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Canada–Vietnam Direct Flights Approved: What It Means for 2027 Programs
Short answer: on 24 September 2026, during the state visit to Canada of General Secretary and President To Lam, Vietnam and Canada concluded an expanded air transport agreement that allows up to 14 passenger and 7 all-cargo flights a week for each country. Air Canada plans to launch service to Ho Chi Minh City in 2027, most likely from Vancouver, subject to regulatory approvals. No schedule or fares are on sale yet, so 2027 programs should still be quoted on one-stop routings, with the nonstop option added once it is published.
The agreement at a glance
| Announced | 24 September 2026, as part of a new Canada–Vietnam Strategic Partnership |
|---|---|
| Frequencies | Up to 14 passenger and 7 all-cargo flights per week for each side |
| Airline plans | Air Canada: Ho Chi Minh City from 2027, subject to approvals; Vancouver is the likely Canadian gateway |
| Today | No nonstop service; one stop via Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo or Doha |
| Entry | Canadian passports use Vietnam's 90-day e-visa (USD 25 single entry, about three working days) |
| Time difference | Vietnam is 12 hours ahead of Toronto in winter (11 in summer) and 15 hours ahead of Vancouver (14 in summer) |
Why the route has demand
- About 58,000 passengers travelled between Vancouver and Vietnam in 2025, connecting mostly through Singapore, and Air Canada is ending its Vancouver–Singapore route in January 2027.
- Canada has a Vietnamese community of about 275,000 people.
- Two-way merchandise trade reached C$20.6 billion in 2025.
What this means for Canadian agencies
- Quote 2027 on current routings. Keep one-stop options in proposals and note that a nonstop may be added; do not price against a schedule that has not been published.
- South-first itineraries. If the first nonstop lands in Ho Chi Minh City, programs flow naturally south to north: Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, then Da Nang and Hoi An, ending in Hanoi and Halong Bay, with a domestic flight home to Ho Chi Minh City or an onward connection from Hanoi.
- Segments to watch. Vietnamese-Canadian family travel, university and faith-based groups, and corporate travel linked to the growing trade relationship.
- Overnight turnaround. With Vietnam 11–15 hours ahead, a brief sent during the Canadian working day reaches the Dong DMC team at the start of the Vietnam working day, and the reply is usually waiting by the Canadian evening or next morning.
Dong DMC will update its Vietnam entry and flight facts page when the first schedule is confirmed. For US and Canadian partners, see the US and Canada desk, or send a brief to the Dong DMC partner desk.
