Vietnam Airlines Expands India Network at Sales Kick Off 2026 in New Delhi, Signs MoUs with Ixigo and BelAir

National Flag Carrier Doubles Down on Indian Market with Landmark Industry Event

Vietnam Airlines, Vietnam's national flag carrier, has signalled a decisive push into the Indian market, hosting its Vietnam Airlines India Sales Kick Off 2026 in New Delhi on 27 March 2026. Organised in partnership with its All India General Sales Agent, Aeroprime Group, the event drew a wide cross-section of India's travel ecosystem — from trade associations and tour operators to media and airline representatives — all converging around a single objective: deepening the air and tourism bridge between India and Vietnam.

The event marked one of the most significant strategic moves by Vietnam Airlines in the Indian subcontinent in recent years, combining high-level diplomatic participation, trade partnership signings, and destination showcases under one roof.

Diplomatic Endorsement: Vietnam Embassy Lends Weight

The event received prominent diplomatic backing. H.E. Mr. Trần Thanh Tùng, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and Mr. Bui Trung Thuong, Trade Counsellor and Head of Trade Office at the Vietnam Embassy in India, both delivered keynote addresses.

Their presence underscored that India–Vietnam air connectivity is not merely a commercial question but a diplomatic priority. Both speakers highlighted the accelerating pace of bilateral trade and tourism ties, positioning aviation as the connective tissue that will sustain this growth. Enhanced flight routes, they noted, reduce friction for business delegations, student exchanges, and leisure tourism — all critical pillars in the two nations' deepening relationship.

Event Structure: From Networking to MoU Signings

The day unfolded in carefully curated segments designed to build both industry knowledge and personal connections.

Opening Networking Session: Trade partners, travel associations, and airline representatives came together for structured networking, seeding the day with collaborative energy.

Leadership Session: Senior addresses were delivered by representatives from the Embassy of Vietnam, Aeroprime Group, and Mr. Shravan Bhalla, President of the Overseas Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI). The session framed the evolving opportunity in India–Vietnam travel and set the strategic tone for discussions throughout the day.

Destination & Product Showcases: Vietnam Airlines and its strategic partners — EnViet DMC, Avisari Holidays, Yutrp, and KAO Tours — each presented distinct facets of Vietnam as a travel destination: its cultural heritage, natural landscapes, culinary traditions, and tourism infrastructure. These sessions were designed to equip Indian travel professionals with the knowledge and enthusiasm to actively recommend Vietnam to their clients.

MoU Signing Ceremony: Two significant Memoranda of Understanding were formalised during the event.

Partner	Type	Significance
La Travenues (Ixigo)	Travel technology platform	Enhances digital distribution and booking reach across India
BelAir	Travel & tourism company	Strengthens ground-level trade collaboration for India-Vietnam tourism

These partnerships reflect Vietnam Airlines' intent to pursue multi-channel growth in India — combining technology-driven reach through Ixigo with traditional trade relationships through BelAir.

Guest Engagement Activities: Lucky draw and spin-the-wheel contests brought a welcome element of interaction, reinforcing the event's atmosphere of partnership rather than pure business.

Open Networking Lunch: The formal sessions gave way to an informal lunch, allowing media, trade professionals, and airline executives to continue conversations in a relaxed setting — often where the most substantive partnerships are quietly forged.

Vietnam's Growing Appeal for Indian Travelers

Vietnam's tourism proposition for Indian travelers has strengthened considerably in recent years. The country offers a compelling mix of accessibility, affordability, and diversity rarely matched elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

Key draws for Indian tourists visiting Vietnam:

• Ha Long Bay — UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Asia's most iconic seascapes
• Hội An Ancient Town — A remarkably preserved trading port with lantern-lit streets and tailor shops
• Ho Chi Minh City — A pulsating metropolis blending French colonial architecture with Vietnamese street culture
• Hanoi Old Quarter — The historic capital's labyrinthine lanes and rich café culture
• Sapa & the Northern Highlands — Terraced rice fields and trekking trails through hill-tribe communities
• Phú Quốc Island — Pristine beaches and resort infrastructure rivalling Thailand's best

Vietnam's culinary scene — pho, banh mi, fresh spring rolls, and regional specialties — has also developed a passionate following among Indian food travelers, adding another dimension to the country's appeal.

India–Vietnam Aviation Outlook

India and Vietnam share growing people-to-people ties, with Indian tourist arrivals in Vietnam rising year-on-year. Enhanced direct routes reduce layover times and ticket costs, making Vietnam a more compelling competitor against more established Indian outbound destinations like Thailand, Singapore, and the Maldives.

Vietnam Airlines' expansion focus on India aligns with a broader trend: Southeast Asian carriers are increasingly targeting India's aspirational middle class — now among the world's fastest-growing outbound travel markets — as a primary growth lever for the next decade.

The MoU with Ixigo, which commands significant market share among India's value-conscious digital booking segment, is particularly noteworthy. A distribution deal with a platform of Ixigo's scale could meaningfully accelerate Vietnam Airlines' booking volumes across Tier 1 and Tier 2 Indian cities.

What This Means for Indian Travel Professionals

For Indian travel agents, tour operators, and OTAs, the Sales Kick Off signalled clear intent: Vietnam Airlines is investing in India for the long term.

• OTOAI's involvement creates a formal channel for trade education and familiarisation trips
• DMC and inbound partner showcases give agents ready-made itinerary frameworks for Vietnam packages
• MoU partnerships with technology platforms will likely translate into promotional fares and cooperative marketing campaigns

Agents looking to diversify their Southeast Asia offerings beyond Bangkok and Bali will find Vietnam — and Vietnam Airlines — an increasingly compelling proposition.

Looking Ahead

With the Sales Kick Off 2026 now concluded, Vietnam Airlines and Aeroprime Group have laid the groundwork for a sustained year of activity in the Indian market. The event's outcomes — new trade relationships, formalised MoUs, and a galvanised partner network — position the airline well to capture India's summer 2026 travel demand and beyond.

As both nations deepen their economic and cultural ties, aviation will remain the most direct expression of that relationship. Vietnam Airlines' commitment to India, demonstrated clearly at this New Delhi event, ensures it will be at the centre of that story.

Source: Vietnam Airlines / Aeroprime Group