Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam-The nearest international airport to Hanoi is Haiphong International Airport (HHN); at this point, you could change for an international flight or train to Ho Chi Minh City. Many airlines fly between HCMC and Kuala Lumpur; examples of these are AirAsia, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, and Indonesia AirAsia. The duration will thus slightly vary depending on the airline, but basically, from two to three hours.
Once in HCMC, you would continue your journey toward the transportation hub, that is, Tan Son Nhat Train Station-to an actual high-speed rail line, Line 7, which goes from HCMC to Penang, Malaysia. The train ride would take about 5-6 hours, and tickets range from about VNĐ 40,000-80,000 ($17-$34) for one direction. Boasting a multitude of travel options, tickets can be purchased directly at the station, online, or via a travel agent.
Another direct option for travel is from Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) in Hanoi to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL). There are many airlines connecting the two cities, such as flag carriers Vietnam Airlines and Malaysia Airlines, and budget airlines including AirAsia and Jetstar.
A few airlines operate direct flights from Hanoi (Noi Bai International Airport) to Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur International Airport), including AirAsia, Vietnam Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines. If either direct flights do not specificall state availability or are simply too expensive, consider connecting flights through a layover in cities such as Bangkok, Singapore, or Ho Chi Minh City.