A direct air link between Cebu and Vietnam is set for further expansion with the planned launch of a new Cebu–Ho Chi Minh City route, strengthening connectivity between Central Visayas and one of Southeast Asia’s key economic hubs.
The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) operator, Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC), confirmed its support for the proposed service of VietJet Air, which is expected to boost tourism, trade, and investment ties between the Philippines and Vietnam.
The announcement was made during the Vietnam–Philippines Business Forum held on June 1, 2026, at Diamond Hotel Manila, coinciding with the state visit of Vietnamese President Tô Lâm hosted by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The event underscored growing bilateral cooperation in aviation, tourism, and commerce.
ACAC President and CEO Cosette V. Canilao and VietJet Air Vice Chairman Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hung led the ceremonial announcement of the new route.
Canilao said the planned service reflects increasing travel demand and deepening economic relations between the two countries.
“This development reflects the growing demand for travel between Cebu and Vietnam and highlights the strength of the relationship between our two countries. Direct connectivity plays a vital role in stimulating tourism, facilitating commerce, and creating opportunities that benefit our communities and economies,” she said.
VietJet Air said the Cebu–Ho Chi Minh City route is scheduled to begin on December 11, 2026, and will operate five round-trip flights weekly.
The expansion will effectively double the airline’s capacity between the Philippines and Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh City, VietJet’s main hub, serves as Vietnam’s largest economic center and provides onward connections to multiple destinations across Asia and Europe, including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, and the Czech Republic.
MCIA is expected to function as a key gateway for Central Philippines, offering access to tourist destinations such as Bohol and Siargao, while further strengthening Cebu’s position as a regional aviation hub.
The planned route builds on previous charter flights between Da Nang and Cebu, which recorded strong passenger demand, and expands VietJet’s Philippine network, including the Manila–Ho Chi Minh City service launched in late 2025.
Tourism figures highlight the growing travel exchange between the two countries.
Vietnam recorded 236,000 Philippine visitors in the first four months of 2026, a 73.4 percent increase year-on-year, while Philippine arrivals from Vietnam rose by 35.3 percent over the same period, according to Department of Tourism data.
Bilateral trade between the Philippines and Vietnam reached USD 7.8 billion in 2025, with both countries targeting USD 10 billion in the coming years.
During the same forum, both governments signed a Tourism Cooperation Program covering 2026 to 2029, aimed at further strengthening air connectivity and travel exchanges.
ACAC said it continues to work on route development through partnerships with carriers such as VietJet Air and Vietnam Airlines, supported by participation in global aviation forums and market demand analysis.
Since 2019, VietJet Air has operated multiple Philippine routes linking Manila, Davao, and Cebu with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, supporting tourism, trade, logistics, and people-to-people exchanges across the region.
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