Vietnam Airlines has opened a direct flight from Hanoi to Cebu, marking the national carrier’s newest link with the Philippines and its latest move to expand into Southeast Asia’s fast-growing tourism market.

Flight VN643 departed Noi Bai International Airport at 10:50 PM on December 2 and landed at Mactan–Cebu International Airport at 03:30 AM local time on December 3, carrying nearly 100 passengers on an Airbus A321neo.

The airline operates the three-weekly service on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from Hanoi, with return flights VN642 leaving Cebu on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Flight time averages around three hours.

Deputy General Director Dang Anh Tuan said the new route reinforces Vietnam Airlines’ commitment to enhancing regional connectivity. “The new route will support tourism and economic exchange between the two countries,” he said.

Hanoi, a capital with more than a thousand years of history, ranks among the world’s oldest cities. The city preserves nearly 6,500 historical and cultural sites and almost 1,800 intangible cultural-heritage elements, including six UNESCO-recognized heritages.

Hanoi also manages 22 special national relics, about 1,100 national relics, 1,600 city-level relics and 59 items on the national list of intangible cultural heritage.

The capital safeguards 351 national treasures, 22 private museums and a strong artisan community, including 131 individuals honored as “People’s Artists” and “Meritorious Artists” in intangible cultural heritage.

Around 1,350 traditional craft villages form part of Hanoi’s cultural landscape.

Cebu, the Philippines’ second-busiest international gateway, attracts visitors with white-sand beaches, coral reefs and historic landmarks.

The new route gives travelers direct access to Hanoi, along with convenient onward connections to Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh and Sa Pa.

Vietnam Airlines now serves five destinations in the Philippines: Manila, Cebu, Clark, Davao and Kalibo.

The launch comes as intra-ASEAN travel continues to rebound strongly. Philippine tourist arrivals to Vietnam rose 192% year-on-year to nearly 200,000 in January–September. Vietnamese visitors to the Philippines increased 25.5% on-year to around 180,000 in January–August.

With this route, Vietnam Airlines aims to meet growing regional demand while reinforcing Vietnam’s position as a key aviation hub in Southeast Asia.