HO CHI MINH – Malaysia is intensifying its efforts to strengthen tourism and aviation ties with Vietnam, with a high-level visit led by Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), Dato’ Seri Tiong King Sing aiming to unlock fresh potential in bilateral travel and tourism growth.
During a recent working trip to Vietnam, Minister Tiong led a delegation from MOTAC and Tourism Malaysia to engage with key players in the Vietnamese aviation industry, including VietJet Air and Bamboo Airways. The goal is to boost flight connectivity and pave the way for a stronger influx of Vietnamese tourists to Malaysian destinations and vice versa.
“Both countries stand to benefit greatly from increased air connectivity,” said Tiong, noting that the current number of flights is not reflective of the potential demand. At present, VietJet Air only operates two daily flights to Malaysia. In a meeting with Nguyen Thanh Son, Vice President of VietJet Air, Tiong proposed the deployment of Airbus A330 aircraft to increase passenger capacity and meet growing demand, particularly from the bustling cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh.
Meanwhile, Bamboo Airways, once operating a fleet of 30 aircraft before the pandemic hit, is looking to bounce back. CEO Luong Hoai Nam shared that the airline is actively rebuilding and expects to expand its fleet to 80 aircraft by year-end. The airline has also expressed a strong interest in resuming its Malaysian routes in the near future.
Tiong welcomed this optimism and extended an open invitation to Bamboo Airways to explore collaborative opportunities in Malaysia, especially as many local businesses are now back in motion with robust support from the government.
Strategic Tourism Collaboration Beyond the Skies
While flight frequency was high on the agenda, the delegation also zeroed in on broader tourism cooperation under the ASEAN framework. Tiong stressed the importance of tapping into niche tourism markets across Malaysian states such as Penang, Perak, Johor, Sabah, and Sarawak with special emphasis on experiential and cultural tourism.
In particular, initiatives like longhouse tourism in Sabah and Sarawak, along with promotional programs leading up to Visit Malaysia Year 2026, are expected to create deeper cultural links and new tourism pipelines.
“We want the Vietnamese people to feel and experience the soul of Malaysia; our diversity, our traditions, and the natural beauty of our destinations,” Tiong said passionately. To bring this vision to life, the ministry is arranging experiential visits for Vietnamese travel delegations, offering them firsthand experiences of Malaysia’s offerings.
A Future of Shared Tourism Prosperity
This mission underscores Malaysia’s renewed push to position itself as a leading destination in Southeast Asia. With Vietnam emerging as a crucial partner in this strategy, Malaysia hopes to inspire a new wave of cross-border cultural exchange and tourism-led growth.
As Tiong concluded, “Through stronger aviation partnerships, targeted promotions, and meaningful cultural exchange, we can build a lasting bridge between our peoples the one that fuels tourism, trade, and shared prosperity for years to come.” -MalayaDailyToday
