Vietnam Airlines Announces Ho Chi Minh City – Phuket Nonstop Service and Expands Strategic Partnerships in Thailand

Within the framework of the Vietnam–Thailand Business Forum held during the official visit to Thailand by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and State President To Lam, Vietnam Airlines announced the launch of a new direct route connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Phuket, while also exchanging memorandum of understanding (MOU) with several leading Thai partners in the tourism and aviation sectors.

New Route Launch
- Route: Ho Chi Minh City – Phuket
- Start Date: 2 July 2026
- Aircraft: Airbus A321
- Frequency: 4 round-trip flights per week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday)
- Total weekly flights between Vietnam and Thailand: 67
- Purpose: To meet rising leisure and business travel demand and enhance regional connectivity via Ho Chi Minh City to Northeast Asia, Australia, and Europe.

Strategic Partnerships
- MOUs signed with:
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
- Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA)
- Saigontourist Group
- Airports of Thailand (AOT)

Key Collaboration Areas
- Tourism Promotion: Co-branded campaigns, familiarization trips, and joint destination marketing.
- Operational Efficiency: Shared flight data, improved transit connectivity in Bangkok, and enhanced passenger experience.
- Economic Impact: Expected to boost visitor flows, trade, and cultural exchange between Vietnam and Thailand.

Leadership Insight
Le Hong Ha, President & CEO of Vietnam Airlines:
> “The launch of the Ho Chi Minh City – Phuket direct service, together with our cooperation agreements with Thai partners, demonstrates Vietnam Airlines’ long-term commitment to expanding our ecosystem in the Thai market.”

Strategic Context
- Thailand is one of Vietnam Airlines’ key Southeast Asian markets, with nearly 100,000 flights operated between 1991 and April 2026.
- The new route aligns with Resolution No. 59 of the Politburo on international integration.
- Recent expansions include:
- Hanoi–Amsterdam (June 2026)
- Hanoi–Moscow increased to 4 flights/week (July 2026)
- Ho Chi Minh City–Colombo (October 2026)

👉 In short: Vietnam Airlines’ new Ho Chi Minh City–Phuket route and strategic MOUs mark a major step in strengthening Vietnam–Thailand connectivity, deepening tourism cooperation, and expanding the airline’s ASEAN footprint.