Flight VU1120, carrying nearly 180 passengers, departed from Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City and landed at Tho Xuan Airport in Thanh Hoa on October 2. The flight was welcomed with a water-cannon salute attended by provincial officials and representatives of relevant agencies.

Meanwhile, flight VU1102, carrying more than 160 passengers, landed at Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong on the same day, marking the launch of a new air link between Vietnam’s southern economic hub and the northern port city.

Thanh Hoa and Hai Phong are considered promising domestic markets, with growing demand for business, trade and tourism travel in recent years. Their large populations and frequent travel to Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces for work and business are expected to generate strong demand on the two routes.

The two new routes are set to give local residents more flexible and affordable travel options, while also supporting two-way tourism flows and promoting economic and cultural exchanges between Ho Chi Minh City and key economic regions in northeastern and north-central Vietnam.

A Vietravel Airlines representative said Thanh Hoa and Hai Phong are promising markets that the carrier had studied carefully as part of efforts to optimise its domestic network. The new routes are intended not only to meet rising passenger demand but also to support preparations in terms of aircraft, personnel and infrastructure for the 2026 year-end peak travel season and the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.

The launch of the two routes is also part of Vietravel Airlines’ broader network expansion plans for the final months of the year. Alongside its domestic services, the carrier opened ticket sales for the Hanoi–Shenzhen route in early October 2026.

Commercial operations are scheduled to begin on November 26, 2026 to help strengthen trade and tourism links between Vietnam and the Chinese market.

Vietravel Airlines launches charter service linking Hanoi with China’s Huangshan

Vietravel Airlines has successfully operated the first charter flight between Hanoi and Huangshan of China, marking an important step in the carrier’s plan to expand its international flight network to large Asian markets.