TAT and Vietnam Airlines are deepening collaboration to promote travel connectivity, cultural exchange, and new opportunities for tourism between the two countries
Bangkok, 28 May 2026 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Vietnam Airlines, coinciding with the official visit to Thailand of H.E. General To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, from 27 to 29 May 2026. The visit takes place as Thailand and Viet Nam mark 50 years of diplomatic relations.
During the visit, H.E. General To Lam and H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister of Thailand, today delivered keynote remarks at the Thailand–Vietnam Business Forum in Bangkok.
The MOU was signed by Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, and Mr. Le Hong Ha, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vietnam Airlines. Vietnam Airlines also signed separate MOUs with Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT), represented by Ms. Paweena Jariyathitipong, AOT President, and the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA), represented by Mr. Phumiphiphat Meesamran, TTAA Vice President.
Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, said, “This MOU gives practical expression to the Thailand–Viet Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnershipthrough tourism. For TAT, stronger air links are not only about flights, but about connecting market demand with routes, trade partners, and targeted promotion. By working with Vietnam Airlines, we aim to make travel between the two countries more seamless, build trade confidence, and reinforce Thailand as a preferred destination for Vietnamese travellers and a regional gateway within ASEAN.”
Under the MOU, TAT and Vietnam Airlines will coordinate route development and additional flight frequencies. Priority routes include Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok, Da Nang to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City to Phuket, and Hanoi to Chiang Mai, creating more convenient access between the two countries and wider travel links across ASEAN.
As an early outcome, Vietnam Airlines announced its new Ho Chi Minh City–Phuket service, scheduled to begin on 2 July 2026 with four weekly flights. The route gives immediate form to the MOU’s air access agenda by directly linking southern Viet Nam with one of Thailand’s leading resort destinations.
The partnership also sets a working framework for joint marketing, international tourism fairs, buyer engagement, promotional content, tourism workshops, familiarisation trips, Mega FAM Trips, official visits, media and influencer activities, and market information exchange. A Joint Working Group will guide implementation and maintain coordination between both parties.
TAT continues to build Thailand’s presence in Viet Nam through partnerships with travel platforms, tour operators, financial partners, and tourism organisations. Current activities focus on Thailand travel packages, water-based tourism experiences, ASEAN-linked routes, sport tourism, and digital communication under the “5 Must Do in Thailand” concept.
TAT is also using key sales platforms, including Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival 2026 and Vietnam Travel Mart 2026, to drive package sales, deepen trade engagement, and present Thailand as a diverse, accessible, and value-led destination for Vietnamese travellers.
Viet Nam is one of Thailand’s important short-haul markets, with 219,986 Vietnamese arrivals recorded from 1 January to 25 May 2026. Demand is supported by proximity, air access, and interest in flexible, value-for-money travel, while Thailand’s events, shopping, lifestyle experiences, and summer family appeal continue to encourage repeat visits.
