Vietnam-Canada direct flights on horizon after expanded air deal

The agreement was announced during Vietnam’s Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s state visit to Canada, as the two countries upgraded their relations to a strategic partnership.

Canada’s Ministry of Transport said on Thursday (local time) that the expanded agreement allows airlines from each country to operate up to 14 passenger or combined passenger-cargo flights per week, along with up to seven dedicated cargo flights.

The two countries welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on the expanded agreement in a joint statement on their strategic partnership and agreed to deepen cooperation in transportation, supply chain management, and infrastructure.

Canada said the agreement would help meet growing demand for air travel between the two countries while supporting its Trade Diversification Strategy and Indo-Pacific Strategy.

Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu described Vietnam as one of Canada’s most dynamic trading partners in Southeast Asia, saying greater air connectivity would facilitate the movement of people and goods and create new opportunities for businesses.

Canadian merchandise exports to Vietnam exceeded CAD$1.3 billion(US$919 million) in 2025, up 30 percent year-on-year, while two-way merchandise trade reached CAD$20.6 billion ($14.56 billion).

Vietnam is Canada’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) serving as a key platform for expanding bilateral trade.

Canada is also home to around 275,000 people of Vietnamese origin, contributing to growing demand for travel between the two countries for tourism, business, education, and family visits.

Vietnam and Canada also agreed to explore greater cooperation between tourism authorities and businesses to promote destinations in both countries.

Travelers currently have to transit through a third country when flying between Vietnam and Canada.

Shortly after the agreement was announced, Air Canada said it was working with relevant authorities to complete the necessary procedures for launching scheduled flights to Ho Chi Minh City in 2027.