# Vietnam Airlines network expansion 2026

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/vietnam-airlines-network-expansion-2026
> Updated: 2026-07-30T01:32:16.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 4.

Vietnam Airlines continues to broaden its route network in mid‑2026. After announcing a direct Ho Chi Minh City‑Colombo service in June, the airline confirmed that flights will begin on 16 August 2026, with three weekly Airbus A321 departures on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and return legs on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. One‑way fares start around 7 million VND. Two days later, low‑cost carrier Vietjet Air added the same corridor, also operating three weekly round‑trips on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, bringing the total weekly frequency to six.

Earlier in July, Vietnam Airlines inaugurated a nonstop Ho Chi Minh City‑Phuket route, running four weekly flights (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays). The inaugural flight on 2 July carried 152 passengers. The launch aligns with the 50‑year anniversary of Vietnam‑Thailand diplomatic ties and includes a joint trade and matchmaking event.

The carrier also plans to restore domestic service to Da Lạt’s Liên Khương Airport when it reopens in August, expanding its network to 91 weekly round‑trip domestic flights and nearly 70 weekly flights on the Vietnam‑Thailand corridor.

The Colombo link, slated to start mid‑August, will cut travel time to about five hours and twenty minutes. A tourism showcase staged in Colombo highlighted Vietnam’s attractions and cultural sites. Observers note that the nonstop service removes the need for third‑country stopovers, strengthening tourism, business travel and trade ties between the two nations.

## Timeline

### 2026-07-30: Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet launch first direct flights to Sri Lanka

Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet will start three‑weekly nonstop flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo in August 2026, the first direct link, expected to boost tourism and trade.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-and-sri-lanka-launch-first-direct-flights-in-august-2026

### 2026-07-03: Vietnam Airlines launches direct Ho Chi Minh City‑Phuket flights

Vietnam Airlines started a direct Ho Chi Minh City‑Phuket service on 2 July 2026, operating four weekly flights and aiming to attract 689,000 Vietnamese tourists to Thailand this year.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-airlines-launches-direct-ho-chi-minh-cityphuket-flights-1

### 2026-07-02: Vietnam Airlines adds direct Ho Chi Minh‑Phuket flight and restores Da Lạt‑Liên Khương services

Vietnam Airlines launched a Ho Chi Minh‑Phuket nonstop service, raising Vietnam‑Thailand flights to ~70 weekly, while Vietjet and Vietnam Airlines prepared 91 weekly Da Lạt‑Liên Khương routes ahead of the 19 ‑

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-airlines-adds-direct-ho-chi-minhphuket-flight-and-restores-da-ltlin-khng-services

### 2026-06-30: Vietnam Airlines launches direct Ho Chi Minh City–Colombo route

Vietnam Airlines starts a direct Ho Chi Minh City–Colombo flight on 16 Aug, with three weekly A321 services and fares from 7 million VND, boosting tourism and trade between Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-airlines-launches-direct-ho-chi-minh-citycolombo-route

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Cite as: Vietnam Airlines network expansion 2026. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/vietnam-airlines-network-expansion-2026