Vietjet recently announced a new direct route between Cebu, one of the Philippines’ leading economic and tourism hubs, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest commercial center, marking the airline’s latest expansion in the Philippine market.

The new service is scheduled to commence on 11 December, operating five round-trip flights per week and doubling Vietjet’s total capacity between the Philippines and Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s largest city and economic powerhouse, accounting for a significant share of the country’s trade, investment, and business activity.

As Vietjet’s primary hub, the city offers onward connections to destinations across Vietnam and key international markets including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic.

Meanwhile, Cebu serves as a gateway to the Visayas and some of the Philippines’ most popular destinations, including Bohol and Siargao.

Announced at the Vietnam-Philippines Business Forum during the recent state visit of Vietnam’s General Secretary and President To Lam to the Philippines, the new route comes as both countries strengthen tourism and economic ties.

During the forum, the Philippines and Vietnam signed a Tourism Cooperation Program for 2026 to 2029 to support tourism growth and enhance air connectivity between the two countries.

Tourism demand between the two countries continues to gain momentum.

During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam welcomed 236,000 visitors from the Philippines, representing a 73.4 percent year-on-year increase and placing the Philippines among Vietnam’s Top 10 international source markets for the first time.

Over the same period, visitor arrivals from Vietnam to the Philippines grew 35.3 percent year-on-year according to the Department of Tourism, reflecting growing travel demand in both directions.

Bilateral trade reached $7.8 billion in 2025, according to Vietnam’s official statistics, with the two countries targeting $10 billion in trade volume in the coming years.

Following the successful launch of the Manila–Ho Chi Minh City route in late 2025, the new service from Cebu further strengthens Vietjet’s presence in the Philippines and reflects the airline’s long-term commitment to the market.

Supported by a team of more than 100 Filipino professionals in the market, including pilots, cabin crew members, engineers and managers, the airline will continue to expand connectivity between the Philippines and Vietnam while offering travelers access to a broader network of destinations across Asia-Pacific and Europe.

Since 2019, Vietjet has operated five routes between the two countries, linking major Philippine destinations such as Manila, Davao and Cebu to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.

These services have contributed significantly to the growth of tourism, trade, investment, logistics and people-to-people exchanges between two of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic economies.