During the Vietnam–Sri Lanka Trade, Investment and Tourism Cooperation Forum held in Colombo as part of the State visit of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam to Sri Lanka, Vietnam Airlines officially announced the launch of a new direct service between Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo, witnessed by senior leaders of both countries.
Scheduled to commence in October 2026, the service will operate three round-trip flights per week using Airbus A321. Flights from Ho Chi Minh City will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, while return flights from Colombo will operate on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The new route is expected to address growing demand for travel, tourism, and business connectivity between Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Through Ho Chi Minh City, passengers from Sri Lanka will gain seamless access to Vietnam Airlines’ international network across Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, Australia, and other key destinations.
The new route marks a major milestone in Vietnam Airlines’ international expansion strategy and significantly strengthens its network presence in South Asia, a high-growth and strategically important market. The route also reflects the airline’s continued commitment to enhancing regional connectivity, promoting economic and tourism cooperation, and supporting Vietnam’s broader international integration objectives.
The service directly responds to rapidly increasing travel demand between Vietnam and Sri Lanka, which previously had no nonstop air connectivity. Sri Lanka is currently Vietnam’s third-largest market in South Asia by passenger volume. In 2025, more than 38,000 passengers traveled between the two countries, representing year-on-year growth of 17.5%. In the first quarter of 2026, passenger traffic increased by more than 136% compared to the same period last year. Until now, travelers between the two countries were required to transit through regional hubs, resulting in longer travel times.
The new direct service is expected to substantially reduce travel time, improve passenger convenience, and enhance two-way connectivity. Sri Lanka continues to emerge as an increasingly important destination in the region, while Vietnam remains a fast-growing tourism and business hub with diverse cultural, culinary, and hospitality offerings. The new route is expected to further stimulate tourism flows, trade exchange, and investment cooperation between the two countries.
Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Airlines said “The launch of the Ho Chi Minh City–Colombo route marks an important milestone in aviation cooperation between Vietnam and Sri Lanka. By enhancing direct connectivity, the new service will facilitate trade, investment, and tourism activities, while strengthening Vietnam’s links with South Asia and supporting the continued growth of bilateral passenger traffic.”
On the occasion of the launch, Vietnam Airlines also signed a series of cooperation agreements with leading Sri Lankan tourism and travel partners to promote market development and increase passenger flows between the two countries.
Together with Saigontourist Group, Vietnam Airlines signed cooperation agreements with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators, and the Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka. The agreements focus on destination promotion, tourism product development, sales expansion, and joint marketing initiatives to strengthen bilateral tourism demand.
In addition, Vietnam Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Harleys Group, its General Sales Agent in Sri Lanka, to expand distribution channels and support commercial operations for the new route.
The Ho Chi Minh City–Colombo service further expands Vietnam Airlines’ international network and reinforces its role in supporting Vietnam’s international integration strategy. The new route is expected to strengthen economic, cultural, and tourism ties between Vietnam and South Asia while offering passengers more convenient and efficient travel options.
