Overseas Vietnamese Home for Tết: Car Hire, Luggage, One-Way

Overseas Vietnamese hiring a car to go home for Tết usually run into three things: more luggage than planned, landing right as the roads peak, and one-way trips to the provinces that are hard to book close to Tết. The Tết 2027 holiday runs from 4 to 10 February (the 28th of the last lunar month to the 5th day of Tết), so late January and early February are the busiest weeks for arrivals. This guide helps families abroad choose a car by suitcase count, explains why one-way trips need early booking, and plans the airport legs.

Choose by suitcases, not by seats

• 4–5 seat car: about 3 large suitcases.
• 7-seater: about 4 suitcases; with 7 people on board there is almost no room left for gift boxes.
• 16-seat van or 9-seat limousine: about 6–8 suitcases, right for big families with many cartons.

When you book, give the number of suitcases and boxes and their rough size. A family of 4 with 6 suitcases should take a 7-seater or larger, or split into two cars.

Why one-way Tết trips are hard to book

Before Tết, traffic flows one way: out of the city to the provinces. Cars that take people home usually return empty, so one-way availability runs out early. If you will come back to the city before flying out, book the return leg at the same time; if you will fly from a different airport, say so from the start.

Landing and heading straight home

Send your flight number so the driver can track the actual landing time; there is no airport waiting fee. After a long-haul flight, families with young children and older relatives should plan a meal stop on the way; there are expressway rest stops towards both the Mekong and central Vietnam. Child seats are available on request. Check which airport your ticket lands at before booking the car.

Arrival and return dates

• Arrive before the 28th of the last lunar month (4 February 2027) to beat the homeward peak.
• Traffic back to the city is heaviest from the afternoon of the 4th to the 6th day of Tết.
• If you fly out right after Tết, get back to the city at least a day before your flight.

Booking from abroad

Book early through the quick-quote form with the number of people, suitcases, child seats, pick-up and drop-off. Tết bookings need a deposit of about 10%; every quote comes with 10% off. Cars are 2022–2025 models, and chauffeured prices include fuel and tolls.

Before you board

Most arrival-day headaches come from small details left too late. A short checklist, finished a week before you fly, makes the ride from the airport to your hometown much smoother.

What to send with your booking

• Flight number, landing date and time in Vietnam time, airport and terminal.
• Number of travellers, including children and their ages so child seats can be prepared.
• Suitcases, cardboard boxes and bulky items such as a stroller, cot or wheelchair.
• Your hometown address in Vietnamese with diacritics, using the province and commune names after the 2025 reorganisation, plus a relative's phone number.
• A number that works on landing, or a Zalo or WhatsApp account.

Hometown addresses after the 2025 merger

Since 2025 many provinces have merged and districts no longer exist. The address on old family papers may not match today's names. Ask relatives for the current address or a map pin; the driver follows the pin and calls your relative near the end.

Staying reachable

Without a Vietnamese SIM, switch on roaming or buy a travel eSIM before flying so you can read the driver's messages at the baggage belt. A relative in Vietnam can also relay messages and tell the driver when you leave customs.

From the aircraft door to the car

1. Immigration: late in the lunar year the queues can be long; the driver tracks your real landing time, so there is no need to rush.
2. Baggage: collect every piece and count against your baggage tags before leaving the belt.
3. Customs: if you carry high-value gifts, cash or goods beyond personal luggage, check the declaration rules before you fly.
4. Meeting the driver: message once you have your bags; the driver names a meeting point in the arrivals hall and brings the car to the pick-up lane.
5. Loading: big suitcases at the bottom, fragile gift boxes on top, the children's bag inside the cabin.

Night and pre-dawn flights are met as usual; if a flight is hours late, the driver still waits with no airport waiting fee.

Sleeper train to central Vietnam, with station pick-up

Many families fly into Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, then ride the Reunification Express to a hometown in central Vietnam. A night in a sleeper berth lets older relatives rest after the long flight, and trains take more luggage than a domestic flight.

Steps

1. Buy Tết train tickets early through the railway's official sales channels; Tết seats usually go on sale months ahead.
2. Book an airport pick-up straight to the station, leaving time for dinner and checking in bags.
3. Send the train code and carriage for the arrival station; the driver tracks the real arrival time and waits at the exit.
4. From the station, the car takes the family to the door, village lanes included.

The Mekong Delta and Central Highlands have no passenger rail, so a direct car from the airport is the simplest option there.

The Tết days at home

New Year visits

From the first to the third day, many families tour grandparents, aunts and uncles in nearby communes. A car with driver by the day means nobody drives after the Tết meals, and the driver waits at each house. List the homes in advance, grouped by distance.

Flower markets and the flower street

In Ho Chi Minh City, the Nguyễn Huệ flower street for Tết 2026 ran from the 28th of the last lunar month to the 6th day of Tết, closed to all vehicles. The 2027 dates will be announced closer to Tết; the driver drops you on a nearby street and agrees a pick-up point.

Weather

• South: dry season, sunny, hot at midday; bring hats and sunscreen.
• North: cold, often drizzly; children need warm layers.
• Centre: rain is still possible, especially north of the Hải Vân pass.

Heading back to the airport

• International flights need more time at the airport than domestic ones; after Tết the check-in queues are long.
• From the provinces, add a buffer: from the afternoon of the 4th to the 6th day, traffic back into the city is dense.
• For an early-morning departure, consider a night near the airport.
• Weigh suitcases before leaving; pack hometown food such as bánh tét and candied fruit tightly and check your destination's import rules.

Vehicles for extended families

If grandparents want to come to the airport to meet you, count their seats on the outbound leg too; one 16-seater is often simpler than two small cars. VinFast EVs are available for short city legs.

Choosing a vehicle

Big families with many boxes: a 16-seat van; families of 4–5: a 7-seater. See the Tết 2027 holiday planner and which airport to book your pick-up at.

Booking: chauffeur quotes already cover fuel and tolls and get 10% off; vehicles are 2022–2025 models. Need an 8% VAT invoice? Tell us when you book. Send your route through our quick quote form.

FAQ

How many suitcases fit a 7-seater?

About 4 large ones; with many gift boxes, choose a 16-seat van.

Do you meet late-night flights?

Yes; the driver tracks your flight and there is no waiting fee.

When should I book a one-way Tết trip?

As early as possible, with a deposit of about 10%.

My hometown is in the Mekong Delta. Should I take the train?

There is no passenger rail there; a direct car from the airport is simplest.

Will my old hometown address still work?

Send the post-2025 address or a map pin to be safe.

Can I hire a car by the day for New Year visits?

Yes; the driver waits at each house. Send the list of stops when booking.

Grandparents want to meet us at the airport. How do we book?

Count their seats on the outbound leg; one 16-seater is often simpler than two small cars.

What if the flight is hours late?

The driver tracks the flight and still waits, with no airport waiting fee.

Should I change money before going home?

Carry some cash for lucky money, village markets and roadside stalls, as many rural places do not take cards. Use licensed exchange points and keep receipts.

Should I book the return to the airport at the same time?

Yes; post-Tết trips back to the city are also busy. Give the flight date and departure airport.