Vietnam's major LCC VietJet Air has officially announced that from April 28, 2026, it will launch a new route directly connecting Hanoi and Shizuoka. It will operate between Noi Bai International Airport and Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport three times a week (Tue, Thu, Sun), with a one-way flight time of about 5 hours. This expands VietJet's Japan routes to a total of 11, further widening the sky gateways between Japan and Vietnam.
Background of the launch and route overview
This new route is positioned as the first scheduled service connecting Shizuoka with Southeast Asia since Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport opened. VietJet already connects the four cities of Tokyo (Narita), Osaka (Kansai), Nagoya (Chubu), and Fukuoka with Vietnam's major cities, and in 2026 it is further accelerating its Japan strategy.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Launch date | April 28, 2026 |
| Number of flights | 3 round trips per week (Tue, Thu, Sun) |
| Departure time (from Hanoi) | 02:40 → arrives Shizuoka 09:30 |
| Departure time (from Shizuoka) | 10:30 → arrives Hanoi 14:00 |
| Time required | About 5 hours |
| Aircraft used | Airbus A321 (planned) |
What stands out is the schedule design. The flight departing Hanoi at around 2 a.m. is an "early-morning arrival type" that lets you devote a full day to sightseeing after arriving in Japan, and the 9:30 arrival in Shizuoka is an exquisite time to head straight to Mishima or Atami and check in to a hot-spring inn. Conversely, the 10:30 departure from Shizuoka is easy to work into a schedule of finishing Mt. Fuji sightseeing in the morning and returning to the airport, a design highly convenient for short-trip travelers.
Why "Shizuoka": the powerful content of Mt. Fuji, tea, and hot springs
In Vietnamese reporting, this route opening is positioned not as a mere expansion of the aviation network but as an "access route to the world-class brand of Mt. Fuji." For Vietnamese tourists, Mt. Fuji remains an object of longing, and scenery like cherry blossoms, snowscapes, and the Fuji Five Lakes enjoys especially high popularity on social media among younger people.
The distance from Shizuoka Airport to the area around Mt. Fuji is overwhelmingly closer than going via Tokyo — about 1.5 to 2 hours by rental car or highway bus. To the flow that has been mainstream, "enter via Tokyo → Fuji Five Lakes → Shinkansen to Shizuoka → Kansai," a new option is added: "enter at Shizuoka, head directly to Mt. Fuji, then branch out freely."
Reactions on the ground in Vietnam
Voices of welcome are rising from people in Vietnam's travel industry. Especially for Hanoi's wealthy class and millennials, Japan remains one of the top three destinations they "want to visit at least once in a lifetime," and the diversification of direct flights is expected to be a factor that spurs price competition.
As a launch commemoration, VietJet is running a campaign of 20% off Deluxe fares for boarding from March 1 to December 31, 2026.
Practical information for Japanese travelers: note the reverse-direction use
This new route actually holds great meaning for Japanese travelers to Vietnam too. Until now, when going to northern Vietnam from outside the Kanto region, you had to travel by domestic flight to Narita or Haneda and then connect to an international flight, but with the opening of the Shizuoka–Hanoi service, access from the Chubu and Tokai areas improves dramatically.
Merits of using it from Tokai and western Kanto
| Departure area | Conventional route | Route using the Shizuoka service |
|---|---|---|
| Shizuoka City, Hamamatsu City | Shinkansen → Narita → Hanoi (8+ hours total) | Home → Shizuoka Airport → Hanoi (under 6 hours total) |
| Nagano, Yamanashi | Shinkansen → Narita via Tokyo | Direct to Shizuoka Airport by car or highway bus |
| Nagoya area | Chubu → Hanoi (currently available) | Can choose by day of the week and price |
Especially for short trips over a weekend, Shizuoka Airport is appealing for its cheaper parking fees compared with Narita and Haneda and its smooth check-in. A "quick Hanoi trip" departing on a Friday night flight and returning Sunday night is also a realistic plan if you combine the Tuesday and Sunday services.
How to move after arriving in Hanoi
The 2 p.m. arrival in Hanoi fits perfectly into the golden pattern of checking in to a city hotel, strolling the Old Quarter in the evening, and heading out to bia hoi or a night market at night. Conversely, since the Japan-bound flight departs at 2:40 a.m., the sense of schedule on your last day in Hanoi is to play fully into the night and arrive at the airport before midnight.
From Noi Bai International Airport to the city is about 45 minutes, with a taxi running around 300,000–400,000 dong (about 2,000–2,400 yen). Inside the airport there's a dedicated VietJet counter, and procedures go relatively smoothly even for late-night flights.
Points to note when using an LCC
- Buy checked baggage in advance: Additional purchase at the airport counter is pricier. Buying online in advance costs about 3,500 yen for 20kg.
- In-flight meals cost extra: It's a 5-hour flight, so book in advance or buy a light meal at the airport for peace of mind.
- The day before a late-night departure: On your last day in Hanoi, negotiate a late checkout with your hotel, or prepare to pass the time at a café near the airport.
- Shizuoka Airport parking: Long-term parking is very reasonable at about 500 yen per day. It's not reservation-based, so arrive with time to spare.
A timing when Hanoi's travel appeal draws renewed attention
Hanoi, the capital of northern Vietnam, has a somewhat lower visit rate among Japanese tourists than Ho Chi Minh City, but it has been reassessed in recent years for its French-colonial-era architecture, the vibrancy of the Old Quarter, and its role as a base for World Heritage-class natural sites nearby such as Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, and Sapa. Especially in 2026, traditional events such as the Pen Wan Love Market are coming up in May, making late April to May the best season for travelers heading to Hanoi.
The launch of the Shizuoka–Hanoi direct flight is a groundbreaking route connecting "the landscapes representing both countries" — Mt. Fuji and World Heritage Ha Long Bay — by the shortest path. Easily from Japan to northern Vietnam, and from Vietnam to Mt. Fuji — it looks set to become a catalyst stimulating travel demand in both directions.
When planning a trip to northern Vietnam, do also check outthe latest Vietnam newsandand Vietnam travel guide、and Hanoi tourism information.Do check them out too.
Summary
VietJet Air's Hanoi–Shizuoka line offers a new option to travelers in both Japan and Vietnam with an LCC-style, nimble setup of three flights a week and about 5 hours. Starting with the April 28 launch, a new form of travel connecting Mt. Fuji and the Red River Delta is about to be born. Using Shizuoka Airport as a base, do experience the appeal of northern Vietnam firsthand.
