Despite strong demand and growing US–Vietnam ties, no US airline currently operates nonstop flights to Vietnam.
The reasons lie in operational challenges, low yields, and more attractive alternatives, according to Simply Flying→view source.
Key points in the article include:
- High operating costs: Flights between the US and Vietnam are ultra-long-haul (15–16 hours), tying up aircraft and crew for over 30 hours per round trip. That makes them less profitable than multiple short-haul segments using the same aircraft.
- Lower yields: The dominant travel segment is VFR (visiting friends and relatives), which tends to be price-sensitive. US carriers struggle to compete with cheaper one-stop alternatives via Asia.
- Weak business travel demand: While trade and investment ties between the US and Vietnam are increasing, they have not yet reached a level that could support regular premium traffic essential to profitability.
- Strategic partnerships: Major US carriers use alliance networks to serve Vietnam indirectly. For instance, passengers can travel via Tokyo, Seoul or Singapore using partners like ANA, Korean Air, or Singapore Airlines.
- Upcoming change: United Airlines will launch a daily Los Angeles–Ho Chi Minh City service via Hong Kong from 26 October 2025, exercising fifth freedom rights between HKG and SGN using Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
- Fleet readiness: Vietnam Airlines already has the widebodies needed for direct US flights (787-9, 787-10, A350), while Delta could be a future candidate given its SkyTeam link with Vietnam Airlines.
While direct non-stop connectivity between the US and Vietnam remains commercially risky today, rising tourism and deepening business ties may change the calculus.
Indirect services and fifth-freedom routes are filling the gap in the meantime, especially for US carriers like United.
Though not mentioned in the article, Vietnam Airlines already operates direct flights to San Francisco.
See also: Vietnam’s Aviation Industry 2025: Growth, Key Players, Foreign Ownership, & More