Vietjet Colombo Ho Chi Minh City flights have officially begun, creating a new direct air link between Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The three-times-weekly service is expected to support tourism, business travel and stronger connections between the two markets.
Vietjet Colombo Ho Chi Minh City service opens a new direct link between South and Southeast Asia
Vietjet has officially launched its new direct service between Colombo and Ho Chi Minh City, marking a significant addition to air connectivity between Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. The inaugural flight arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport on August 19 following its departure from Ho Chi Minh City the previous evening.
The launch was marked by a water cannon salute, traditional Sri Lankan cultural performances and an official ceremony attended by government representatives, diplomats, aviation stakeholders and senior Vietjet officials. Two of the three pilots operating the inaugural flight were Sri Lankan, highlighting the local connection behind the new international route.
The new Colombo Ho Chi Minh City flights will operate three round trips per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Flights depart Bandaranaike International Airport at 11:00 p.m. and arrive at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City at 5:55 a.m. the following morning. Return flights leave Ho Chi Minh City at 6:15 p.m. and reach Colombo at 9:50 p.m.
The service provides Sri Lankan travellers with a direct gateway to southern Vietnam, reducing the need for connecting flights when travelling between the two destinations. Ho Chi Minh City is an important commercial and tourism centre, offering access to Vietnam’s major business districts, cultural attractions, cuisine and wider regional travel opportunities.
The launch could also support the growth of Sri Lanka Vietnam flights in both directions by making Sri Lanka more accessible to Vietnamese travellers and passengers from Vietjet’s wider international network. Colombo, meanwhile, provides an entry point to Sri Lanka’s beaches, tea-growing regions, cultural sites and other tourism destinations.
For the tourism industry, the route comes as Sri Lanka continues to strengthen international air connectivity and attract visitors from new and emerging markets. Improved direct links can also facilitate business travel, trade relationships and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Vietjet said passengers travelling on the route will have access to its modern fleet and in-flight services, including Vietnamese and international meal options such as pho, banh mi and Vietnamese iced milk coffee.
The airline, Vietnam’s largest private carrier, said the new route forms part of its broader international network connecting Vietnam with destinations across the Asia-Pacific region. The Colombo service therefore gives Sri Lankan travellers another option for reaching Southeast Asian destinations through Ho Chi Minh City.
With the introduction of the new service, Vietjet Colombo Ho Chi Minh City connectivity adds another direct link to Sri Lanka’s international aviation network while creating opportunities for tourism, commerce and closer people-to-people ties between Sri Lanka and Vietnam.