Vietravel Airlines does not include checked baggage in its ticket fare  passengers must purchase it separately in 15kg, 23kg, or 32kg increments. Carry-on is limited to 7kg (Economy) or 12kg (Premium). Domestic pre-paid checked baggage starts at 200,000 VND for 15kg, rising sharply if bought at the airport instead.

If you’ve booked a Vietravel Airlines flight and assumed your suitcase rides for free, it’s worth double-checking your booking before you pack. Unlike full-service carriers, Vietravel Airlines treats checked baggage as an optional add-on, not a default inclusion. That distinction catches out a lot of first-time flyers, especially those used to legacy airlines where 20-23kg comes standard.

What Is Vietravel Airlines’ Baggage Policy?

Vietravel Airlines runs on a weight-based, “pay for what you check” baggage model. Carry-on allowance comes free with every ticket, but checked baggage is sold separately in fixed weight blocks (15kg, 23kg, or 32kg) rather than by the individual kilogram. Buying online in advance is consistently cheaper than buying at check-in or the airport counter.

This structure mirrors the low-cost carrier playbook used by airlines like AirAsia and Scoot, but with a twist: Vietravel Airlines caps checked baggage at three pieces per passenger per segment, with a hard ceiling of 70kg total. Passengers accustomed to full-service carriers often assume baggage is bundled in  it isn’t, and forgetting this is the single most common (and costly) mistake travelers make.

Vietravel Airlines Baggage Allowance: Carry-On Rules

Carry-on allowance depends on your fare type, not your destination. Economy passengers get one 7kg bag; Premium Service passengers get a 12kg main bag plus a 2kg personal item.

A few details competitors often skip:

• Infants under 2 years old get zero carry-on allowance  not even a diaper bag counted separately.
• Liquids on international flights are capped at 1,000ml total per passenger, with each container limited to 100ml in a clear, resealable bag.
• Dry ice is allowed up to 2.5kg per person, but you must notify staff in advance.
• Smelly items like durian, jackfruit, fish sauce, and shrimp paste are banned from the cabin entirely  they must go in checked baggage instead, and only under strict packaging rules.

If your carry-on exceeds these limits, it doesn’t get left behind  it gets checked in on the spot, and you’ll pay the excess carry-on fee (600,000 VND domestically, up to 1,200,000 VND for China routes).

Vietravel Airlines Checked Baggage Price: Full Fee Breakdown

Checked baggage price depends on three variables: your route (domestic, Thailand, or China), whether you buy online or at the airport, and which weight tier you select. Pre-paid domestic baggage starts at 200,000 VND for 15kg; buying the same allowance at the airport costs 450,000 VND  more than double.

Here’s the complete pre-paid pricing table (VND, excluding VAT):

Compare that to airport pricing:

Real-world example: A passenger flying Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi who pre-purchases 23kg pays 280,000 VND. The same passenger who forgets and buys at the check-in counter pays 650,000 VND  a difference of 370,000 VND for identical baggage. Over a round trip, that’s roughly 740,000 VND lost simply by not planning ahead.

Weight upgrades are cheaper than buying a fresh tier. Upgrading pre-paid domestic baggage from 15kg to 23kg costs just 100,000 VND, versus paying for a new 23kg block outright.

Vietravel Airlines Domestic Baggage Allowance: What’s Different

Domestic routes get Vietravel Airlines’ cheapest baggage rates across every weight tier and purchase channel. A 32kg pre-paid domestic bag costs 420,000 VND, compared to 750,000 VND for the same weight to Thailand and 950,000 VND to China.

Domestic flights also carry shorter advance-purchase windows and check-in timelines:

• Discounted baggage rates require purchase at least 3 hours before domestic departure (versus 4 hours for international flights).
• Domestic check-in opens 2 hours before departure and closes 40 minutes before  tighter than the international 3-hour opening window.
• Domestic oversized baggage fees (158-250cm) are also the lowest tier: 200,000 VND pre-paid for the first piece, versus 410,000 VND (Thailand) or 950,000 VND (China).

If you’re flying domestically within Vietnam, buy your baggage the moment you book. The pricing gap between advance purchase and last-minute airport buying is proportionally the widest on domestic routes.

Vietravel Airlines Baggage Fees: Oversized, Golf Sets, and Special Items

Beyond standard checked baggage, Vietravel Airlines charges separate fees for oversized items, golf equipment, and unusual cargo like flower branches during Tet. These fees stack on top of  not instead of  your regular baggage purchase.

Oversized baggage (158cm–250cm total dimensions) is charged per piece, in addition to standard checked baggage:

Each passenger can pre-purchase a maximum of two oversized pieces. Paying this fee does not add to your weight allowance  it simply permits the larger size.

Golf sets (max 23kg, 14 clubs, 12 balls, one pair of shoes) run 460,000 VND pre-paid domestically, jumping to 620,000 VND at the airport. Once you’ve purchased the golf service, you cannot switch that allowance to regular baggage without forfeiting the price difference.

