Quick answer (checked 25 October 2026)
El Al has cancelled the nonstop Tel Aviv–Hanoi route it planned for October 2026. Arkia still flies Tel Aviv–Hanoi nonstop, about once a week, while its planned Tel Aviv–Ho Chi Minh City route has been dropped. In the Gulf, Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi airports are open, but airspace warnings mean some flights take longer routes and Saudi services are disrupted. Book flexible fares and check your flight with the airline before you travel.
Flights between the Middle East and Vietnam have changed more in 2026 than in any year we can remember. A new nonstop route from Israel opened, a second one was announced and then cancelled, and conflict in the region has disrupted Gulf airspace. This note sums up what we know as of 25 October 2026, with sources, so you can plan a trip for winter 2026–27. Schedules move quickly, so please treat it as a starting point and confirm with the airline.
From Israel: one nonstop route, no El Al
El Al: Tel Aviv–Hanoi cancelled
El Al had planned to open nonstop Tel Aviv–Hanoi flights in October 2026, three times a week on the Boeing 787. On 13 August 2026 the airline announced it would not operate the route, saying Israel’s security authorities had not approved flights with Israeli aircraft and crew to Hanoi. Passengers who had booked were offered a flight to Bangkok with a connection to Hanoi on a foreign airline, a change of destination on the same dates, or a refund or credit (Globes, 13 August 2026; Israel Hayom).
Arkia: Tel Aviv–Hanoi continues
Arkia launched the first nonstop flight between Israel and Vietnam on 5 January 2026 and has kept the Tel Aviv–Hanoi route going at roughly one flight a week, using wide-body aircraft and crews leased from foreign operators. Reports in May 2026 put the flight on Tuesdays (Viet Nam News), and an Airbus A340-300 from the German lessor USC was scheduled on the route from 9 to 31 October 2026 (aeroTELEGRAPH, 28 August 2026). The day and aircraft can change, so check Arkia’s current timetable.
Arkia: Tel Aviv–Ho Chi Minh City dropped
Arkia had filed a weekly Tel Aviv–Ho Chi Minh City service from 29 October 2026. That route has been removed from its winter 2026–27 schedule (AeroRoutes, 25 August 2026). Travellers heading to southern Vietnam can fly into Hanoi and continue on a short domestic flight, or connect via another Asian hub.
Other ways to fly from Israel
- Nonstop to Hanoi with Arkia, about once a week. It suits trips that start in the north (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa) and end in the south.
- Via Bangkok: El Al flies Tel Aviv–Bangkok, and many regional airlines fly on to Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Book both legs on one ticket where possible, so a delay on the first flight is the airline’s problem rather than yours.
- Via Gulf hubs: check carefully. On 23 October 2026 Gulf News reported that the Emirates–flydubai codeshare to and from Tel Aviv was suspended until further notice (Gulf News).
From the Gulf: hubs open, longer routes
Airspace in the region has been disrupted on and off since the conflict involving Iran escalated in 2026. As of 23–24 October 2026, Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Muscat airports were open. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency advises airlines against flying over Gulf waters except to arrive or depart, with bulletins running to 16 November, so many flights use longer southern or northern routings. Kuwait limits its airspace to arrivals and departures with prior approval, and Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah services have seen cancellations (IBTimes, 24 October 2026; Gulf News, 23 October 2026).
The reports we read describe Qatar Airways operating its global network from Doha apart from Riyadh and Dammam, and Emirates operating from Dubai with Saudi cancellations. Emirates and Qatar Airways have both flown to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, so for travellers living in the UAE or Qatar a one-stop or nonstop trip to Vietnam is still the normal option. Travellers from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait should allow for cancellations on the first leg and keep a spare day.
How we plan around this
- Flights first, then the ground plan. We fix your arrival city and date around the flight you can actually book, then build the itinerary from there. With the Arkia flight landing in Hanoi, a north-to-south route usually works best.
- Flexible first night. We keep the first night’s hotel and airport pick-up easy to move if a flight is retimed.
- Insurance that covers disruption. Choose a policy that covers missed connections and airspace closures, and read the exclusions.
- Re-check a week before departure. We confirm your flight times again before you travel and adjust transfers if needed.
If you are planning a private tour of Vietnam from Israel or the Gulf, see our Vietnam tours for Israeli travellers and Vietnam tours from the Middle East, or send us your dates and we will suggest the flight and route that fit.
Information checked on 25 October 2026 from the sources linked above. Airline schedules and airspace advisories change often; always confirm with your airline before booking and again before departure. Metta Voyage does not sell international flights.
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