Vietnam Airlines Launches Direct Ho Chi Minh City–Phuket Flights

Vietnam Airlines has officially launched direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Phuket, marking the airline's debut on the route. The inaugural flight, VN621, landed at Phuket International Airport on the evening of July 2 with 152 passengers on board, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

The aircraft arrived at 5:50 p.m., where passengers were welcomed with a ceremonial reception attended by senior representatives from TAT, Vietnam Airlines, Phuket International Airport, and members of the local tourism industry. Among the guests was Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, TAT's Deputy Governor for International Marketing in Asia and the South Pacific.

Although direct flights between southern Vietnam and Phuket are not new, the arrival of Vietnam Airlines marks an important expansion of the market. The route has previously been served by low-cost carrier VietJet, which continues to operate its VJ809 service between Ho Chi Minh City and Phuket. Vietnam Airlines is now the second Vietnamese airline to connect the two destinations and the first full-service national carrier to do so.

TAT noted that the new service is the first tangible outcome of the memorandum of cooperation signed with Vietnam Airlines on May 28, 2026.

According to Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, the new flights will improve air connectivity, create additional opportunities for travel companies to develop tour packages, attract higher-quality visitors from Vietnam, and strengthen tourism links within the ASEAN region.

Vietnam Airlines will operate the route four times per week, with flights scheduled every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.

TAT also highlighted that the launch coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Vietnam. The timing is particularly significant, as the summer season traditionally sees strong travel demand from Vietnamese tourists, helping offset Phuket's lower visitor numbers from other international markets.

To further promote the destination, TAT's Ho Chi Minh City office will host a familiarization trip to Phuket from July 7–11, bringing together 16 Vietnamese travel industry representatives and four journalists. The program includes site inspections, tourism product presentations, and business meetings with Phuket tourism operators.

In parallel, TAT continues to promote Thailand in Vietnam through its Thai Lan – Càng Hiểu Càng Yêu campaign, which translates as "The More You Know Thailand, the More You Love It." The campaign positions Thailand as a safe, affordable, and diverse destination for Vietnamese travelers, highlighting family holidays, lifestyle experiences, and event tourism.

TAT aims to welcome 689,000 Vietnamese visitors to Thailand in 2026. While no specific target has been announced for Phuket, Phuket International Airport recorded 13,300 arrivals from Vietnam in 2025 and 5,800 arrivals during the first half of 2026. The market peaked in 2023, when the airport handled 34,400 Vietnamese arrivals.