Bicycles over 32kg or 158cm are billed as oversized baggage and must be reserved at least 24 hours before departure, with tires deflated and pedals removed before check-in.

Practical takeaway: if you’re traveling with sports equipment, price out the special baggage fee separately from your suitcase  bundling assumptions here is where travelers most often get caught off guard at the counter.

Vietravel Airlines Check-In: Timelines You Can’t Miss

Vietravel Airlines enforces strict, non-negotiable check-in and boarding deadlines. Domestic check-in closes 40 minutes before departure with boarding gates closing 15 minutes prior; international check-in closes 50 minutes before departure (60 minutes at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport).

Flight Type	Counter Opens	Counter Closes	Boarding Gate Closes
Domestic	2 hours before	40 min before	15 min before
International	3 hours before	50 min before	15–60 min before (60 min for Bangkok)

Miss the cutoff, and Vietravel Airlines classifies you as a “late-show” passenger  your ticket is not refunded or changed, full stop. You’ll need to book a new fare on the next available flight, plus pay a late-coming surcharge (600,000 VND domestic, up to 1,200,000 VND for China routes).

One detail that trips up connecting travelers: Vietravel Airlines has no interline or transfer agreement with other airlines. If your journey involves a connection, you must collect your bags, clear check-in again, and re-clear security for the next leg  even if both flights are on Vietravel Airlines. Budget at least 3–4 hours between connecting flights to avoid a missed departure.

What Items Are Restricted or Prohibited?

Vietravel Airlines prohibits explosives, flammable gases, corrosives, radioactive materials, and lithium batteries exceeding 160Wh from all baggage, cabin or checked. Restricted items like knives and tools over 6cm are permitted only in checked baggage, never carry-on.

A quick reference for commonly misunderstood items:

• Alcohol: Up to 24% ABV has no restriction. Between 24–70% ABV, the limit is 5 liters per passenger in sealed manufacturer bottles (max 1L each). Anything above 70% ABV is banned outright.
• Fish sauce: Accepted in checked baggage only, sealed in plastic bottles inside a foam container, capped at 3–5 liters per passenger depending on packaging.
• Fresh seafood: Must be packed in a leak-proof foam container with no ice or water  Vietravel Airlines will refuse improperly packed seafood.
• E-cigarettes and vapes: Banned entirely, in both cabin and hold.
• Human remains: Ashes are accepted with a quarantine permit; bone remains are checked-baggage only; whole human remains require cargo transport, not passenger baggage.

Getting this wrong doesn’t just risk a fee  it risks having the item confiscated at the gate with no compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is checked baggage included in my Vietravel Airlines ticket price?
No. Checked baggage allowance is never included in the base fare. Passengers must purchase it separately, either online in advance or at the airport, where prices run roughly 60–130% higher depending on the route.

How much does extra baggage cost on Vietravel Airlines?
Pre-paid domestic rates start at 200,000 VND for 15kg, 280,000 VND for 23kg, and 420,000 VND for 32kg. International rates to Thailand and China run higher, topping out at 950,000 VND for 32kg to China.

Can I buy baggage at the airport instead of online?
Yes, but it costs significantly more. A 23kg domestic bag costs 280,000 VND online versus 650,000 VND at the airport  more than double for identical allowance.

What happens if my total baggage exceeds 70kg?
Vietravel Airlines caps pre-purchased checked baggage at 70kg per passenger per route. Anything beyond that is handled at the airport at the discretion of Vietravel Airlines staff, subject to flight load and availability.

Do Economy and Premium Service passengers get different carry-on allowances?
Yes. Economy passengers get one 7kg bag; Premium Service passengers get a 12kg main bag plus a separate 2kg personal item, nearly double the total cabin allowance.

Can I bring lithium batteries in my carry-on bag?
Standard device batteries are fine, but any lithium battery exceeding 160Wh or containing more than 8g of lithium is prohibited entirely, even in checked baggage.

What’s the maximum size for a single piece of checked baggage?
Standard checked baggage must not exceed 158cm in combined length, width, and height. Pieces between 158cm and 250cm are accepted as oversized baggage with an added fee.

How early should I purchase baggage to lock in the discounted rate?
At least 3 hours before domestic departure or 4 hours before international departure. Buying any later forces you into airport pricing, even if you’re still ahead of check-in closing.

Does Vietravel Airlines charge extra for golf equipment?
Yes. A pre-paid golf set (up to 23kg, 14 clubs) costs 460,000 VND domestically, rising to 620,000 VND if purchased at the airport, and up to 1,900,000 VND for China routes.

What if my checked baggage is damaged during the flight?
Vietravel Airlines does not compensate for damage classified as normal wear and tear, including scuffs, broken wheels, or damaged straps. Fragile items checked without proper packaging require a signed waiver, and no compensation applies to natural damage on flagged fragile baggage.