Vietnamese carriers are adding Asia and Europe metal as inbound tourism compounds. VnExpress reported on 12 October 2026 that Sun PhuQuoc Airways, Vietjet Air and Vietravel Airlines are launching or planning services to Shanghai, Moscow, Prague, Almaty, Shenzhen and Male, against a backdrop of 17.7 million international visitors in the first nine months of 2026 (+14.5%). For hotel owners, the actionable part is not the press-release route map. It is which cities gain seats, which source markets are filling them, and whether your competitive set is priced for China-heavy leisure, Russia-heavy resorts or a broader Europe mix.
Key facts
- Inbound (Jan–Sep 2026): 17.7 million international visitors, +14.5% year on year.
- Largest market: Mainland China — 3.95 million arrivals, 22.3% of the total.
- Russia: 1.1 million arrivals, up more than 160%; forecast cited at a record 1.5 million for full-year 2026.
- Europe: Arrivals up more than 50% (VnExpress summary).
- National target referenced: 25 million international visitors in 2026.
- New / planned routes (carrier announcements via VnExpress):
| Carrier | Route | Start (as reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Sun PhuQuoc Airways | Ho Chi Minh City – Shanghai | 15 October 2026 |
| Sun PhuQuoc Airways | Phu Quoc – Moscow (A330) | 13 November 2026 |
| Vietjet Air | Hanoi – Prague | October 2026 |
| Vietjet Air | Hanoi – Almaty | October 2026 |
| Vietjet Air | Ho Chi Minh City – Male (via Colombo) | 5 December 2026 |
| Vietravel Airlines | Hanoi – Shenzhen | 26 November 2026 |
What happened
Growing tourism demand is pulling Vietnamese airlines into thinner long-haul and secondary Asia city pairs. Sun PhuQuoc Airways — the Sun Group-linked carrier — is using wide-body A330 capacity for Phu Quoc–Moscow and opening Ho Chi Minh City–Shanghai first. Vietjet is pairing European and Central Asian capitals with a Maldives product. Vietravel Airlines is adding Shenzhen, aimed at South China tech and leisure traffic.
VnExpress notes that Europe grew more than 50% and that the United States, Australia and India also recorded strong growth, helping Vietnam reduce reliance on one or two Asian source markets. Industry voices quoted in the piece want longer visa exemptions for China and India and denser links to global hubs to support the 25 million target.
Why it matters for hotels
Seats land in specific catchments:
- Phu Quoc: Moscow flights reinforce a Russia-heavy resort mix already visible in island winter occupancy. That supports Sun Group and other Phu Quoc owners — and raises the cost of getting it wrong if 2027 APEC supply arrives into a softer Russian winter (Sun Group–Marriott supply).
- Ho Chi Minh City: Shanghai and Male (transit) add corporate and leisure layers on top of the city’s push for higher spend, which we covered in our HCMC visitors piece.
- Hanoi: Prague, Almaty and Shenzhen diversify beyond Korea and China leisure — relevant to the upscale room target in our Hanoi 10,000-room analysis.
National +14.5% arrivals do not mean every hotel’s RevPAR rises 14.5%. Coastal midscale dependent on a single tour-operator channel can still lose share if new seats favour another airport or brand.
What it means for you
1. Underwrite routes, not headlines
Put the six routes on a one-page capacity tracker with aircraft type and weekly frequencies when carriers publish them. Drop any route that slips; do not leave it in the budget.
2. Match sales plans to source markets
Russia-heavy Phu Quoc needs Russian-speaking desks and winter packages. Shanghai and Shenzhen support MICE and FIT from South China. Prague and Almaty are thinner; treat them as experiment lanes until load factors prove out.
3. Visa policy is still a swing factor
Carriers and hoteliers are aligned in asking for broader China and India exemptions. A policy change would amplify these seats; a stall would cap them. Track policy as carefully as schedules.
4. Link air news to your competitive set
Owners near Vinpearl clusters or Sun Group resorts should assume the big owners will buy seats and packages first. Independents need contracted allotments early in the same markets.
FAQ
How many international visitors has Vietnam received in 2026 so far?
17.7 million in the first nine months, up 14.5% year on year, according to VnExpress.
Which airline is flying Phu Quoc–Moscow?
Sun PhuQuoc Airways plans to start on 13 November 2026 with an Airbus A330.
Is China still the largest inbound market?
Yes. Mainland China accounted for 3.95 million arrivals, or 22.3% of the nine-month total.
Does more air capacity guarantee higher hotel ADR?
No. It improves the chance of filling rooms in the cities that receive the seats. ADR still depends on mix, supply and distribution.
