Vietjet launches two new routes, Ho Chi Minh City to Nagoya and Fukuoka, on April 24 and 25 — adding 7 flights a week in total and expanding its Japan network to 138 flights a week

Vietjet Airwill, on April 24, 2026, newly launchHo Chi Minh City–Nagoya (4 flights a week), and on April 25,Ho Chi Minh City–Fukuoka (3 flights a week)—two routes. Its Japan routes expand toa five-city, 138-flights-a-week network across Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Hiroshimaへ拡大し、ゴールデンウィーク（4月30日の解放記念日・5月1日のメーデー連休、旧暦3月10日にあたるフンキング王記念日は4月26日で別日程）の旅行需要に間に合わせた格好だ。

Launch overview—starting from HCMC, a combined 7 flights a week directly hits the central and western Japan markets

The operating schedules and features of the two routes are as follows. Both routes start from Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport, and from April 25 onward, direct routes to southern Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc) are secured from three central and western Japan airports.

138-flight Japan-route network—a multi-hub network not dependent on Tokyo and Osaka

With this addition of two routes, Vietjet’s Japan routes become afive-city, 138-flights-a-weeknetwork across Tokyo (Narita, Haneda), Osaka (Kansai), Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Hiroshima. It’s among the largest number of Japan routes for a single LCC in Asia, and it’s notable for strengthening “regional hubs not dependent on Narita and Kansai” in particular—Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Hiroshima.

Industry and local reaction—“direct flights to Vietnam from western Japan finally revived”

The main reactions from the travel industry and social media to the launch announcement are as follows.

• 「Direct Fukuoka–Ho Chi Minh Cityhad lapsed after the pandemic, with ANA also withdrawing. It’s big that it’s back via an LCC.” (a Kyushu travel-agency owner)
• “Chubu Centrair–HCMC at4 flights a week is easy to use for business trips. You can set up a Monday-departure, Thursday-return pattern.” (an auto-parts maker)
• “Demand for visiting family living in Vietnam is hard to read, and pricing isexpected to be in the high 40,000-yen range round tripfrom Nagoya.” (an OTA insider)
• “A route completes that connects to Phu Quoc, the 2027 APEC venue,via HCMC from Nagoya and Fukuoka with two flights.” (a tourism-promotion insider)

Impact on Japanese tourists—a launch just before the holidays makes southern Vietnam travel realistic

Golden Week from April 29 overlaps in Vietnam with theApril 30 (Reunification Day) and May 1 (May Day)holidays, a timing when local tourism demand also rises. This new Nagoya and Fukuoka launch has made southern Vietnam travel in this period realistic all at once. For residents of the Chubu and Kyushu regions, direct access to Ho Chi Minh City—which until nowrequired a domestic flight to Kansai or Narita—is resolved.

The main connection options after arriving in Ho Chi Minh City are as follows:

• Phu Quoc Island,about 1 hour by Vietjet domestic flight (a 30-day visa-exemption area for foreigners;how to use Phu Quoc’s 30-day visa exemption）
• Da Nang and Hoi Anabout 1 hour 20 minutes by domestic flight (World Heritage + beach resort)
• Mekong Deltapossible as a day trip by bus tour
• Siem Reap, Cambodia1 hour by international flight (touring Angkor Wat)

Industry ripple effects—running alongside Vietnam Airlines’ European expansion, competition on Japan-Vietnam routes intensifies

This move by Vietjet runs alongside Vietnam Airlines’ international expansion. Vietnam Airlines has also openeda direct flight to London Heathrowon March 29, and is successively adding European and Southeast Asian routes such as Hanoi–Milan (launching July 1, 3 flights a week, its first direct route to Italy), Hanoi–Moscow, and HCMC–Bali.

The Vietnamese government has set a 2026 target of25 million foreign tourists(up 16% year on year, a record high), and both airlines’ route expansions are key to achieving this figure. The Japan market is showingrecord growth of +39%toward 2026, and the trend from a Tokyo/Osaka bias toward regional dispersion has become clear.

Practical info and how to book

Summary—Japan-Vietnam air routes, long dominated by Tokyo and Osaka, finally disperse to the regions

Vietjet’s simultaneous Nagoya and Fukuoka launch is a turning point that reorganizes Japan-Vietnam access—which had concentrated at Narita and Kansai—intodirect flights originating in the regions. For travelers and businesspeople living in the Chubu and Kyushu regions, being able tofly direct to Ho Chi Minh City without a domestic connectioncarries big meaning.

As a concrete next action,Boarding right after the April 24 launch is likely to qualify for “launch-commemoration fares,”so setting up an alert on Vietjet’s official site is the first step.Combined with the new Sun Group × Marriott hotels, a resort stay in Phu Quoc or Vung Tau becomes realistic even from the regions. Phu Quoc before the 2027 APEC is expected to be hard to book, so securing air tickets and hotels early is key.