Vietnamese carriers have signed agreements worth around $30 billion to acquire 90 Boeing aircraft, signalling a significant expansion of the country’s long-haul and regional travel capacity amid ongoing trade negotiations with the United States.
Three airlines formalised the deals during a visit to Washington by Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam. National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines agreed to purchase 50 narrow-body 737-8 jets in an $8.1 billion contract. The airline said deliveries are scheduled between 2030 and 2032, lifting its total fleet to approximately 151 aircraft by 2030. It is also in discussions with Boeing over a potential additional order of 30 wide-body aircraft valued at up to $12 billion.
New entrant Sun PhuQuoc Airways signed a $22.5 billion agreement for 40 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jets. The wide-body aircraft are typically deployed on long-haul international routes, suggesting an ambition to position the carrier within the competitive intercontinental market. Meanwhile, budget airline Vietjet secured a $965 million financing arrangement with Griffin Global Asset Management to support the acquisition of six 737-8 aircraft.
The transactions come as Hanoi and Washington continue discussions over a new trade arrangement. Earlier this month, Vietnam signalled willingness to increase purchases of American goods after the White House announced it would maintain 20 per cent tariffs on most Vietnamese exports while lifting duties on certain products.
For Vietnam’s aviation sector, the scale of the Boeing commitments points to sustained confidence in outbound and inbound travel demand over the coming decade. Delivery timelines extending into the early 2030s reflect long-term fleet planning rather than short-term capacity adjustments, positioning Vietnamese carriers to compete more directly on regional and intercontinental routes as trade ties with the United States evolve.
