Move seen to strengthen the air connectivity between the two Southeast Asian nations.
Last Monday, June 1, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), operated by Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC), officially welcomed Vietnam’s leading budget carrier, VietJet Air.
The said airline is set to launch a direct route between the central Philippine metro and with the the Vietnamese capital, which will further air connectivity between two of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic tourism and economic hubs from the fourth quarter of 2026.
The announcement ceremony was led by VietJet Air’s Vice Chairman Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hung, together with Aboitiz InfraCapital President and CEO Cosette Canilao, during the Vietnam–Philippines Business Forum held at the Diamond Hotel Manila.
The event was part of the recent two-day State Visit of Vietnamese President Tô Lâm, hosted by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
“This development reflects the growing demand for travel between Cebu and Vietnam and highlights the strength of the relationship between our two countries,” Canilao noted.
“Direct connectivity plays a vital role in stimulating tourism, facilitating commerce, and creating opportunities that benefit our communities and economies.”
The planned Cebu–Ho Chi Minh City service marks a significant milestone in enhancing tourism, trade, and people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and the Philippines, as it is expected to provide travelers with greater convenience and open new opportunities for business, investment, and leisure travel across both markets.
Moreover, the announcement follows the successful operation of a series of VietJet charter flights between Da Nang and Cebu, which targeted the Philippine outbound leisure market and achieved strong passenger demand.
ACAC has also intensified its route development efforts through a series of strategic engagements with VietJet Air, as well as another carrier in its home market, Vietnam Airlines.
These initiatives included airline headquarters visits, executive-level discussions, and participation in major international route development forums such as Routes World and Routes Asia.
ACAC also shared comprehensive market intelligence, traffic demand analyses, and growth projections directly with airline network planning and commercial teams, demonstrating Cebu’s strong potential as a growing international gateway.
The planned launch of direct flights between Cebu and Ho Chi Minh City is also said to be part of MCIA’s “commitment to expanding international connectivity, supporting tourism growth, and strengthening Cebu’s position as a leading gateway to the Philippines.”
This development also further advances MCIA’s Ceb Connects program, which aims to make Cebu as the Philippines’ premier tourism transfer hub.
Tbe Philippines’ Department of Tourism noted that in 2025, Vietnam ranked 23rd as a tourist source market for the Philippines, accounting for 33,599 visitors, or about 0.57 percent of total arrivals of the entire year.