Manila, Philippines – Vietjet recently unveiled an exciting new direct flight route connecting Cebu, a vibrant and rapidly growing economic and tourism hub in the Philippines known for its beautiful beaches and bustling city life, with Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest and most dynamic commercial and cultural center, highlighting the airline’s strategic expansion into the Philippine market and its commitment to enhancing connectivity between these two thriving regions.
Vietjet new direct flights between Cebu and Ho Chi Minh City
The new service is set to start on December 11, 2026, offering five round-trip flights weekly and doubling Vietjet’s overall capacity between the Philippines and Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh City stands as Vietnam’s largest city and a major economic hub, contributing significantly to the country’s trade, investment, and business activities. As Vietjet’s main hub, it offers connections to destinations across Vietnam and to key international markets, including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, and the Czech Republic. Conversely, Cebu acts as a gateway to the Visayas region and popular Philippine destinations like Bohol and Siargao.
During the Vietnam–Philippines Business Forum on June 1, held as part of Vietnam’s General Secretary and President To Lam’s state visit to the Philippines, the new route was announced as part of efforts to strengthen tourism and economic ties between the two nations. At the forum, Vietnam and the Philippines signed a Tourism Cooperation Program for 2026 to 2029, aimed at promoting tourism growth and improving air connectivity.
Tourism demand between the two nations is continuing to grow. In the first four months of 2026, Vietnam received 236,000 visitors from the Philippines, a 73.4% increase compared to the previous year, making the Philippines one of Vietnam’s top ten international source markets for the first time. Meanwhile, arrivals from Vietnam to the Philippines increased by 35.3% year-on-year, according to the Department of Tourism, indicating rising travel interest in both directions. Bilateral trade reached USD 7.8 billion in 2025, with both countries aiming for USD 10 billion in trade volume in the upcoming years.
After the successful launch of the Manila–Ho Chi Minh City route in late 2025, Cebu’s new service further enhances Vietjet’s presence in the Philippines and demonstrates its long-term dedication to the market. Backed by a team of over 100 Filipino professionals—including pilots, cabin crew, engineers, and managers—the airline plans to extend connectivity between the Philippines and Vietnam. It also aims to provide travelers with access to an expanded network of destinations throughout Asia-Pacific and Europe.
Since 2019, Vietjet has operated five routes connecting the two nations, linking major Philippine cities like Manila, Davao, and Cebu with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. These flights have played a key role in boosting tourism, trade, investment, logistics, and people-to-people connections between two of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant economies.
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Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
