VietJet Expands to Mainland China
VietJet is set to broaden its footprint in mainland China, more than doubling its service offerings to tap into the burgeoning demand from one of Vietnam’s largest tourist source markets. This strategic move comes as the low-cost carrier continues to expand its presence in the region, building on a strong track record of connecting Vietnam to top Chinese cities.
The expansion began in late 2023 with the addition of scheduled routes, complementing VietJet’s already extensive charter operations in China. The airline first connected Ho Chi Minh City with Shanghai, quickly followed by new routes to Chengdu in February 2024 and Xi’an in April 2024. Building on this momentum, VietJet is now gearing up to launch four new nonstop services starting March 30.
These new routes will link major Vietnamese hubs with two of China’s key airports: Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport and Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport will be connected directly to Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. While most flights will operate daily, the Hanoi-Beijing service will run three times per week. With this latest launch, VietJet will have established seven routes between Vietnam and China, marking a significant milestone as the first Vietnamese airline to operate flights to Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX).
VietJet’s expansion is poised to strengthen bilateral ties between Vietnam and China, benefiting the wider region by unlocking new growth opportunities. The move also aligns with broader trends, as Vietnam recorded more than 17.5 million international visitors in 2024—a remarkable 39.5% increase from the previous year. Mainland China emerged as the country’s second-largest source market, contributing 3.7 million visitors, only behind South Korea’s impressive 4.5 million arrivals.
The upward trend in tourist arrivals is accompanied by an increase in flight capacity between the two nations. Recent data from the OAG Schedules Analyser indicates that Vietnam-China flight capacity in January 2025 had rebounded to 88% of pre-pandemic levels. This recovery has outpaced some of China’s top international markets, including Japan, Thailand, and South Korea, which have restored capacity to 79.4%, 77.3%, and 72.2%, respectively. Meanwhile, Vietnam now ranks as China’s eighth-largest international market, further emphasizing the growing importance of this route for both passenger travel and economic exchange.
Latest schedule analyses reveal that this month, there are approximately 587,000 two-way seats available between Vietnam and China—the fourth-highest monthly total on record, only surpassed by January 2020, August 2019, and July 2019. Market share insights show that China Southern Airlines currently leads with 25.9% of capacity, followed by China Eastern Airlines at 18.6%, and Vietnam Airlines with a 13.6% share. VietJet holds the seventh position with a 5% market share, which reflects both its current operational scale and its potential for future growth.
This capacity boost comes at an opportune time. In a recent meeting held on January 15, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and Comac Deputy Secretary Tan Wangeng discussed the possibility of Chinese-made aircraft operating in Vietnam. The discussions centered on the Comac C909 and C919 models, signaling potential changes in the aircraft fleet composition and increased collaboration between the two countries’ aviation sectors.
With this ambitious expansion plan, VietJet is well-positioned to capture a larger share of the thriving Vietnam-China travel market. The latest route additions and strategic partnerships are not only set to enhance connectivity between the two nations but also offer travelers more options and convenience as they explore the rich cultural and economic ties that link Vietnam and China.
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