Launch of the first direct route between Vietnam and Sri Lanka

Vietnam and Sri Lanka will be connected for the first time through a direct air route between Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo (SGN – CMB).

Starting from August 2026, Vietjet is expected to operate the Ho Chi Minh City – Colombo route with a frequency of four round-trip flights per week.

Subsequently, from October 2026, Vietnam Airlines will launch services on the same route using Airbus A321 aircraft with a frequency of three round-trip flights per week. 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 launch of the direct Ho Chi Minh City – Colombo route comes amid growing travel demand between Vietnam and Sri Lanka, despite the absence of direct air connectivity. The new route is expected to facilitate increasing demand for travel, tourism and trade between the two countries, while further strengthening Vietnam’s air connectivity with the South Asian region.

According to market data, passenger traffic between Vietnam and Sri Lanka reached more than 38,000 passengers in 2025, up 17.5% year-on-year. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, the market recorded growth of over 136%, highlighting the strong potential of this route. Previously, passengers travelling between the two countries mainly relied on transit flights through regional hubs, resulting in longer travel times.