Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet launch first direct flights to Sri Lanka

Vietnam Airlines and low‑cost carrier Vietjet will begin operating direct services between Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo in mid‑August 2026, marking the first nonstop link between the two nations. Each airline will run three weekly flights – Vietnam Airlines on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays with an Airbus A321, and Vietjet on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with an A320 – offering travel times of about five hours and 20 minutes.

The new routes are expected to cut travel time and costs, boosting tourism, business trips and trade ties. To promote the connection, Vietnam staged a tourism showcase in Colombo, featuring officials from both countries and highlighting Vietnam’s attractions, cuisine and cultural sites. The airlines also highlighted the potential for passengers to connect onward to other destinations across Asia and beyond.

Industry observers note that the direct flights will remove the need for stopovers in third‑country hubs, making Vietnam a more competitive destination for Sri Lankan travelers and vice‑versa, and are likely to increase bilateral visitor numbers in the coming years.