Sun PhuQuoc Airways will start daily nonstop flights between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International Airport on October 15, 2026, the airline announced alongside its official general sales agent for North and East China, Beijing Xianghe International Transportation Service, on September 17. The announcement was published by MaxMedia on September 18 and positions the route as the carrier first Vietnam to China service operated at a daily frequency of seven flights per week.
Travelers planning China to Vietnam trips gain a new daily booking option on one of the busiest business and leisure corridors between the two countries, with evening departures from Ho Chi Minh City and early morning returns from Shanghai that suit both short stays and multi city itineraries. Visitors heading to southern Vietnam can pair the new flight with where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City when choosing a base for the trip.
- New route: Shanghai Pudong to Ho Chi Minh City, daily nonstop from October 15, 2026, per Sun PhuQuoc Airways.
- Frequency: Seven flights per week, the airline first daily frequency on a Vietnam to China route.
- Flight numbers: Schedule filings tracked by AeroRoutes list daily Airbus A321neo pairing 9G634 and 9G635 effective October 25.
- What follows: Shanghai to Hanoi starts in November 2026 and Shanghai to Phu Quoc starts in March 2027.
- Current trigger: September 17, 2026 route announcement at a Shanghai launch conference with Sun Group companies and local industry partners.
Shanghai Pudong to Tan Son Nhat Schedule Takes Shape
Sun PhuQuoc Airways held a route launch conference in Shanghai to mark the milestone, attended by companies within the Sun Group ecosystem plus aviation and tourism partners from China, according to the announcement. The event framed China as a core growth engine for the young carrier and the Shanghai to Ho Chi Minh City service as the opening step of its 2026 to 2027 network plan for the market.
Independent schedule data published by AeroRoutes on September 14 lists the Ho Chi Minh City to Shanghai Pudong pairing as a daily Airbus A321neo operation. The filing shows flight 9G634 departing Ho Chi Minh City at 9:45 p.m. and arriving Shanghai at 2:45 a.m. the next day, with return flight 9G635 leaving Shanghai at 4:15 a.m. and landing in Ho Chi Minh City at 7:40 a.m.
Readers should note the two dates describe different things. October 15 is the inaugural commercial flight date named by the airline, while October 25 is the effective date shown in the winter schedule filing tracked by AeroRoutes. Travelers should confirm the exact departure date and time for their booking before paying, since filings can shift as the season approaches.
Daily Frequency Changes the Booking Math
A daily pattern matters because the airline existing mainland China network runs only a few times per week. Before Shanghai, Sun PhuQuoc Airways served Chengdu to Phu Quoc Island three times weekly and Chengdu to Ho Chi Minh City four times weekly, so Shanghai becomes its first China route with a flight every day.
Daily service gives business travelers flexible midweek options and lets leisure travelers build open jaw trips, such as flying into Ho Chi Minh City and connecting onward to Hanoi or the island of Phu Quoc. Shoppers comparing carriers on this corridor can also weigh things to do in Shanghai around a late night arrival or an early morning departure.
The airline says Shanghai flights will use modern Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. It also plans to take delivery of wide body Airbus A330 aircraft starting in October 2026 as it grows toward a target fleet of 32 aircraft by the end of 2026 and 100 aircraft by 2030, according to ChinaTravelNews reporting on the expansion.
Shanghai Hanoi and Shanghai Phu Quoc Come Next
The route map keeps growing after October. Sun PhuQuoc Airways says it will launch Shanghai to Hanoi in November 2026 and Shanghai to Phu Quoc in March 2027, extending the daily Shanghai gateway to northern Vietnam and to its island home base.
Beyond Shanghai, the carrier is rolling out connections from Shenzhen to Phu Quoc and Hanoi, from Beijing to Phu Quoc and Ho Chi Minh City, and from Chongqing to Phu Quoc. The airline has expanded quickly across Asia since beginning commercial operations in November 2025, adding Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand to its network within its first ten months.
That pace follows the pattern of its earlier Southeast Asia growth, including daily Kuala Lumpur flights launched in September 2026. Each new daily route adds bookable seats rather than replacing an existing schedule, so travelers watching Vietnam fares gain more comparison points instead of a reshuffled timetable.
Fleet Growth and Full Service Positioning Support the Push
Sun PhuQuoc Airways describes itself as a full service airline and links the flight to a wider Sun Group tourism ecosystem. The announcement highlights the Sun Executive Lounge, a Cloud Dining menu developed with partner brands, AirFi wireless inflight entertainment and a signature cabin fragrance on board.
International passengers arriving in Phu Quoc receive ecosystem perks such as in hotel check in across Sun Group properties, complimentary cable car tickets and discounts of up to 30 percent across Sun Group entertainment and resort offerings. Those extras matter most for travelers combining a city stop with an island stay on one ticket.
Behind the airline sits Sun Group, one of Vietnam major tourism and resort conglomerates, whose businesses span theme parks, hotels, real estate, infrastructure, aviation, finance and health care. The group developed Van Don International Airport, invested in Phan Thiet Airport and operates Phu Quoc International Airport, which serves as the airline main base.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Plan to fly Shanghai to Ho Chi Minh City after October 15 | Compare the new daily nonstop against existing carriers for your exact dates before booking. |
| Need a morning arrival in Ho Chi Minh City | Check return flight 9G635, which filings show landing at 7:40 a.m. from Shanghai. |
| Want Hanoi or Phu Quoc instead | Wait for the November Shanghai Hanoi launch or the March 2027 Shanghai Phu Quoc launch. |
| Prefer an established schedule | Recheck times close to departure, since the inaugural date and the filed winter effective date differ. |
October 15, 2026 is the inaugural flight gate. Treat it as the earliest bookable date on the new daily service and verify your specific departure when fares appear.
November 2026 is the Hanoi gate. Travelers bound for northern Vietnam can hold for the Shanghai Hanoi launch if Ho Chi Minh City does not suit the plan.
March 2027 is the Phu Quoc gate. Island focused trips from Shanghai gain a direct option then, which can simplify a beach plus city combination.
When does the Sun PhuQuoc Airways Shanghai to Ho Chi Minh City route start?
The airline says the inaugural commercial flight takes off on October 15, 2026, with daily service at seven flights per week.
Which airports do the new flights use?
The service connects Shanghai Pudong International Airport with Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International Airport, per the September 17 announcement.
What aircraft fly the Shanghai route?
The airline says Shanghai flights use Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, while AeroRoutes schedule data lists the daily pairing as an Airbus A321neo.
What China routes come after Shanghai Ho Chi Minh City?
Shanghai to Hanoi follows in November 2026 and Shanghai to Phu Quoc follows in March 2027, with additional Shenzhen, Beijing and Chongqing routes also planned.
