Vietnam Airlines Expands Vietnam–Philippines Links With Direct Flights

(MANILA, PHILIPPINES) Vietnam Airlines has moved quickly in 2024–2025 to tie Vietnam and the Philippines more closely, rolling out and growing direct flights that cut hours off trips and open new options for business and leisure. The carrier now runs seven weekly direct flights to Manila from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and will add three weekly direct flights to Cebu from Hanoi starting December 1, 2025. The schedule gives travelers steady choices on both sides of the route and places Vietnam Airlines as the first Vietnamese carrier to operate direct Vietnam–Philippines services.

Service Launch and Aircraft

The Manila service launched on June 17, 2024.

• From Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) to Manila (MNL): 4x weekly — Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
• From Hanoi (HAN) to Manila (MNL): 3x weekly — Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

All Manila flights use the Airbus A321, with both Economy and Business cabins. Together, these two routes total seven flights per week into Manila.

The Cebu service will begin on December 1, 2025:

• Hanoi (HAN) to Cebu (CEB): 3x weekly — departures from Hanoi on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays; returns from Cebu on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
• Aircraft: A321
• Flight time: about 3 hours
• Benefit: cuts prior one-stop journeys that often took 6–8 hours

Why Direct Flights Matter

Direct services reduce risk, complexity, and travel time compared with routing through third countries.

• For companies with teams in Vietnam’s northern and southern hubs and clients in Manila or Cebu, same-day, point-to-point options change how meetings and site visits are scheduled.
• For families and students, direct links mean shorter, simpler trips that are safer and more budget-friendly.
• Vietnam Airlines says these routes support trade ties, investment travel, and tourism flows by matching busy city pairs with steady, weeklong service.

Direct nonstop connectivity changes planning for business, education, and leisure — making day trips and short stays realistic where they once were not.

Market Context and Demand

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the timing is strategic:

• Surge in pent-up travel demand post-pandemic
• Vietnam’s push to expand its Southeast Asia role
• The Philippines’ strong pipeline in services, manufacturing, and tourism

Practical impacts:

• A three-hour hop from Hanoi to Cebu lowers cost and stress for divers, beachgoers, and families bound for the Visayas.
• Manila remains a key gate for corporate travel, conventions, and entertainment.
• For Filipinos, direct options ease travel to Vietnam’s cultural centers — from Hanoi’s Old Quarter to Ho Chi Minh City’s business districts.

Promotional Fares and Bonus Offers (Hanoi–Cebu)

Vietnam Airlines is supporting the Cebu launch with special round‑trip fares and extras:

• Booking window: tickets bought by February 28, 2026
• Travel window: December 1, 2025 — February 28, 2026
• Economy fares: from VND 5,664,000 (about $215) — taxes and fees included
• Business class: from VND 24,440,000 (about $928) — taxes and fees included

Bonus miles and baggage:

• Lotusmiles members earn 1,000 bonus miles per sector in Economy and 2,000 in Business for tickets issued by December 31, 2025 (travel valid through December 31, 2026).
• All passengers on Hanoi–Cebu flights receive one extra piece of free checked baggage for tickets bought by December 31, 2025, when departing in December 2025.
• Earlier Manila promotions included double bonus miles and extra baggage for select bookings during the launch window June 17 – August 17, 2024.

Route Expansion and Schedule (Summary)

• Ho Chi Minh City–Manila (A321): 4x weekly (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun); launched June 17, 2024
• Hanoi–Manila (A321): 3x weekly (Tue, Thu, Sat); launched June 17, 2024
• Hanoi–Cebu (A321): 3x weekly (Tue, Thu, Sun out of Hanoi; Mon, Wed, Fri out of Cebu); starts December 1, 2025; flight time about 3 hours
• Total Vietnam–Philippines weekly flights by Vietnam Airlines: 10 (7 to Manila + 3 to Cebu)

Onboard Product and Operational Notes

Vietnam Airlines highlights its “four-star” service and single check-in across the network as key advantages.

• Aircraft: A321 two-cabin layout — Business and Economy
  • Business: quieter workspace, priority services
  • Economy: consistent short-haul product
• Single check-in helps for through itineraries booked on one ticket.
• Extra checked baggage on Hanoi–Cebu (December 2025 departures) can help travelers with sports gear; always confirm size and weight limits.

Economic and Tourism Impact

For businesses:

• Predictability and reliability for short corporate trips across tech, finance, retail, and manufacturing sectors.
• Enables business-day trips or short overnight stays that previously required early departures and late returns via hubs.
• Cebu adds access to a growing BPO sector and strong tourism market — useful for trade shows and regional conferences.

For tourism:

• Cebu: beaches, dive sites, whale shark encounters — within reach for weekend or long-weekend trips.
• Manila: a hub for leisure travelers and returning overseas Filipinos, offering onward access to Vietnam attractions like Ha Long Bay, Hoi An (via domestic connections), the Mekong Delta, and Ho Chi Minh City.

For families, students, and short-course participants:

• Shorter travel days, fewer transit risks, and potential savings with promotional fares and bonus baggage/miles.

Visa and Entry Considerations

Travelers should confirm entry rules before booking — policies can change and depend on purpose, length of stay, passport validity, and proof of onward travel.

• Official source for Philippine entry rules: Philippine Bureau of Immigration
• Vietnamese passport holders flying into Manila/Cebu: keep passport validity sufficient and carry return/onward tickets if required.
• Filipino travelers to Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City: check stay limits, proof of accommodation, and transit rules for internal connections.
• Students/business travelers: carry invitation letters from schools, event organizers, or companies, even for short visits without visas.

Tips for connections and baggage:

• Allow extra time for domestic transfers, especially during peak seasons.
• Verify baggage rules and connection windows, even with single check-in on Vietnam Airlines.
• Seats at the lowest fares can be limited — especially on weekend flights.

Booking and Support

Tickets and promotions are available via:

• Vietnam Airlines website and mobile app
• Ticket offices and official agents
• Vietnam Airlines hotline: 1900 1100

Passengers should review all terms and conditions for launch fares and bonus mile offers before purchase.

Broader Regional Significance

Regional planners see Vietnam Airlines’ move as part of a wider trend: more point-to-point services easing pressure on major hubs. Benefits include:

• Better weekday and weekend scheduling for both business and leisure
• Stronger ties between economic centers and tourist destinations
• Growth in education exchanges, cultural events, and lower logistical costs for tours and tours/music/film projects

Operational resilience:

• Single-carrier, end-to-end service recovery simplifies rebooking during disruptions — critical for time-sensitive trips like exams, weddings, or business deadlines.

Practical Takeaways

• Manila: 4 weekly flights from Ho Chi Minh City + 3 weekly from Hanoi — good weekday coverage.
• Cebu: 3 weekly flights timed for weekend breaks and midweek business trips.
• Once Cebu starts, total Vietnam–Philippines flights by Vietnam Airlines reach 10 weekly.

For travelers planning Vietnam–Philippines trips: check schedules, monitor fare windows, confirm entry documents, and verify baggage allowances. With planning, a three-hour hop from Hanoi to Cebu — or a steady link into Manila — can feel as simple as a domestic trip, but with the added rewards of new places to explore.