Direct Flights to Nagoya: Easier and More Convenient Travel

Vietnamese budget carrier Vietjet Air launched a new international route between Hanoi and Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport on April 28, 2026, establishing the first scheduled flight service linking Shizuoka, central Japan, with Southeast Asia.

The airline is operating three round trips per week on the route. According to reporting by The Mainichi, the service is intended to increase tourism to Vietnam, including visits to the UNESCO World Heritage site Ha Long Bay, while simultaneously drawing more inbound visitors to Japan.

Regional Connectivity and Tourism

The launch was marked by a commemorative ceremony at Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport in the city of Makinohara. Shizuoka Governor Yasutomo Suzuki expressed his satisfaction with the new connection, noting that the prefecture had long hoped to open a route to Southeast Asia.

I am delighted as we had long hoped to open a Southeast Asian route. We hope many people will visit this prefecture and enjoy Shizuoka’s nature, hot springs and cuisine.

Yasutomo Suzuki, Governor of Shizuoka

Ta Huu Thanh, vice president of Vietjet Air, stated that the new route would serve to shorten the geographical distance and strengthen ties between Japan and Vietnam.

The inaugural flight from Hanoi arrived at Shizuoka Airport at approximately 9:30 a.m. On April 28, carrying 105 passengers. The outbound flight returning to Hanoi carried 159 passengers.

Impact on Travelers

For passengers, the new direct service removes the need to transit through larger Japanese hubs. Le Thi Hau, a 27-year-old office worker from Fujieda, told The Mainichi that the direct flight provided a more convenient way to return home to Vietnam.

I had no choice but to go to Nagoya or Tokyo before, but now I can go back directly, which is convenient. The flight schedule is also good because it allows us to travel at relatively early hours.

Le Thi Hau, office worker

Other travelers indicated that Shizuoka serves as a strategic entry point for exploring the country. Trieu Quoc Manh, a 42-year-old tourist visiting with family, noted that the location offers easy access to other major regions, both east and west, as his group planned visits to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.

The addition of the Hanoi-Shizuoka service brings Vietjet’s total number of routes between Vietnam and Japan to 11, utilizing Airbus A320 aircraft for the operation.