Vietnam Airlines will begin direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Thailand's Phuket International Airport starting April 2, 2026. The route launches with 3 flights a week, increasing to 4 flights a week from April 23 and 5 flights a week from May 5 (specific days of the week have not been confirmed in primary sources). The aircraft used is an Airbus A321, with a flight time of about 1 hour 30 minutes. This gives travelers who enter Vietnam from Japan and want to tour multiple Southeast Asian countries a new option.
Overview of the new route: Ho Chi Minh City and Phuket connected directly
Until now, heading from Ho Chi Minh City to Phuket, Thailand, a Bangkok connection was common. Going via Bangkok often took 4–6 hours in total, an inconvenient route for a Phuket beach-resort trip. With the opening of this direct flight, you can now travel in about 1 hour 30 minutes without a connection.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Operation start date | Thursday, April 2, 2026 |
| Line | Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) ⇔ Phuket (HKT) |
| Flight frequency | 3 flights/week (April 2–22) → 4 flights/week (April 23–May 4) → 5 flights/week (from May 5) |
| Aircraft used | Airbus A321 |
| Time required | About 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Operating carrier | Vietnam Airlines |
Impact on Japanese travelers: touring Vietnam + Thailand becomes easier
This route holds great meaning for travelers departing from Japan too.
Pattern 1: Vietnam → Thailand tour
Enter Ho Chi Minh City from Japan, enjoy Ho Chi Minh City sightseeing (2–3 nights), then head to Phuket on this direct flight. It becomes easy to build a route where you savor Phuket's beach resort and then return home via Bangkok. It's a route that suits the style of touring two Southeast Asian countries in one trip.
Pattern 2: Thailand → Vietnam tour
The reverse direction is also possible. After swimming and refreshing in Phuket, enjoy gourmet food and shopping in Ho Chi Minh City and head home. It can be used as a route that functions as a gateway to Vietnam.
Vietnam Airlines' route-expansion strategy
Riding the recovery and expansion of tourism demand within Asia, Vietnam Airlines has been moving aggressively on route expansion since the latter half of 2025. Note that Vietnam Airlines, which has at times been reported to havelarge-scale flight reductions due to a fuel shortage,is said to be looking at recovery on some routes around April 10–15, so please check the latest operational status before traveling.
April in Ho Chi Minh City is smack in the middle of travel season
April in Ho Chi Minh City is the tail end of the dry season, a comfortable time with little rain. From April 23–26,the 4th Vietnam Banh Mi Festivalis scheduled, where you can enjoy a food festival with over 150 shops gathered in one place. Also,Phu Quoc International Airport has completed expansion with a 47-million-dollar investment,and the travel environment across southern Vietnam is coming together.
What kind of place is Phuket?
Located in southern Thailand, Phuket is one of Southeast Asia's leading resort islands, known for emerald-green seas and white-sand beaches. It has diverse beaches such as Patong Beach, Karon Beach, and Kata Beach, and a full lineup of the activities travelers seek — marine sports, Thai cuisine, massage, and shopping.
Summary
Vietnam Airlines' new Ho Chi Minh City–Phuket direct route is welcome news that broadens the options for Japanese travelers planning a Southeast Asia trip. It's a route born to meet the needs of those who feel “Vietnam alone isn't quite enough” and want to combine it with Thailand. With 5 flights a week from May 5 onward making it a stable option, it should also come in handy for summer and fall travel planning.
Source
・Vietnam Airlines Adds Direct Phuket–Ho Chi Minh Flights from April 2026 (The Traveler)
