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KST
Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air will launch direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo, Sri Lanka, this August 16th, 2026, according to an announcement by Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Trinh Thi Tam at the Vietnam Tourism Promotion Program held in Colombo on July 31.
The new route is expected to cut travel time between the two countries and strengthen tourism, trade, investment, and people-to-people ties, the ambassador said. Sri Lankan Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe welcomed the growing exchange between the two nations, noting that nearly 9,000 Sri Lankan visitors traveled to Vietnam in the first half of 2026, while more than 4,500 Vietnamese travelers visited Sri Lanka over the same period.
The direct air link marks a milestone in bilateral cooperation, coming after Vietnam and Sri Lanka upgraded relations to a Comprehensive Partnership during a state visit by General Secretary and President To Lam to Sri Lanka in May 2026. Officials from both countries credited close coordination between government agencies and tourism industry stakeholders for making the connection possible.
For travelers, the new route removes a longstanding barrier. With direct access now available, tourism boards and businesses on both sides are expected to ramp up promotional efforts targeting each other’s markets in the coming months, building on the diplomatic momentum established earlier this year.
