On the afternoon of December 10, with the majority of National Assembly deputies in favor, the National Assembly passed the Law on Civil Aviation of Vietnam. The law has 11 chapters and 107 articles, effective from July 1, 2026.
Presenting a report on receiving, explaining and revising the Law, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh said that the Law on Civil Aviation of Vietnam has added a regulation that the transportator must be responsible for the accuracy of the reasons for delay and cancellation announced and notified, and at the same time assigned the responsibility of the Vietnamese aviation authority to supervise the performance of the transportator's obligations.
Along with that, review and revise the draft to specify cases where passengers will receive a refund or the corresponding amount of unused tickets or services.
The law has specifically stipulated the obligations of transporters when transporting passengers. Accordingly, the transport operator must promptly notify passengers about the flight.
In case the passenger has been confirmed for a place on the flight but the transportation is delayed, canceled or refused without the passenger's fault, the transportator must promptly notify, apologize to the passenger, ensure food, accommodation, travel and bear the costs directly related to the waiting time at the airport.
In case the passenger has been confirmed a place on the flight but the transportation is delayed, canceled or refused transportation due to the airlier's fault, the passenger must arrange a suitable route or refund the unused ticket price as requested by the passenger without any related fees.
In case the airline or passenger has been confirmed a place on the flight but the flight is refused or the flight is canceled or the flight is delayed for a long time, the airline is responsible for paying an advance compensation not refunded to the passenger in cash or other documents of equivalent value.
In case compensation for damages under civil liability of the transporting person is required, this compensation will be deducted from the compensation under civil liability.
In the opposite direction, the law also specifically stipulates the rights of passengers. Accordingly, in case the passenger cannot be transported due to the fault of the transportator, the passenger has the right to request the transportator to arrange a suitable route or refund the unused ticket or service.
The transport authority shall notify the limit of the responsibility for compensation for damages of the transport authority in cases of passengers who have died, been injured, have their luggage damaged, lost and are slow to transport.
Receive the ticket fee or the corresponding amount of the unused ticket or service, after deducting costs and fines according to the conditions of the ticket or transportation contract.
Flight refusal; if on the journey, passengers have the right to refuse to continue flying at any airport or mandatory landing place and have the right to receive a refund or equivalent amount of unused tickets or services, after deducting expenses and fines according to the airline's regulations.
