Vietjet chairwoman Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao opened trading at the London Stock Exchange in a ceremony marking growing financial ties between Vietnam and the United Kingdom, as the airline continues to expand its flight network into Australia.
Thao, who is also permanent vice chairwoman of HDBank, took part in the opening ceremony yesterday, 22 July, alongside City of London lady mayor Sue Langley and London Stock Exchange plc chief executive officer Julia Hoggett. Following the ceremony, London’s FTSE 100 Index closed 1.24 per cent higher, its highest level in four months.
Hoggett said Thao had played a significant role connecting Vietnam’s economy to international markets.
“Through her leadership in banking, aviation, technology and investment, she has helped shape an important chapter in Vietnam’s remarkable growth story while strengthening international investor confidence,” Hoggett said.
During the visit, Vietjet, HDBank and investment firm Dragon Capital signed a trilateral agreement to expand cooperation on mobilising international capital for infrastructure development in Vietnam. Dragon Capital chairman Dominic Scriven said the agreement reflected growing interest from Vietnamese companies in London’s financial markets.
The visit was Thao’s second engagement with the London Stock Exchange within the past year.
Vietjet began direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Brisbane on 4 June, 2026, making Brisbane the third Australian city on its network after Melbourne and Sydney. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese and Vietnamese prime minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the launch ceremony. The Brisbane route operates two return flights a week.
The airline has also applied for regulatory approval to launch a domestic Australian carrier, reportedly targeting routes between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane with a fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, according to Simple Flying. The airline is still working through the process of obtaining an Air Operator’s Certificate, and has not yet received approval to operate domestic services.
Separately, Vietjet released 12 million promotional tickets in June, including fares for Australian travellers, as part of a wider international expansion that includes new routes to Prague and Almaty.
