Direct flights in 2027 to strengthen air connectivity between Vietnam and Canada
During his state visit to Canada, General Secretary and President To Lam and Prime Minister Mark Carney discussed strengthening cooperation between the two countries. Both sides welcomed the completion of negotiations to expand the Vietnam–Canada Air Transport Agreement, creating a framework for direct flights between the two countries.
Building on this development, Air Canada plans to launch scheduled services to Ho Chi Minh City from 2027, subject to the completion of the necessary regulatory procedures and approvals. Under the expanded agreement, each country may operate up to 14 passenger or passenger-and-cargo flights per week and seven all-cargo flights per week.
The expansion comes as travel demand and the bilateral aviation market continue to grow. In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam welcomed 141,065 Canadian visitors. In addition to demand for tourism, visiting friends and relatives, education and business travel, growing trade between the two countries is also generating greater demand for passenger and cargo connectivity. In 2025, bilateral merchandise trade reached CAD 20.6 billion.
Choosing Ho Chi Minh City as the proposed destination also brings broader regional connectivity benefits. As a major economic, commercial and aviation hub in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City not only serves travel demand from southern Vietnam but also provides a gateway for Canadian travelers to connect with other destinations across the country and Southeast Asia. The city’s role in the region’s manufacturing, trade and logistics networks also creates additional potential for cargo connectivity between Canada, Vietnam and related markets.
For passengers, direct services would reduce the need for connections through third-country aviation hubs, making travel between the two markets more convenient. For aviation and the wider economy, direct connectivity would create additional opportunities for tourism, people-to-people exchanges, trade, investment and cargo transportation, while strengthening Vietnam’s links with the North American market.
