Vietjet debuts at Clark — thrice-weekly CRK–Ho Chi Minh City from 10 November 2026

Vietjet is making its first appearance at Clark International Airport (CRK), with a new thrice-weekly service to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) starting 10 November 2026. For anyone based around Clark, Angeles, or further up through Central and Northern Luzon, that is a proper shortcut — Saigon without the Manila detour.

Vietnam is currently my favourite destination, so I am a bit more interested in this one than the average new-route press release. I have flown Vietjet before (both ways between Hong Kong and Phu Quoc — outbound and return), stayed at Shells Resort and Spa on Phu Quoc, and more recently spent time in Da Nang (48 hours and the 4 Points by Sheraton). Each visit has been better than the last, and a direct Clark link into SGN opens up both the city itself and Vietjet’s domestic network onwards to places like Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Hue.

The schedule (Tue / Thu / Sat)

VJ1871: CRK 17:05 → SGN 18:35
VJ1870: SGN 12:30 → CRK 16:05

Block time is roughly two and a half hours each way. The outbound leaves Clark in the late afternoon and gets you into Tan Son Nhat for the evening, which is workable if you are heading straight to a hotel. The return leaves Saigon at lunchtime and is back at Clark mid-afternoon — which, if you live nearby, is a lot less painful than fighting Metro Manila traffic after a MNL arrival.

The promo fare

To launch the route, Vietjet is pushing promotional Eco fares from US$75 one-way, taxes included, for travel through 31 March 2027, subject to blackout dates. Clark’s operator has said the special fares are offered every Friday, so that is the day to watch the booking engine rather than assuming the US$75 level sits there all week. Eco on Vietjet is still a low-cost product — seat selection, checked bags and most food/drinks are usually extras — so the all-in price depends on how much you add on.

Why this matters from Clark

Until now, getting from Central/Northern Luzon to Vietnam usually meant a trip into Manila first, or an awkward connection somewhere else. A direct CRK–SGN hop cuts that out. Ho Chi Minh City is also a useful hub if the final goal is not Saigon itself: once you are on Vietjet metal at SGN, their domestic network is thick enough that a short onward sector is often the easy bit.

A few practical notes if you book

Confirm the live schedule and fare rules on Vietjet’s site before you commit — launch routes can shift timings, and the US$75 level will not apply on every date. Watch the Friday promo window if you are chasing the launch fare. Budget for bags and seats the way you would on any LCC; my earlier Vietjet flights were fine on hard product and crew, with the main caveat being punctuality. If you are overnighting in Saigon and then continuing elsewhere in Vietnam, give yourself a sensible connection rather than stacking a tight domestic turn on day one. For hotel inspiration from my own trips, the Phu Quoc and Da Nang reviews linked above are still the ones I point people to — I have not done a proper Ho Chi Minh City hotel write-up yet.

Overall, a sensible Clark debut for Vietjet: three days a week, usable timings, a clear catch for anyone north of Metro Manila, and a promo fare that is worth checking on Fridays if Vietnam is already on your list. I will keep an eye on how the route settles after 10 November — and yes, there is a decent chance I end up on it myself.

Sources: Clark International Airport / LIPAD, Philippine News Agency.