Speaking at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade in April 2026<\/a>, Vrooman said approximately 58,000 passengers travelled from YVR to Vietnam in 2025 by connecting through Singapore alone, despite the lack of direct, non-stop service. She asserted that such existing passenger demand through Singapore was already sufficient to support a standalone direct, non-stop route reaching Vietnam, along with the additional cargo capacity it would provide. It should be noted that Air Canada plans to discontinue its direct, non-stop route between Singapore and Vancouver in January 2027.<\/p>\n Vrooman also highlighted the substantial volume of high-value goods moving between Western Canada and Vietnam, including fresh seafood and produce, machinery parts, plastics, and technology products, which are particularly suited to cargo air freight in the bellies of commercial passenger aircraft<\/a>.<\/p>\n Freight air cargo being in the belly hold of a commercial passenger aircraft at Vancouver International Airport. (Vancouver International Airport)<\/p>\n Based on a presentation to the airline\u2019s investors in Spring 2024, Air Canada has been working behind the scenes for years to potentially launch a new direct, non-stop service between YVR and Ho Chi Minh City \u2014 Vietnam\u2019s largest city and commercial centre.<\/p>\n In response to last week\u2019s announcement, Canada\u2019s flag carrier welcomed the expanded agreement and publicly confirmed that it is working with the relevant authorities to secure the necessary approvals to launch a direct, non-stop service to Ho Chi Minh City in 2027. While Air Canada has not confirmed which Canadian city the new route would serve, Vancouver remains the highly likely candidate.<\/p>\n \u201cVietnam is an important market in the broader Canada-Southeast Asia relationship. We welcome this expanded Air Transport Agreement and look forward to obtaining the necessary government approvals to begin service to Ho Chi Minh City,\u201d said Mark Galardo, the executive vice president and chief commercial officer, and president of cargo, of Air Canada.<\/p>\n Meghan Pritchard, executive director of the Canada ASEAN Business Council, added, \u201cThe Canada-ASEAN Business Council welcomes Air Canada\u2019s intention to launch scheduled service to Ho Chi Minh City in 2027. Direct air connectivity between Canada and Vietnam would be an important step in strengthening commercial ties, supporting tourism and investment, and helping Canadian businesses deepen their engagement in one of Southeast Asia\u2019s most dynamic markets.\u201d<\/p>\n There has also been interest from the Vietnamese side. As previously reported by Daily Hive Urbanized<\/a>, Vietnam Airlines identified Vancouver in early 2025<\/a> as one of several prospective international destinations it hoped to add to its network, alongside Seattle, Los Angeles, Copenhagen, Dubai, Bangalore, Dhaka and Darwin, Australia.<\/p>\n Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (David Bokuchava\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n The agreement is part of Prime Minister Carney\u2019s broader effort to diversify Canada\u2019s trade relationships beyond the United States, with a particular focus on growing markets in Asia.<\/p>\n Vietnam is already Canada\u2019s largest trading partner within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Two-way merchandise trade between the countries reached C$20.6 billion in 2025, including more than C$1.3 billion in Canadian exports to Vietnam, representing a 30 per cent increase in exports over the previous year.<\/p>\n \u201cWith every new or expanded air transport agreement we are paving the way for more convenient travel and exciting new opportunities for investment, trade, and international collaboration. I\u2019m so pleased to see this enhanced cooperation between Canada and Vietnam, a growing market with a rich culture and history,\u201d said federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon in a statement.<\/p>\n The federal government also pointed to Canada\u2019s large Vietnamese community of approximately 275,000 people as another source of demand for new flights between the two countries, whether for family visits, tourism, education, or business travel.<\/p>\n![\"vancouver](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/vancouver-international-airport-yvr-cargo-f10.jpg\"\/ "\\"\\"")
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