European charter flights land in Vietnam for the first time: visitor traffic shifts from Thailand, heralding the arrival of summer

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This summer, there was a symbolic event in Vietnamese tourism.欧州からのチャーター便が、2027年に初めてベトナムへ直接乗り入れる計画が明らかになったA portion of the European guests who had until now flowed to nearby destinations like Thailand began heading for Vietnam—it was a flight signaling that tectonic shift. In the first quarter alone, guests from across Europe grew all at once: Poland +52%, Sweden +27.5%, Switzerland over +27%.

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「初就航計画」の重み

欧州からの直行チャーターがベトナムに降り立つのは、2027年5月〜9月に毎月ポーランドから運航する計画で、実現すれば初となる。乗り継ぎを前提としてきた欧州〜ベトナム間に、直接の太いパイプが生まれつつあることを意味する。夏のピークに合わせた就航計画で、シーズンの本格化を告げる先駆けとなりそうだ。

A shift from Thailand

Behind it is the tug-of-war for tourists within Southeast Asia. European guests, for whom Thailand had been the recipient, are beginning to flow to a more affordable and fresh Vietnam, thanks to eased visas and new flights. At one major operator, European guests account for over 35% of business, with the UK, France, Germany, Russia, and Poland as the main markets.

Markets First-quarter growth
Poland +52%
Sweden +27.5%
Switzerland Over +27%
Denmark and Italy Over +20%

The receiving points are Cam Ranh and Da Nang

The main landing points for charter flights and cruises are Cam Ranh (Nha Trang) and Da Nang in the center. Cam Ranh Port is expected to receive 48 to 50 international cruise ships in 2026, with European and Russian guests flowing in from both air and sea. A plan for regular charters carrying Polish guests every month (about 300 people per flight) is also in motion.

Impact on readers

If the inflow of European guests increases, beach resort bookings will come earlier and high-season crowding will move up. The more direct flights increase, the more Vietnam's positioning shifts from "beyond the connection" to "the destination itself." For trips from Japan too, avoiding periods when the peak overlaps with European groups is more comfortable.

Ripple effects on the industry

The taking-hold of charters spurs the development of local lodging, transfers, and guides. After Russian, support for various European languages becomes a challenge, and long-stay and resort-completed services thicken. A single charter flight is a leading indicator that visualizes tectonic shifts in demand.

Summary

A single charter flight may look small, but it's a harbinger of a change in the flow of guests. Vietnam is being steadily upgraded on Europe's travel map.

Related reading:
Vietnam's international tourists reach 10.6 million in five months
Nha Trang faces a guide shortage amid a surge in Russian visitors
Vietnam grants a 45-day visa exemption to 12 European countries

Source:VietnamNet / VietnamNet

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Author of this article

In my third year living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I launched this specialist Vietnam travel information site hoping to share local knowledge you simply can’t get by visiting as a tourist — the kind of thing you only understand by being here.

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