Vietjet has started direct flights between Clark and Ho Chi Minh City, opening the first nonstop air link between the two cities and giving travellers in Central and Northern Luzon a direct route to Vietnam's largest commercial centre. The Vietnamese low-cost carrier began operating the service on 10 November 2026, with flights running three times a week.

The new service operates every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Flight VJ1871 departs Clark at 5:05pm and arrives in Ho Chi Minh City at 6:35pm, while the return flight, VJ1870, leaves Ho Chi Minh City at 12:30pm and lands at Clark at 4:05pm. The route is Vietjet's first service from Clark International Airport, which serves the Philippines' Central and Northern Luzon regions.

A shorter journey for Luzon travellers

Until now, travellers based around Clark, Angeles and the wider region north of Metro Manila generally had to travel to the capital to fly to Vietnam. The direct service removes that journey and connects them straight to Ho Chi Minh City, from where passengers can also connect to other destinations across Vietnam and the Asia-Pacific through Vietjet's wider network, including Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Hue.

Noel Manankil, president and chief executive of Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD), the operator of Clark International Airport, welcomed the new route. "Vietjet's arrival is an important addition to Clark International Airport's growing roster of international airline partners. We remain committed to attracting more airlines and expanding our route network to serve the travel needs of Central and Northern Luzon," he said. LIPAD had earlier described Vietjet's decision to launch its first Clark service as a strong vote of confidence in the market the airport serves, noting that Clark gives airlines access to a large catchment area beyond Metro Manila.

Vietjet chief executive Nguyen Thanh So said the new flight line builds on the airline's presence in the Philippines while opening up more travel choices between the two countries. "Vietjet is proud to further expand its network in the Philippines with the launch of direct flights to Clark, adding an important connection to this high-potential region and creating more travel opportunities for people in both countries. With every new connection, Vietjet hopes to bring Vietnam and the Philippines closer together while unlocking new opportunities for growth across Southeast Asia," he said.

Fares from $75

To mark the launch, Vietjet is offering special fares from 10 to 12 November, with one-way Economy tickets starting at $75 including taxes and fees, while Deluxe seats come with a 25 percent discount. The airline is also running weekly Friday promotional sales, with Eco fares starting at $75 one way inclusive of taxes and fees for travel through 31 March 2027, subject to peak periods, public holidays and blackout dates.

The Clark launch is part of a wider expansion of Vietjet's Philippine network. The carrier launched its Manila to Ho Chi Minh City route in 2025, and now operates five routes linking Manila, Cebu and Davao with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. In June, Vietjet said it would launch a Cebu to Ho Chi Minh City route on 11 December, with five weekly flights. LIPAD said the new Clark service was expected to support traffic growth at the airport by expanding connectivity and giving passengers more travel options, and that it saw considerable potential for the route to support both tourism and business links between the two markets.

Clark's growing international network

Clark International Airport has been building its list of international connections as airlines look beyond Metro Manila for growth. For travellers in Pampanga and the provinces to its north, a direct international departure from Clark can save hours compared with travelling into the capital, particularly when traffic around Manila is heavy. For Vietnam, the route adds another Philippine gateway at a time when travel demand between the two countries is growing, with the Philippines also preparing to host the 49th ASEAN Summit in Manila this month.

Passengers planning to use the new service should check the timetable for their travel date, as the route operates only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and promotional fares carry travel-date and blackout restrictions. The launch comes as Vietjet continues to expand across Southeast Asia, adding routes that link secondary cities in the region directly rather than routing all traffic through the largest hubs.