The flights, which began on March 18, were conducted to strengthen relations between major cities in Southeast Asia, according to a Cebu Pacific spokesperson.

The deputy director of the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, La Quoc Khanh, said the Manila-Hanoi route and the upgrading of Manila-HCM City flights have helped increase trade as well as business and investment opportunities between Vietnam and the Philippines.

Together with aviation and tourism cooperation, Manila is also increasing the number of cultural and artistic exchanges with Vietnamese cities, with friendship concerts in Hanoi on March 19 and in HCM City on March 21.