Vietnamese budget carrier Vietjet has launched three new routes from regional gateways in Clark and Cebu as it seeks to capture a larger share of the surging travel demand among Filipinos visiting Vietnam.
On Tuesday, the airline launched its direct services connecting Cebu to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as Clark to Ho Chi Minh City.
This expansion comes amid a sharp increase in Filipino arrivals in Vietnam, which reached 436,909 from January to September, a 61.73-percent jump that made it the fastest-growing outbound tourism market among Filipinos.
While considerably smaller, the number of Vietnamese travelers visiting the Philippines likewise rose 32.89 percent to 38,411 as of Nov. 4.
Vietjet said the three new routes would also improve connectivity between the two countries’ economic centers.
The Cebu-Hanoi service operates every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, while Cebu-Ho Chi Minh City flights depart every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Clark-Ho Chi Minh City flights, meanwhile, operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
‘The launch of three new direct routes to Cebu and Clark reflects Vietjet’s growing presence in the Philippine market,’ said Vietjet CEO Nguyen Thanh Son.
Furthermore, he added that the expansion aims to stimulate two-way travel and support trade and tourism cooperation between the Philippines and Vietnam.
For Cebu, the new services support efforts to strengthen Mactan-Cebu International Airport’s position as a regional transfer hub, allowing travelers from other Philippine destinations to connect to international flights without passing through Manila.
‘These flights give Cebuanos more ways to discover Vietnam, and give Vietnamese travelers a direct gateway to Cebu and the islands beyond it,’ said Athanasios Titonis, CEO of Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corp.
Meanwhile, Clark International Airport operator Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. also welcomed Vietjet’s entry as part of efforts to expand international connectivity for central and northern Luzon.
To mark the launch, Vietjet is offering one-way promotional fares starting at $75, inclusive of taxes and fees. These apply to passengers who book from Nov. 10 to 12 and travel between Dec. 1, 2026, and May 31, 2027.