Saigon–Chiang Mai resumes: choose the direct link carefully
Vietjet resumed Saigon–Chiang Mai on 26 October 2026. Compare direct travel with a Bangkok connection and plan the Vietnam leg around real dates.
Cat Ba Connect3 min read
The short answer
Vietjet announced the resumption of nonstop Ho Chi Minh City–Chiang Mai flights on 26 October 2026, with four weekly return services in the published schedule. The practical benefit is avoiding a Bangkok connection when the operating days fit your trip. It is a resumed route, not a first-ever link. Compare the complete fare, baggage and your Saigon plans before changing an already confirmed itinerary simply because the service has returned.
What changed on 26 October
The official release calls the service a resumption and describes nonstop flying between Ho Chi Minh City and Chiang Mai. That is more precise than a broad claim that northern Thailand has become newly reachable from Vietnam. Its four weekly return services describe the schedule published at resumption. For a particular holiday, verify both outbound and return dates together; one convenient departure does not guarantee that the return fits your booked nights in Vietnam.
Compare against the entire Bangkok journey
When comparing a connection, include the waiting time and any airport change in Bangkok rather than looking only at the first flight’s duration. A direct departure may simplify the day, while a connection might offer dates that better match your trip. Write down which airports each alternative uses. The useful comparison is the journey from your Saigon accommodation to the final destination, with the actual baggage and check-in requirements included.
Read the operating-carrier line
Do not transfer the rules of a familiar airline to every ticket bearing its branding. Vietjet’s codeshare guide distinguishes the seller’s flight number from the carrier operating the aircraft and providing airport services. If a comparison includes a partner-operated sector, establish where to check in and which cabin-baggage rule applies. Use the allowance printed for the itinerary when checking checked baggage rather than selecting the most generous rule from either airline’s website.
Keep the Saigon visit workable
A regional flight is easier to fit around a city stay when its airport journey has its own time allowance. Avoid placing a timed museum visit immediately before departure simply because the flying time sounds short. Finish the activity, retrieve stored luggage and reach the correct terminal before the carrier’s check-in deadline. This is editorial trip-planning guidance; the route announcement itself provides no guarantee about urban traffic or the time needed at the airport.
Change an existing booking cautiously
If you already hold a Bangkok itinerary, compare its change or refund terms before replacing it. Check whether prepaid baggage, seats and accommodation are tied to the original flights. A route returning to the network creates an option, but does not cancel those purchases or make their conditions disappear. Decide using the combined cost and practical result for your dates, then update everyone relying on the former arrival, including your hotel or transfer provider.
Questions travellers ask
Is this a first launch?
The 26 October 2026 release describes a resumption.
Should I cancel a Bangkok ticket immediately?
Compare the original ticket terms and the complete replacement journey first.
