Canada clears direct flights to Vietnam; Vancouver may finally connect without stopping in Singapore

Canada and Vietnam signed an aviation agreement on Sept. 24 that removes the regulatory barrier to direct flights between the two countries for the first time, opening the possibility of nonstop service between Vancouver and Ho Chi Minh City as early as 2027.

The deal permits up to 14 weekly passenger-combination flights per country and up to 7 weekly all-cargo flights, with fifth freedom rights for cargo. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon called it part of a broader strategic partnership that will "pave the way for more convenient travel and exciting new opportunities for investment, trade, and international collaboration."

YVR has been positioned to capitalize on this move. In April 2026, airport president and CEO Tamara Vrooman identified Vietnam as a promising market, noting that 58,000 passengers travelled from YVR to Vietnam in 2025 — all connecting through Singapore. Vrooman argued that existing passenger demand alone would support a direct route. The timing is noteworthy: Air Canada plans to discontinue its direct Vancouver-Singapore route in January 2027, which could free up capacity for a Vancouver-Vietnam service.

High-value goods moving between Western Canada and Vietnam include fresh seafood, produce, machinery parts, plastics, and technology products — cargo that could benefit from faster, direct transport.

However, no airline has yet announced plans to launch a Vancouver-Vietnam route. The agreement removes the regulatory hurdle, but carriers must still make their own business decisions about whether to operate the service. Air Canada's internal investor presentation from Spring 2024 indicated the company was working on a potential direct non-stop route, but no public commitment has been made.