The signing ceremony took place in Mumbai on May 7 in the presence of General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm and senior leaders from both countries.

With bilateral trade having doubled over the past decade since the two countries elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and air connectivity expanding rapidly to nearly 90 weekly flights, the signing marks a significant step forward in infrastructure and aviation cooperation between Việt Nam and India, laying the groundwork for new commercial opportunities, particularly in the aviation and tourism sectors.

Elevating aviation infrastructure to world-class operational standards

Under the agreement, Sun Group and GMR Group will collaborate across Sun Group's airport ecosystem in Việt Nam, encompassing Phú Quốc, Vân Đồn, and Phan Thiết, as well as other upcoming airports, with a focus on operations, development, and investment, including non-aero commercial activities, duty-free retail, and more. The scope of cooperation remains open-ended, creating room for both parties to expand further into adjacent areas of aviation infrastructure over time.

Both sides will work together to advance aviation connectivity and airport services between the two countries, including exploring new flight routes connecting Phú Quốc to key airports in the GMR Group network, with the aim of boosting tourist flows and bilateral trade.

With more than 20 years of experience in aviation infrastructure, GMR Group currently manages and develops major airports across India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Greece, including Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi — one of the world's busiest. The combined annual passenger capacity of airports under GMR Group's development reaches approximately 190 million.

This partnership is expected to introduce world-class operational standards, raising service quality and efficiency across Sun Group's airports, progressively reinforcing their role as gateway hubs for Việt Nam's key tourist destinations, and strengthening the competitive position of Vietnamese aviation in the region.

With Sun Group having taken over operations at Phú Quốc International Airport and steering it towards a 'destination airport' model, and with the recent groundbreaking of Phan Thiết Airport's civil aviation component, the GMR Group partnership lays the foundation for a long-term collaboration in airport operations, development, and improving connectivity corridors between Việt Nam and India, spanning air transport, tourism, trade, and investment.

Connecting Phú Quốc to the world

India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing international source markets for Vietnamese tourism. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), the country welcomed approximately 750,000 Indian visitors in 2025, a nearly 50 per cent year-on-year increase and more than four times the 2019 figure, placing India among the six largest inbound markets. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, arrivals from India exceeded 242,000, up 169.3 per cent year-on-year.

Among Vietnamese destinations, Phú Quốc stands out for its particularly strong appeal to Indian travellers, with search volumes up 47 per cent. In 2025, the island welcomed over 150,000 Indian visitors, generating total tourism revenue of nearly VND 44 trillion (US$1.67 billion). Indian travellers, especially in the premium segment, are drawn to Phú Quốc's all-in-one appeal: an integrated resort and entertainment ecosystem, increasingly convenient air access, and a 30-day visa exemption for international visitors.

The strategic partnership between Sun Group and India's leading operator goes far beyond opening new flight routes and airport services cooperation. It lays the groundwork for deeper cultural, economic, and tourism ties between the two nations. In doing so, it helps create new avenues for Việt Nam broadly, and Phú Quốc in particular, to emerge as a compelling destination and a dynamic regional connectivity hub.

Also at the ceremony, Sun PhuQuoc Airways (SPA) officially appointed Minar Group — one of India's leading travel companies with more than 33 years of experience and a presence in 32 countries — as its General Sales Agent (GSA) in the Indian market.

As a strategic partner currently representing 11 international airlines, Minar Group will help SPA rapidly expand its distribution network and build a two-way passenger market, while also laying a solid foundation for the airline to launch nonstop flights connecting Phú Quốc with key Indian destinations within 2026.