The key facts

  • Turkish Airlines' load factor on flights to Vietnam is about 92%, with 92% of passengers connecting in Istanbul
  • Passenger traffic grew by 30% in 2025, with growth of about 11% forecast for 2026
  • From January and February 2027, flight frequency to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will increase to 11 per week for each route

High load factor and growing passenger traffic

Turkish Airlines has achieved an average load factor of about 92% on its flights to Vietnam, said the company's manager for Hanoi in Hanoi Dinçer Sayıcı. According to him, in 2025 passenger traffic on these routes grew by 30% year on year, and by the end of 2026 growth of about 11% is expected. At the same time, as the carrier's representative noted, 92% of passengers are transit travelers connecting through Istanbul airport; connections with Europe and North America strengthen the airline's position in this market.

Schedule expansion and bilateral agreements

Currently the airline operates 20 flights a week to Vietnam, split evenly between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, using wide-body Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 aircraft. From January 5, 2027, frequency on the Hanoi route will rise to 11 flights a week, and from February 7, 2027, on the Ho Chi Minh City route, bringing the total to 22 flights. Growth potential is limited by a memorandum between the civil aviation authorities of the two countries dated August 6, 2026, which allows up to 42 weekly passenger frequencies on the Istanbul–Hanoi and Istanbul–Ho Chi Minh City routes. The company launched scheduled flights to Ho Chi Minh City on December 29, 2010, and to Hanoi on June 27, 2016.

Tourism and cargo

Demand from Turkish tourists grew by 56% in the first nine months of 2026; popular destinations mentioned include Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh. To attract Vietnamese travelers to Turkey, the airline works with travel agencies, promoting Istanbul, Cappadocia and Pamukkale; the introduction of e-visa eligibility for Vietnamese citizens on September 1, 2025 also played a positive role, according to Sayıcı. In the cargo segment, Turkish Cargo carried about 53,000 tonnes between Istanbul and Vietnam in 2025 and expects to reach 60,000 tonnes by the end of 2026; the main cargo categories are electronics, high value-added industrial goods, equipment, spare parts and textiles.