Last Updated on 2026 年 4 月 9 日 by Ching
This is my second trip to Vietnam with Vietjet Air, flying on the Vietjet Air VJ941, VJ940 Taipei to Hanoi route. It’s a well-known low-cost airline in Southeast Asia, famous for its ultra-cheap fares. But is its reputation really as bad as the internet claims?
This article is an honest review of Vietjet Air, detailing our round-trip experience from Taipei to Hanoi, including flight information, travel conditions, and ticket prices.
This article is perfect for budget-conscious travelers and red-eye flight challengers. Learn how to snag a great deal under 5,000 NTD and avoid high holiday fares. We recommend using online check-in 24 hours in advance to secure a good seat and mentally prepare for the early morning return on VJ940. Although the seat space might be a bit tight for taller individuals, the 5,000 NTD savings are enough for several massages in Hanoi, making it the ultimate choice for those seeking the best value!
Vietnam Free Travel Ticket Booking
Direct flight from Taipei (TPE) to Hanoi (HAN) with Vietjet Air
VJ941, VJ940 Flight Information and Ticket Prices
Flying from Taiwan to Hanoi takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours.
For traditional airlines, the best price is below $9,000, while for low-cost carriers, it’s below $5,000.
We traveled during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, where traditional airline prices were around $12,000. We managed to get a fare of $6,300, including baggage and taxes, which I find very reasonable.
| Flight Number | Departure | Destination | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Flight Duration | Remarks |
| VJ941 | Taipei Taoyuan (TPE) Terminal 1 | Hanoi (HAN) Terminal 2 | 12:10 | 14:10 | Approximately 3 hours | Operates daily (Aircraft often A321) |
| VJ940 | Hanoi (HAN) Terminal 2 | Taipei Taoyuan (TPE) Terminal 1 | 07:35 | 11:10 | Approximately 2 hours 35 minutes | Operates daily (Aircraft often A321) |
The timing of outbound VJ941 is quite nice. You can leisurely wake up in the morning, take a bus to the airport, and arrive in Hanoi not too late (one-hour time difference).
It’s just the right time to check in at the hotel and visit 1-2 attractions from afternoon to evening.
The return flight VJ940 is tough, a red-eye flight back to Taiwan, with only a few hours of sleep before heading to the airport.
The above photo was taken during the return waiting time. It was around five o’clock when we arrived at the airport, still dark, but it was already getting light while waiting.
So the actual travel time in Hanoi is ‘five days and five nights’, using an extra night of accommodation to offset the price difference with traditional airlines, depending on whether you think it’s worth it.
Why did I still buy the return flight despite the poor timing?
1. The allure of low-cost tickets during consecutive holidays is irresistible (price difference with traditional airlines is $5000~$7000)
2. Arriving in Taiwan at noon allows for a nap and rest at home, treating it as a post-holiday relaxation XD
VietJet Air Travel Experience
I actually quite enjoy flying low-cost airlines. When I went to Australia for a working holiday years ago, flying with Scoot sparked my interest in grabbing low-cost airline tickets.
After all, I fall asleep as soon as I get on the plane and rarely use in-flight entertainment. As for airplane meals, apart from the Starlux Hutong Grilled Meat Meal, most of them aren’t very tasty.
Why not save these costs for travel expenses and enjoy local delicacies (or massages) instead?
VietJet Air only started operations in 2011, founded by a female entrepreneur, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao. It’s a very young airline.
This is my second time flying with them. The last time was in 2019 for a Ho Chi Minh staff trip. Although the overall comfort can’t quite match traditional airlines, the pros outweigh the cons.
Further reading: 【Ho Chi Minh Travel Guide】5 days with 20,000 TWD! Ho Chi Minh + Mui Ne Free Travel Itinerary
Check in – You can select your seat online 24 hours in advance.
VietJet Air does not offer online check-in, but you can select your seat online 24 hours in advance without any extra charge.
However, this early seat selection is a bit puzzling.
On our outbound journey, we successfully selected seats around the emergency exit, but they weren’t right next to the exit, so the seats weren’t particularly spacious.
On the return journey, after selecting seats early, when we actually checked in at the counter, not only were we not given the seats we selected, but we were also separated!
I don’t quite understand the point of early seat selection XD
The ground staff of VietJet are very efficient, but there are quite a few tourists traveling to and from Vietnam, so it’s advisable to arrive at the airport early to queue up for check-in.
Especially for flights from Hanoi back to Taiwan, possibly because it’s one of VietJet Air’s main hubs, even with 3-4 counters open, there are still long queues.
Waiting for the flight
This time, the departure lounge was at Taoyuan Airport B7, not too far to walk after passing through customs.
Upon arrival, you can see a crowd of waiting passengers, mostly Vietnamese returning home, making up about 70% of the crowd.
Cabin Configuration
Let’s start with a favorite shot of tourists: the view outside the plane window as a divider.
The aircraft for both the outbound and return flights were Airbus A320s, a narrow-body aircraft with two rows of three seats each, commonly seen in low-cost airlines.
Although there’s only a single aisle, the entire plane has only 180 seats, so boarding and deplaning don’t take too much time.
For someone like me, who claims to be 160 cm tall, the seats aren’t too cramped; when seated, my knees don’t even touch the seat in front.
However, for Xiao Ding, who is 170 cm tall, there is slight contact with the seat in front.
Only at this moment… do I feel there’s a tiny bit of advantage to my height.
Hanoi Airport Immigration Situation
Hanoi Airport is Vietnam’s second busiest major airport. After landing, you’ll need to take a short shuttle bus ride.
On the day of arrival, it took about 30 minutes to complete the exit and entry procedures. The process was not long, overall clearance was quite smooth, and there was no customs luggage inspection.
Regarding the challenging and eventful process of finally obtaining the Vietnam e-Visa application, you can refer to the article I will write later.
VietJet Air reviews and experiences
On both occasions, my reviews of VietJet Air were positive. Although I hardly used any services on board, the ground staff handled things quickly, the flights were slightly delayed but within an acceptable range, and the ticket prices were incredibly attractive!
They periodically release zero-fare tickets to attract customers, and you can often see people in online groups boasting about snagging super cheap, enviable fares.
For short trips, it’s an excellent choice for budget travelers.
Occasionally, some people report that the official website’s ticketing process is not very smooth or that credit card payments fail. Personally, I haven’t encountered this issue. I suggest preparing several credit cards to try, or using Trip for booking, which sometimes offers promotional discounts for even cheaper rates.
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