Cebu-Ho Chi Minh air link returns as PH-Vietnam economic ties deepen
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Growing demand from Vietnamese travelers and deeper economic ties between the Philippines and Vietnam are prompting airlines to expand connectivity with Cebu.
Vietnamese budget carrier VietJet Air is set to mount direct air links between Ho Chi Minh City and Cebu, whose operations will begin this December.
It will operate five times weekly, the Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC) announced.
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The planned service was announced during the Vietnam–Philippines Business Forum held in Manila on June 1, coinciding with the state visit of Vietnamese President Tô Lâm.
Industry stakeholders also viewed the move as a response to rising passenger demand and expanding cross-border economic activity between the two countries.
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“This development reflects the growing demand for travel between Cebu and Vietnam and highlights the strength of the relationship between our two countries,” said Aboitiz InfraCapital President and Chief Executive Officer Cosette Canilao.
VietJet is the second Vietnamese airline to include Cebu in its network. Last year, the country’s flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, opened its direct Cebu to Hanoi route.
Their entry also reflects increasing travel demand between Cebu and Vietnam, one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing outbound tourism markets, according to airport officials at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).
Prior to the announcement, VietJet had implemented charter flights between Da Nang and Cebu, which, according to ACAC, generated strong passenger demand and provided airlines with evidence of the market’s viability.
Due to the fuel crisis triggered by the Iran war, the Cebu-Ho Chi Minh-Cebu routes by local carriers Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have been suspended.
Cebu for Vietnamese travelers
The renewed connectivity also comes as Cebu continues to capture a larger share of regional tourism flows and position itself as an alternative international gateway outside Metro Manila.
Vietnam has become an increasingly attractive source market for Philippine tourism stakeholders as rising incomes, expanding middle-class spending, and greater regional mobility fuel outbound travel.
Likewise, Vietnamese travelers are increasingly exploring short-haul destinations within Southeast Asia.
Recently, booking platform Agoda revealed that Cebu has emerged as a top international destination for Vietnamese travelers for its beach destinations and diving spots.
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