Vietjet Air to Launch Ho Chi Minh City–Colombo Direct Flights from August 2026

Vietjet Air announced on May 8 that it will launch direct nonstop flights between Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from August 2026. The route will operate four times per week—on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

The service fills a genuine connectivity gap between two fast-growing tourism markets. Until now, travellers moving between Vietnam and Sri Lanka have had to transit through hubs such as Singapore, Bangkok, or Kuala Lumpur, adding hours and cost to what is a relatively short regional journey.

What This Means for Travellers

For visitors planning itineraries that combine Vietnam with Sri Lanka, the new route significantly simplifies logistics. Fares are expected to follow Vietjet’s typical low-cost pricing, though early-bird seats on a brand-new route tend to fill quickly—particularly given strong pent-up demand for Sri Lanka across Southeast Asia.

Business travellers and Ho Chi Minh City’s growing South Asian expatriate community will also benefit. The four-weekly schedule is practical for mid-week corporate trips, and the timing of departures has not yet been released but will likely be structured to minimise overnight layovers.

Vietnam Airlines is also introducing its own Ho Chi Minh City–Colombo service in October 2026, which means by year’s end the corridor will have two operators. Competition between a full-service and a low-cost carrier on the same route typically produces better fares and more seat availability over time.

Booking and Planning

Vietjet Air tickets for the Colombo route will be available through the airline’s website and major third-party booking platforms. Promotional fares are common on new route launches, so setting a price alert or signing up for Vietjet’s notification emails is worthwhile.

For travellers arriving into Ho Chi Minh City for the first time, our Ho Chi Minh City guide covers airport transfers, neighbourhoods, and what to do on arrival. If you are planning to combine this with domestic travel inside Vietnam, our flights to Vietnam page outlines the main carriers and routes connecting the country’s major cities.

The Colombo announcement follows a wave of new international routes from Vietnam in 2026, including Air India’s Hanoi–Delhi service which launched May 1 and Vietnam Airlines’ forthcoming Hanoi–Amsterdam route opening in June.