On June 15, 2026, the Government of Vietnam issued Decree No. 208/2026/ND-CP on air transport. The document takes effect on July 1 and details a number of provisions of civil aviation law, specifically the obligations of carriers to passengers, the procedure for informing about delays, the rules for ground assistance, and the approach to ticket refunds. The news is important not only for Vietnam's domestic market: the country is actively increasing international tourist flow, developing air connections with Europe and Asia, and entering the summer season with high demand for flights to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc.

For tourists, the new norms are practical primarily because they move a typical airport situation from a "wait for further announcements" mode to a more predictable sequence of actions. If a flight is delayed, the airline must not only notify the reason and update the departure time, but also provide basic assistance depending on the duration of the wait. This is especially relevant for travelers flying with layovers, having separate hotel bookings or planning transfers after arrival.

What Exactly Does Decree 208 Change

The key innovation lies in the formalization of delay thresholds. Under the new rules, a flight is considered delayed if the actual departure time is more than 15 minutes later than scheduled. A long delay is considered a wait of four hours or more. It is after this threshold that the most important rights for the passenger appear: a refund of the full ticket price or the unused portion of the route, if the passenger does not agree to the proposed rebooking, as well as advance non-refundable compensation for passengers with a confirmed booking and a valid ticket.

At the same time, it is important not to exaggerate the changes. The right to a refund and advance compensation for a delay applies in cases where the delay is caused by the fault of the carrier. If a flight is stopped due to weather, security restrictions, decisions of government authorities, closure of airspace, or other circumstances beyond the airline's control, the set of obligations may be different. Additionally, the exact amounts of advance compensation and procedural details are to be further defined by the Ministry of Construction of Vietnam, which is now responsible for part of the transport regulation.

Passenger Assistance Depends on the Duration of the Wait

The new rules introduce a step-by-step logic. If an airline expects a delay, it must promptly notify passengers, apologize, and explain the reason. The updated predicted departure time must be transmitted to the airport operator and terminal services so that the information on the boards is updated at least every 30 minutes. For passengers, this is important because the official board becomes not just a reference screen, but part of the regulatory process of informing.

If the delay is two hours or more, the carrier must provide drinking water or a voucher of equivalent value. Also, if the delay occurred due to the carrier's fault, the airline must, upon the passenger's request, offer rebooking or a change of route to the final destination without penalties, route change restrictions, and additional fees associated with such a replacement. For tourists with self-arranged itineraries, this can be critical: a delay of a domestic flight from Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh City or from Da Nang to Hanoi can disrupt an international connection, a night at a hotel or a paid tour.

After three hours of waiting, the airline must provide food or a voucher of equivalent value. After four hours, the right to a refund is added, if the passenger does not accept the proposed options for continuing the journey, and the obligation of advance compensation in cases of carrier fault. After six hours of waiting, the rules provide for accommodation or rest taking into account the time of day: during the day, the carrier must organize appropriate rest conditions within the airport's capabilities, and at night - a place for sleep or rest or another solution agreed upon with the passenger.

What Happens During a Delay on Board

Decree 208 separately describes the situation where the aircraft doors are already closed, passengers are on board, but the aircraft does not take off. Such a delay is recorded if the time from the closing of the doors to the actual takeoff is 30 minutes or more. In this case, the carrier must provide water, ensure ventilation and temperature control in the cabin, maintain the sanitary needs of passengers and provide medical assistance if needed.

The most practical point for passengers: if the delay on board exceeds three hours and the departure time remains undefined, the airline must allow passengers to leave the aircraft. Exceptions are possible if disembarkation creates risks to safety or aviation security. For travelers, this is an important change, as long waiting in the cabin without a clear departure time often becomes one of the most stressful parts of air travel, especially for families with children, elderly passengers, and people with medical needs.

Flight Cancellation and Schedule Change

p>The new rules apply not only to delays. If a flight is cancelled or a passenger is denied boarding, the airline must quickly notify them, apologize, and state the reason. In cases where the problem occurred due to the carrier's fault, the passenger must be offered a choice: a change of route to the final destination, transfer to another flight without penalties and additional fees, a full refund, or a refund of the unused portion of the ticket. If the passenger refuses the proposed options, the carrier may fulfill other obligations by agreement with them.

Limits have also been set for schedule changes. If an airline changes the departure time by five hours or more from the time specified in the ticket, it must not only notify the passenger, but also offer a refund or an alternative route, a change of date or another flight within a defined period. If the change is smaller - for example, the flight departs no more than four hours earlier or no more than 15 minutes later than the base schedule - the airline's own rules apply.

Why This Is Important for Tourism in Vietnam

Vietnam is currently one of the most dynamic tourism markets in Asia. After the pandemic, the country is recovering international flows, opening new long-haul routes and actively promoting resort destinations. For a tourist, a flight in Vietnam often does not end with one flight: travelers fly into Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, transfer through Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, continue their journey to Da Nang, Nha Trang, or Phu Quoc. In such itineraries, even a few hours of delay can affect the entire trip.

Clearer rules of assistance should increase trust in air travel within the country. Tourists will better understand when they have the right to water, food, rebooking, hotel, or refund. Airlines, for their part, receive a clearer standard of operation during operational disruptions. For the market, this is not a guarantee against the absence of delays, but an important step toward a more transparent service practice, especially in peak periods when airports operate under high load.

What Passengers Should Do Before the Trip

The new rules do not eliminate the need for careful planning. If you are flying through Vietnam after July 1, it is worth keeping tickets, boarding passes, airline notifications, screenshots of the updated schedule, and receipts for forced expenses. In case of a delay, check the official channels of the carrier and the airport board: for Hanoi, you can use the Noi Bai online board, for Ho Chi Minh City - the Tan Son Nhat online board, and for resort routes - the boards of Da Nang, Phu Quoc, or Cam Ranh.

If a delay can affect overnight stays or transfers, it is better not to wait until the last minute. For late arrivals in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, check transfer options from Noi Bai Airport or taxis from Tan Son Nhat Airport in advance. If the flight is shifted to the night or there is a risk of missing a connection, it is useful to have a booking with flexible cancellation or a list of hotels near the corresponding airport, for example, near Hanoi Airport or Ho Chi Minh City Airport.

What Not to Expect Automatically

The main nuance of the new rules - they do not turn every delay into an automatic cash payment. Some rights, specifically refunds and advance compensation after four hours, are directly linked to the carrier's fault. If the reason is beyond their control, the passenger may receive information and basic service assistance, but not necessarily compensation in the same volume. Also, the passenger must be present at the airport and have a valid ticket and confirmed seat to take advantage of the norms regarding food, water, and accommodation.

Separate sub-legislative clarifications regarding the amount of advance non-refundable compensation and the procedures for its payment are expected. Therefore, before traveling after July 1, it is worth checking the updated rules of a specific airline, the fare conditions, the applicability of the norms to international or flights, and travel insurance. For complex itineraries with several separate tickets, it is better to leave a larger time buffer between flights, as compensation for one segment may not always cover losses for a separately purchased subsequent ticket.

Conclusion

Vietnam's new rules make air passenger rights clearer in those situations that most often ruin a trip: a delay of several hours, waiting on board, on-flight cancellation, or a sudden schedule change. For tourists, this is not a magic protection against all disruptions, but a useful tool: it is now easier to understand when to demand water, food, rebooking, refund, overnight stay, or compensation.

For Vietnam, this is also a signal to the market: the country is not only increasing air connections and tourist demand, but also improving passenger service standards. If the rules are consistently implemented, they can make travel through Vietnamese airports more predictable in the peak season and reduce risks for travelers who plan complex itineraries across the country.