Vietnam Airlines and TAT Sign Tourism Partnership Agreement

TAT Signs Agreement to Strengthen Air Connectivity and Travel Links

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Vietnam Airlines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening tourism cooperation between Thailand and Vietnam as the two countries mark 50 years of diplomatic relations.

The agreement was signed during the official visit of H.E. General To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, to Thailand from 27 to 29 May 2026.

The signing ceremony took place alongside the Thailand–Vietnam Business Forum in Bangkok, where H.E. General To Lam and Thailand’s Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, addressed business leaders and stakeholders from both countries.

The MOU was signed by Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Mr. Le Hong Ha, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vietnam Airlines. Separate agreements were also signed between Vietnam Airlines, Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT), and the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA).

According to TAT, the partnership is intended to support tourism growth through improved air connectivity, coordinated route development and joint promotional activities.

Under the agreement, TAT and Vietnam Airlines will work together on route expansion and additional flight frequencies. Priority routes include Hanoi–Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City–Bangkok, Da Nang–Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City–Phuket and Hanoi–Chiang Mai.

As part of the collaboration, Vietnam Airlines has announced a new Ho Chi Minh City–Phuket service, scheduled to begin on 2 July 2026 with four flights per week. The route will provide a direct link between southern Viet Nam and Phuket.

The agreement also establishes a framework for joint marketing initiatives, participation in international tourism fairs, trade engagement programmes, tourism workshops, familiarisation trips, media activities and market intelligence sharing. A Joint Working Group will oversee the implementation of planned activities.

TAT continues to promote Thailand in the Vietnamese market through partnerships with travel companies, tourism organisations and digital platforms. Current initiatives focus on tourism packages, water-based experiences, ASEAN travel routes, sports tourism, and digital campaigns under the “5 Must Do in Thailand” campaign.

The authority is also using industry events, such as the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival 2026 and the Vietnam Travel Mart 2026, to strengthen trade engagement and support tourism promotion efforts.

Vietnam remains an important source market for Thailand. Between 1 January and 25 May 2026, Thailand recorded 219,986 visitor arrivals from Viet Nam, supported by air connectivity, geographical proximity and continued demand for regional travel.

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