopover programs allow only one stopover per round-trip — on either the outbound or the return leg, not both. A few carriers are more flexible. Confirm with Vietnam Airlines whether your specific itinerary can include a stopover on each leg before planning two stops.

Vietnam Airlines assigns the hotel — typically a 3-star property in or near Hanoi — rather than letting you choose a specific one, though premium-cabin passengers are often placed in higher-tier hotels. The exact property is confirmed when you arrange the stopover.

Complete the Free City Tour Service request form and email it to a Vietnam Airlines office at least 72 working hours before departure (8 days if you need a transit visa). Bring a 4x6 photo per tour journey. Eligibility varies by market, so confirm your booking class qualifies.

Up to 1 days. You can extend your layover without paying additional airfare, as long as it fits within the program's rules.

Tours offered: Hanoi city tour. Availability varies by season and requires advance booking through Vietnam Airlines.

Yes. You must request the stopover At least 72 working hours ahead (8 days if a transit visa is needed).