Vietnam Storm Recovery, Rolling Knock Ons After Closures

Published on Nov 8, 2025, 1:31 pm CST

5 min read

Key points

Six airports paused operations November 6 to 7 with timed closures ordered by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam
Vietnam Airlines adjusted more than 50 flights on November 6 and 7, with VietJet and Bamboo also making route changes
Rail disruptions on the North-South line add pressure to air rebooking, so coaches may be used on segments

Impact

Expect Rolling Delays: Residual delays, swaps, and occasional diversions continue through the weekend as aircraft and crews reposition
Airline Moves: Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, and others are retiming or consolidating services on central routes including Quy Nhon, Tuy Hoa, Chu Lai, Da Lat, and Pleiku
Surface Options: Rail suspensions between central provinces mean some journeys shift to coaches, so pad connections and verify end to end routing
When It Eases: Most airport functions resumed early November 7, with schedules normalizing as rotations catch up over the next one to three days

Typhoon Kalmaegi forced time boxed airport closures across central Vietnam from the afternoon of November 6 into the early hours of November 7. With runways back open, carriers are now unwinding disrupted rotations, which means travelers headed to Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Da Lat, Tuy Hoa, Chu Lai, Pleiku, and nearby gateways should plan for rolling delays, reaccommodation, and occasional diversions through the weekend. Allow extra time at the airport, keep your mobile number current in the booking, and recheck status the morning of departure. If you are connecting to or from rail, confirm that segment separately.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam ordered temporary suspensions at six airports as Kalmaegi approached landfall on November 6. Government News listed the closure windows as Phu Cat from 200 p.m. to 100 a.m., Tuy Hoa from 300 p.m. to 800 p.m., Chu Lai from 700 p.m. to 300 a.m., Pleiku from 800 p.m. to 400 a.m., Buon Ma Thuot from 700 p.m. to 400 a.m., and Lien Khuong from 7:00 p.m. to midnight, all local time. These targeted pauses aligned with peak wind and rain bands as the system moved inland, then weakened overnight. VnExpress reported the same six airports suspending operations and highlighted broader schedule adjustments as carriers moved to protect crews and aircraft during the storm window. Most facilities resumed by early November 7 with inspections cleared and lighting, power, and field conditions stabilized.

Airline programs shifted quickly ahead of the closures. Vietnam Airlines announced more than 50 cancellations and retimings on November 6 and 7, including several Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Cat and Chu Lai flights brought forward before the strongest gusts, and others pushed into recovery banks once the weather cleared. VietJet issued targeted notices for Da Lat, Tuy Hoa, Quy Nhon, and Chu Lai, while Bamboo flagged that cancels, delays, and reroutes would be used as needed per authority guidance. Expect equipment swaps between Airbus narrowbodies and mixed cabin layouts as fleets re balance.

On the ground, rail and road constraints can extend your total journey time. Flooding and washouts in central provinces have interrupted sections of the North-South railway, with Vietnam Railways suspending several trains and shifting affected passengers to coaches while repairs proceed. This reduces slack in the ground network on the same corridors served by Tuy Hoa, Phu Cat, Chu Lai, and adjacent airports. If your plan relies on a rail segment, verify operating status, be ready for a coach bridge, and pad connections in Da Nang or Nha Trang.

Latest developments

Authorities and first reports on Friday and Saturday detailed damage to power and transport infrastructure, especially in Gia Lai and neighboring provinces, while noting that aviation closures were temporary and lifted by early Friday. With airfields open, the operational pinch now is fleet positioning. Airlines will spend several banks reuniting aircraft and crews with their intended lines of flying, then re opening thinner spokes once core trunk routes are stable. Travelers booked on Saturday evening and Sunday morning departures should still expect some knock ons, particularly on spoke to spoke itineraries without same day alternates.

Analysis

What matters now is how quickly rotations catch up. Central airports depend on through aircraft from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. When six stations pause even for a few hours, you get aircraft and crews in the wrong places, which cascades into the next day's first waves. Carriers minimize further disruption by combining lightly booked flights, retiming to larger banks for more connection options, and issuing same day reaccommodation. If your booking shows a long layover or a different flight number than your original, that is normal during recovery.

Background, how timed closures work. Vietnam's aviation authority issues airport specific stop windows when wind thresholds, crosswind components, or visibility limits are expected to be exceeded. Airlines may also choose to leave stations early ahead of a forecast peak to avoid crew duty time traps. Once winds ease and field checks pass, the airport re opens, but it still takes one to three banks to rebuild a predictable pattern because aircraft must be ferried or swapped back to their planned lines.

Practical moves. For Da Nang, consider shifting to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City on an earlier departure, then connecting onward once the spoke resumes. For Quy Nhon, Tuy Hoa, Chu Lai, Pleiku, or Da Lat, look at nearby alternates on the coast if your ticket allows changes, for example, Da Nang in place of Chu Lai, or Nha Trang in place of Tuy Hoa. If rail is part of your trip, assume interim coach bridges on damaged segments and confirm your seat assignment end to end. Keep boarding passes and receipts for any self arranged ground transport, then file for a refund or travel credit per your fare rules once operations normalize.

Final thoughts

Airport closures for Kalmaegi were measured and short, which limited damage to the schedule. The recovery phase brings uneven waits as airlines restore rotations. Treat Saturday and Sunday as buffer days if you are headed to or through central Vietnam, and use earlier departures where possible. Vietnam storm recovery, rolling knock ons, and patient rebooking are the watchwords through the weekend.