Growth has continued into 2026, with passenger numbers rising 16.4% year-on-year in the first quarter.

Vietnam’s aviation market is experiencing a strong recovery,
providing a major boost to the country’s tourism sector as travel demand
continues to rise. However, mounting fuel costs, infrastructure congestion, and
global geopolitical uncertainties are increasing pressure on the industry to
restructure for greater sustainability and resilience.

Speaking at a recent forum on stimulating aviation and
tourism demand, Mr. Uong Viet Dung, Director General of the Civil Aviation
Authority of Vietnam, said around 80% of international visitors to Vietnam
arrive by air, while tourists account for approximately 70% of total passenger
traffic carried by airlines. The figures underscore the increasingly close and
mutually reinforcing relationship between aviation and tourism in Vietnam’s
economic growth.

Vietnam’s air transport market served more than 83.6 million
passengers in 2025, up 10.8% from the previous year, including 46.9 million
international travelers. The country also welcomed a record 21.5 million
foreign visitors, with over 84% arriving by air.

Growth has continued into 2026, with passenger numbers
rising 16.4% year-on-year in the first quarter. However, the sector faces
significant headwinds. Rising tensions in the Middle East caused jet fuel
prices to surge by more than 100% in April, forcing Vietnamese airlines to cut
nearly 5,000 flights compared with the previous month.

VnEconomy-Huỳnh Dũng