According to Transport Canada, the new agreement allows direct flights between Canada and Vietnam for the first time, opening up new opportunities for passengers, businesses and freight between the two markets.

What’s notable about the new agreement?

According to the Government of Canada’s announcement, each country may operate:

• Up to 14 passenger-combination flights per week
• Up to 7 all-cargo flights per week
• Fifth freedom rights for cargo flights, giving airlines more flexibility to connect Canada, Vietnam and third markets

This is a significant change for the Canada–Vietnam logistics market, especially as trade and air freight demand between the two countries keeps growing.

What does this mean for shippers?

As airlines launch more direct routes and new cargo capacity, shippers may have more choice of routings and schedules.

Better transit times

Fewer stopovers can make journeys simpler and reduce waiting time between legs.

More air cargo capacity

The expanded all-cargo rights create more potential capacity for commercial goods between Canada and Vietnam.

Better suited to time-sensitive goods

Especially for:

• E-commerce shipments
• High-value goods
• Components and spare parts
• Samples
• Shipments with tight deadlines

Easier supply chain planning

More shipping options give businesses more flexibility to balance:

• Transit time
• Freight cost
• Shipment volume
• Inventory planning
• Delivery deadlines

Note: Actual flight schedules, airports served, cargo capacity and rates will depend on each airline once specific services are launched.

Canada–Vietnam trade keeps growing

Vietnam is currently Canada’s largest trading partner in ASEAN.

In 2025, two-way merchandise trade reached about CAD 20.6 billion. Canada’s merchandise exports to Vietnam exceeded CAD 1.3 billion, a significant increase on the previous year.

Beyond trade, the large Vietnamese community in Canada also creates steady demand for:

• Freight shipping
• E-commerce
• Travel and family visits
• Education
• Personal shipments
• Commercial shipments

Expanded direct air connections can provide an even stronger foundation for logistics and trade between the two countries.

How can Soleil Transportation help?

For individuals, online shops and businesses shipping between Vietnam Canada, Soleil Transportation supports you from preparing the shipment to final delivery.

Our services include:

• Air shipping Vietnam Canada
• Guidance on documents and goods information
• Checking actual weight and dimensional weight
• Customs and declaration support
• Pickup and final-mile delivery
• Fulfillment in Canada
• Tracking and shipment coordination

As airlines launch direct routes, Soleil Transportation will keep monitoring schedules, capacity and routings to help customers choose the right shipping option.

A new connection. More opportunities.

Opening the way for direct Canada–Vietnam flights not only brings the two countries closer but also creates more opportunities for:

• Cross-border trade
• E-commerce
• Air cargo
• Supply chains
• Business expansion

Shipping from Vietnam to Canada, or from Canada to Vietnam?

Contact Soleil Transportation on +1 888-998-5199 or at info@soleiltransportation.com for advice on the best shipping option for your goods, timeline and budget.

Reliable. Trusted. Connected.

www.soleiltransportation.com

Source

Transport Canada, Government of Canada
The federal government announces the beginning of direct flights between Canada and Vietnam

1. Middle East hotspot: the Strait of Hormuz tightens

Rising tensions in the Middle East in Q1 2026 have put ocean shipping on red alert. The Strait of Hormuz, which carries almost 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), has become the centre of the instability.

• Broken routes: Major carriers (Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd) have officially cancelled plans to return to the Suez Canal. Sailing around the Cape of Good Hope is now the only option, adding 10–14 days to transit times.
• Rising costs: It is not just fuel. War risk insurance premiums have jumped from 25% to 50% in just three weeks.

2. Tariff pressure and shifting trade flows

New US tariffs on goods from major manufacturing markets are causing logistics flows to “migrate”.

Table: Impact of tariffs and environmental fees in 2026

Businesses rerouting goods through “transshipment hubs” such as Vietnam or Mexico to reduce tariffs are causing local congestion at deep-water ports and in bonded warehouses.

3. Green and digital logistics: from trend to requirement

In 2026, logistics companies no longer see AI or emissions reduction as optional extras.

• Digital twins: Large shippers now expect real-time visibility down to each individual container. Using AI to predict disruption risks and automatically trigger backup routes has cut losses from port congestion by 20%.
• Air cargo as a lifeline: With ocean freight exposed to geopolitical risk, demand for air freight for high-value goods (AI components, processors) in Southeast Asia has surged by 45%.

Soleil Transportation’s analysis

The 2026 logistics market is shifting from cost optimisation to resilience optimisation.

“We are living in an era where logistics cost is no longer a fixed number. It is a variable that depends on how fast technology adapts and how well geopolitical risk can be predicted.”

Short-term outlook:

1. Freight rates: Asia–US and Asia–Europe lanes will stay high because of fuel surcharges and carbon fees.
2. Infrastructure: Southeast Asian ports will keep attracting heavy investment to handle transshipment cargo that avoids tariffs.

Want an update on this month’s freight rate changes on key lanes to the US and the EU? Contact Soleil Transportation on +1 888-998-5199 or at info@soleiltransportation.com.