Hanoi, Aug. 24 -- Vietnam Airlines has officially launched a direct route between Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo, Sri Lanka, becoming the first Vietnamese carrier to operate direct flights to the South Asian island nation. The new route comes amid a sharp increase in passenger traffic between Vietnam and Sri Lanka, particularly during the first months of 2026. Vietnam Airlines will operate it three times a week, with flights departing Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, while return flights from Colombo to Ho Chi Minh City will operate on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Travel demand between the two countries continues to grow rapidly. In the first quarter of 2026, the passenger number surged by more than 136% year on y...