Canada has approved direct flights to Vietnam, with a possible non-stop route connecting Vancouver to Ho Chi Minh City as early as 2027, according to a report by Daily Hive.

For air cargo shippers and forwarders, the development matters chiefly for belly capacity. A direct Vancouver–Ho Chi Minh City service would shorten routings for freight currently moving between Canada and Vietnam — one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing manufacturing and export hubs — by eliminating connections through gateways such as Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong or Doha.

The approval clears the regulatory path for the service, which Daily Hive reports could launch in 2027. No carrier has been named in the report, and the exact start date and frequency remain contingent on airline decisions.

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) stands as the natural Canadian endpoint. It is the country's principal Asia-Pacific gateway, and a direct link to Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City would deepen its reach into a market that has grown steadily as manufacturers diversify production beyond China.

For carriers, the route would open a new revenue stream in a market where traffic between the two countries has traditionally been routed indirectly. For forwarders, direct flights typically mean shorter transit times, more predictable schedules and additional lower-deck capacity on a lane that has relied on connecting carriage through third-country hubs.

Vietnam's role in trans-Pacific supply chains — spanning apparel, electronics, footwear and consumer goods — has expanded significantly in recent years, and Canadian importers have followed that shift. A direct service would align air network architecture with where the cargo actually originates.

Much remains undecided. The report frames the 2027 date as possible rather than confirmed, and aircraft allocation, frequency and cargo capacity will depend on whichever operator steps forward. Still, the regulatory approval itself marks a concrete step: within roughly three years, shippers on the Canada–Vietnam lane may have a non-stop option where none exists today.