Van Don Airport Fast Track (VDO): For Charter Flights to Ha Long Bay

Arriving at Van Don on an international charter flight? Then your first stop in Vietnam is the immigration hall at Van Don International Airport, the closest airport to Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and the islands of Co To and Quan Lan. Our Van Don airport fast track service meets you there with a name board, helps at the visa-on-arrival counter and takes you through passport control ahead of the rest of the flight.

Van Don has no international flights on a fixed daily or weekly schedule; its international arrivals are charter flights. Here is what that means for your arrival, and how to book.

We are a private travel service, not the Vietnamese government. Vietnam Immigration still checks your passport and visa and decides on your entry.

Van Don airport at a glance

Which flights use Van Don airport?

• Domestic: the main route is Ho Chi Minh City – Van Don. Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet have served it about ten times a week, and in June 2026 Sun PhuQuoc Airways launched its own Ho Chi Minh City – Van Don route. Other domestic routes, such as Da Nang and Phu Quoc, have been planned.
• International: charter flights have linked Van Don with cities such as Taipei, Shenzhen, Busan, Jeju and Wuxi, and earlier with Osaka and Tokyo Narita. These depend on tour operators and the season, so there is no regular international timetable.

What to expect at immigration on a charter to Van Don

Van Don’s immigration hall normally serves one international flight at a time. That sounds quiet, but a charter works differently from a scheduled flight:

• The whole plane arrives at once. Charters are usually full, and the passengers, often one or two large tour groups, reach passport control together. Travellers at the back of the queue wait for everyone in front.
• Tour groups move together. Group leaders often hand in many passports and visa documents at the same time, which slows the line for independent travellers on the same flight.
• Visa on arrival takes extra time. If you need a visa on arrival, or you hold a Chinese e-passport and collect a loose-leaf visa, you first stop at the landing visa counter.
• Many charters land late. Evening and night arrivals are common, so a quick exit matters before the drive to Ha Long.

Do you need Van Don airport fast track?

On a charter flight, fast track is worth booking if:

• you need a visa on arrival or a loose-leaf visa;
• you travel independently on a flight full of tour groups;
• you travel with children or older relatives;
• you land late and have a cruise or a long drive to Ha Long ahead.

However, if you hold an e-visa or enter visa-free, sit near the front of the plane and travel light, you may manage without it. And if you fly in from another Vietnamese city, there is no passport control at Van Don, so book fast track where you enter Vietnam, for example Noi Bai airport fast track.

How fast track works at Van Don

1. Meet our staff. First, our staff wait with your name board at the entrance to the arrival immigration area.
2. Visa counter, if needed. Then we help you at the landing visa counter. You pay the USD 25 stamping fee in cash.
3. Priority lane. After that, we take you through passport control ahead of the group queue.
4. Baggage and customs (VIP). Finally, we help you at the baggage belt and through customs.

For a charter flight, please send us your flight number and arrival time when you book, so we can confirm the schedule with the airport.

Fast track speeds up immigration, but the arrival steps and the customs rules stay the same for every traveller. For every step from the aircraft to the arrivals hall, see our Vietnam entry procedure guide. For duty-free limits, cash declaration and the e-cigarette ban, see our Vietnam customs rules guide.

Packages and prices for Van Don airport fast track

However, no package includes the visa itself, the USD 25 government stamping fee for a visa on arrival, photo fees or transport.

Therefore, please book at least 24 hours before your flight, so we can arrange staff at Van Don. In addition, bookings made 2 days, 1 day or less than 24 hours before arrival carry an urgent surcharge of USD 20, USD 30 or USD 50. The booking form shows it before you pay.

Also, remember that fast track is not a visa. If you still need one, apply on the official portal evisa.gov.vn or through our e-visa service before you fly.

How to book Van Don airport fast track

1. First, open our fast track booking form and choose Arrival Fast Track Service.
2. Next, select Van Don (VDO) as your airport, choose your package and enter your flight number and arrival time in Vietnam time.
3. Then upload each traveller’s passport and visa, or send them later by email.
4. Finally, pay by PayPal (cards accepted) or Alipay.

We work 24/7, and our staff follow your flight if it is delayed. For example, if your flight lands two hours late, you do not need to rebook. If your flight is cancelled and you do not arrive, or our staff cannot find you at the meeting point, we refund the amount we received. See our refund policy.

Getting from Van Don airport to Ha Long and the islands

• Ha Long city and the cruise ports: about 45 to 60 minutes by car via the Ha Long – Van Don expressway.
• Cai Rong port (for Co To and Quan Lan islands): a short drive from the airport, then a boat to the islands.
• Hanoi: about 3 hours by road.

Van Don airport fast track FAQ

Can you meet my charter flight at Van Don?

Yes. Book with your charter flight number and arrival time, and our staff meet you before the immigration counters. We confirm the arrangement by email.

Does Van Don airport have scheduled international flights?

Not on a fixed daily or weekly schedule. International arrivals at Van Don are charter flights, which change by season.

My tour group is on the same flight. Can I book only for my family?

Yes. The price is per person, so you can book for yourself, your family or the whole group.

How far is Van Don airport from Ha Long Bay?

About 55 km from central Ha Long, or 45 to 60 minutes by expressway.

What if I fly to Van Don from Ho Chi Minh City?

Domestic flights have no immigration check, so you do not need arrival fast track at Van Don. Book it at the airport where you first enter Vietnam instead.

For every package detail, customs rules and what to bring, see our main guide to Vietnam airport fast track.

Airport information checked on 7 November 2026. Sources: Sun Paradise Land (October 2025) on Van Don routes and facilities; VnEconomy (June 2026) on the Sun PhuQuoc Airways route.