Philippine Airlines (PAL) will soon offer nonstop flights between Cebu and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
The new PAL Cebu-Ho Chi Minh City-Cebu route takes off as of 2nd May, with an initial schedule of three flights per week.
The route will cater to the growing interest of Filipinos in visiting Vietnam, which recorded approximately 216,000 Filipino travelers for 2024, ranking as the ninth most visited destination among Filipinos.
This is the first-ever direct air service linking Central Visayas and Vietnam’s main economic and commercial hub.
More flights to Vietnam
The Philippine flag carrier is also increasing its Manila-Hanoi-Manila flights to a daily service, up fromthe current five times weekly from 1st April.
The new schedule will provide more convenient access between Manila and Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, known for its rich history and cultural treasures.
PAL president and COO Stanley K Ng said: “We are pleased to expand Philippine Airlines’ footprint in Vietnam, our next-door neighbor and fellow ASEAN member country, through our new service linking Ho Chi Minh City to Cebu for the very first time. We look forward to boosting tourism, strengthening Cebu’s position as the nation’s emerging business and leisure gateway, and building on the strong and friendly relations between Vietnam and the Philippines. We are excited to invite Vietnamese tourists and business people to take the short hop to Cebu to discover the wonders of our islands and enjoy the warm hospitality of our people.”
Other details
The Cebu-Ho Chi Minh City flights depart from Mactan-Cebu International Airport every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
The return PAL service departs from Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan SonNhat International Airport every Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
The pioneer PAL service will be flown with Airbus A321 jetliners, which accommodate 199 passengers offering both Business Class and Economy Class.
