Photo: Shutterstock At the start of the week, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced it would strengthen its presence in the European market, simplifying the way travelers from Poland and Central Europe can reach the country via a new LOT Polish Airlines direct flight connecting Warsaw to Bangkok.
Photo: TAT
Today, May 28, 2026, TAT announced it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Vietnam Airlines. The announcement comes at an important time, during the official visit to Thailand of General To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, taking place between May 27 and May 29. The visit marks 50 years of diplomatic ties between Thailand and Vietnam.
The MOU was inked by TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool and Vietnam Airlines' President and CEO, Le Hong Ha. The airline also signed separate MOUs with Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) as well as the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA).
Thailand. Photo: ShutterstockTAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool: “This MOU gives practical expression to the Thailand–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through tourism. For TAT, stronger air links are not only about flights, but about connecting market demand with routes, trade partners, and targeted promotion. By working with Vietnam Airlines, we aim to make travel between the two countries more seamless, build trade confidence, and reinforce Thailand as a preferred destination for Vietnamese travelers and a regional gateway within ASEAN.”
The MOU will allow Vietnam Airlines and TAT to "coordinate route development and additional flight frequencies", with emphasis on priority routes like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok, Da Nang to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City to Phuket, and Hanoi to Chiang Mai.
As an early outcome, Vietnam Airlines announced its new Ho Chi Minh City–Phuket service, scheduled to begin on July 2, 2026 with four weekly flights.
The partnership will also set a "working framework for joint marketing, international tourism fairs, buyer engagement, promotional content, tourism workshops, familiarisation trips, Mega FAM Trips, official visits, media and influencer activities, and market information exchange."
TAT keeps boosting Thailand's presence in Vietnam via different agreements with tour operators and travel platforms, among others, with special attention given to "travel packages, water-based tourism experiences, ASEAN-linked routes, sport tourism, and digital communication under the '5 Must Do in Thailand' concept."
TAT also relies on big sales platforms like Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival 2026 and Vietnam Travel Mart 2026 to sell packages and improve trade engagement, while introducing the country as a "diverse, accessible, and value-led destination for Vietnamese travelers."
Vietnam represents one of Thailand’s most important short-haul markets, with records mentioning close to 220,000 arrivals from Vietnam between January 1 and May 25 May, 2026, due to proximity, air access, and interest in flexible, value-for-money travel.
At the same time, TAT mentions Thailand’s shopping options, events, and lifestyle experiences, along with its appeal as a family-friendly spot keep encouraging repeat visits.