Ho Chi Minh City to Kota Kinabalu flights
Kota Kinabalu lies 1,170 km (727 mi) south-east of Ho Chi Minh City, +1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 2 h 15 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
Open Kota Kinabalu in Google Maps
| Ho Chi Minh City | Kota Kinabalu | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Vietnam | Malaysia |
| Population | 14 million | 500,421 |
| Elevation | 7 m (23 ft) | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+7 (Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh) | UTC+8 (Asia/Kuching) |
| Nearest large airport | SGN, 2 km out | BKI, 5 km out |
Clocks in Kota Kinabalu are 1 h ahead of Ho Chi Minh City right now, so a 2 h 15 min journey lands 3 h 15 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Kota Kinabalu
Crossing from Vietnam into Malaysia: money changes from the Dong to the Ringgit (MYR); traffic switches to the left; sockets are BS 1363; the dialling code becomes +60; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q3086706.
Airports at each end
Leaving Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), 2 km (1 mi) from the centre, whose 12,468-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
Arriving in Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI), 5 km (3 mi) from the centre, whose 12,402-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kota Kinabalu International Airport | BKI | 5 km (3 mi) | 12,402 ft | 10 ft |
Book a flight to Kota Kinabalu
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Staying in Kota Kinabalu
Our booking partner lists 1,131+ places to stay in Kota Kinabalu (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 624 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (258), and 12 are five-star. Across 332 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.2 out of 10. Guests have left 149,522 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Kota Kinabalu
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Kota Kinabalu from Ho Chi Minh City?
1,170 km (727 mi) in a straight line, south-east of Ho Chi Minh City.
How long does it take to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Kota Kinabalu by air?
About 2 h 15 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Ho Chi Minh City and Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu is 1 h ahead at the moment (Asia/Kuching against Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh).
Which airports are used for Ho Chi Minh City to Kota Kinabalu flights?
Typically Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI).
What currency do I need in Kota Kinabalu?
The Ringgit (MYR).
Where can I stay in Kota Kinabalu?
Our booking partner lists 1,131+ places to stay in Kota Kinabalu, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.