Vietjet has opened bookings with special launch fares for its new Colombo–Ho Chi Minh City route, which is scheduled to commence operations on August 18.
The service will mark the first scheduled direct air connection between Sri Lanka and Vietnam, strengthening tourism, trade and cultural ties between the two countries while enhancing Sri Lanka’s connectivity to Southeast Asia.
To celebrate the launch, Vietjet is offering Eco fares starting from USD 90 one-way (all-inclusive). Passengers booking Deluxe and SkyBoss tickets will also receive a 20% discount on base fares, excluding taxes and fees. Tickets are now available through the airline’s official website, mobile app, authorised travel agents and ticket offices.
The Colombo–Ho Chi Minh City route will operate three round-trip flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. With a flight duration of approximately five hours, the service provides a direct and convenient link between Sri Lanka’s commercial capital and one of Vietnam’s key economic hubs.
Through Vietjet’s wider network, passengers travelling from Colombo will also gain seamless connections to major destinations across the Asia-Pacific region. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest city, offers a gateway to the country’s cultural heritage, growing economy and modern urban lifestyle.
The new route is also expected to boost inbound tourism to Sri Lanka, providing Vietnamese travellers improved access to the island’s beaches, cultural landmarks, wildlife attractions and tea country experiences.
SLT-MOBITEL Spotlights Tech Talent at Grand Finales of SLIoT Challenge and IESL RoboGames
SLT-MOBITEL recently spotlighted Sri Lanka’s emerging technology talent at the grand finales of the SLIoT Challenge 2026 and IESL RoboGames 2026, platforms widely recognised for showcasing innovation, engineering excellence and youth-driven digital solutions.
The events were held in collaboration with the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, as part of SLT-MOBITEL’s commitment to supporting the Government’s digitalisation agenda and nurturing future-ready talent across the country.
Curated to provide a dynamic stage for young innovators, the competitions featured extensive demonstrations of creativity and technical expertise, with participants engaging in high-energy, good-spirited contests that highlighted the growing depth of Sri Lanka’s STEM capabilities.
The SLIoT Challenge 2026 brought together school students, undergraduates and open-category innovators to present Internet of Things (IoT) solutions with real-world applications. Finalists showcased their projects across multiple exhibition zones, including GTN Lab, ICE Room, InsightHub, SLIoT Lab and Sysco LABS, underlining the event’s strong industry-academic collaboration.
In the School Category, Team Quarista from Royal College, Colombo 7 emerged victorious with a Smart Waste Management System. In the Undergraduate Category, Team Eluvis from the University of Moratuwa secured the top position with a Smart Shrimp Farm Monitoring System, while RoboticGen Labs won the Open Category with an Employee Transport Management System.
The RoboGames 2026 Grand Finale also drew strong participation across school, undergraduate and open categories, with the highlight being the BattleBots Challenge, which attracted robotics enthusiasts to the University of Moratuwa. An open BattleBot competition further engaged participants and spectators alike.
Winners included Elizabeth Moir School’s “Controlled Chaos” team in the School Category, FalconX from the University of Ruhuna in the Undergraduate Category, and Team Ascension in the Open Category.
SLT-MOBITEL also powered connectivity across both events, ensuring seamless, high-performance digital experiences for participants and organisers. The company said its involvement reflects its ongoing commitment to enabling innovation and reinforcing its role as a leading digital infrastructure provider in Sri Lanka.
Vietjet Opens Bookings for First-Ever Direct Flights Between Sri Lanka and Vietnam
