HCMC – Vietnam Airlines will operate more than 1,300 night flights during the peak Lunar New Year 2026 air travel period.
From February 1 to March 3, the national flag carrier plans to offer nearly 300,000 seats on overnight services. These flights represent a year-on-year increase of 3% and account for about 16.6% of the airline’s total operations during the peak travel period.
Night flights are defined as departures after 9 p.m. and before 5 a.m. They will mainly serve high-demand domestic routes, including Hanoi–Danang, HCMC–Haiphong, Vinh, Tho Xuan, Hue, Cam Ranh, and Buon Ma Thuot. Additional overnight services will be added on select routes during the Tet peak.
Vietnam Airlines will deploy Airbus A321 and A320neo aircraft on most routes. Wide-body aircraft, including the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, will also be used on the HCMC–Hanoi route.
During the peak period, flight frequencies on major routes are expected to rise by an average of one to two additional round trips per day, helping expand travel options and reduce pressure on daytime schedules.
The move comes as Vietnam’s aviation sector coordinates efforts to optimize capacity during the holiday rush. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has directed relevant agencies to facilitate night flight operations at six airports—Tho Xuan, Dong Hoi, Chu Lai, Phu Cat, Pleiku, and Tuy Hoa—from February 1 to March 1 by extending operating hours while ensuring safety standards.
Nguyen Quang Trung, deputy chief executive officer of Vietnam Airlines, said night flights are a key measure to meet peak travel demand and ease congestion at airports facing infrastructure and slot constraints.
Earlier, Vietnam Airlines began selling Tet tickets ahead of schedule. More than 3.5 million seats have been made available across its domestic and international networks for travel between February 2 and March 3, nearly 20% more than last year.
The airline has also added nearly 300 extra flights with about 60,000 seats, particularly between February 9 and March 3. Capacity increases mainly apply to routes from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, Danang, Hue, Vinh, Haiphong, Thanh Hoa, Chu Lai, Buon Ma Thuot, Pleiku, Tuy Hoa, Quy Nhon, and Phu Quoc.
In addition, Vietnam Airlines has launched four new routes from Haiphong to Nha Trang, Can Tho, Buon Ma Thuot, and Phu Quoc, aiming to diversify travel options and reduce pressure on trunk routes during the holiday period.
The Vietnam Airlines Group has advised passengers to plan early and purchase tickets through official sales channels, including authorized agents, the airline’s website, and mobile application, to avoid counterfeit tickets and price manipulation during peak travel demand.
