Vietnam Airlines officially announced on 8 May 2026 the launch of three-times-weekly nonstop service between Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and Colombo (CMB), scheduled to begin in October 2026. The route will be operated with Airbus A321 aircraft. Outbound departures from Ho Chi Minh City are scheduled for Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays; return services from Colombo will operate on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
The announcement was made during the Vietnam–Sri Lanka Trade, Investment and Tourism Cooperation Forum in Colombo, attended by Vietnamese President To Lam and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. The new service marks the first direct scheduled route operated by Vietnam Airlines between Vietnam and Sri Lanka, and is part of the flag carrier's broader South Asia push that also includes strategic cooperation agreements in India.
Vietnam Airlines joins Vietjet Air on the same corridor — Vietjet announced a four-times-weekly service from August 2026 at the same forum, making the route the first direct Vietnam–Sri Lanka air link operated by either carrier. Vietnam Airlines noted that more than 38,000 passengers traveled between the two countries in 2025, up 17.5% year-on-year, serving a market previously dependent entirely on connecting itineraries.
Passengers from Colombo will gain seamless onward access to Vietnam Airlines' international network spanning Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, and Australia. Vietnam News and Heritage Vietnam Airlines reported the announcement, and Aviation Voice (Sri Lanka) confirmed the schedule from the Sri Lankan side.
Sources & references (4)
Things to do at each end of the route
Top-rated tours & experiences in Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo.