Vietnam Airlines (VN) is one of Southeast Asia’s leading full-service airlines and serves as Vietnam’s national flag carrier. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network, connecting Vietnam with major destinations across Asia, Europe, and Australia. After several difficult years caused by the pandemic and financial pressure, Vietnam Airlines has entered 2026 with a stronger focus on profitability, network expansion and long-term growth.
Leading the airline is Le Hong Ha, who has served as President and CEO of Vietnam Airlines since January 2021. A long-serving executive within the company, he took charge during one of the most difficult periods in the airline’s history and has since overseen its financial recovery and rebuilding of international operations.
Unlike the CEOs of many large Western airlines, Le Hong Ha does not receive a huge stock-heavy compensation package. Vietnam Airlines operates under a state-linked remuneration framework, meaning executive pay is structured differently and remains far more modest than the multi-million-dollar packages seen at major publicly traded airline groups.
The latest reported figures show that Le Hong Ha received approximately VND 2.33 billion in remuneration during 2025. For 2026, his final full-year compensation has not yet been disclosed, but the latest figure provides the clearest benchmark for estimating his current earnings.
Who is Vietnam Airlines CEO Le Hong Ha?
Le Hong Ha has spent more than three decades working within Vietnam Airlines.
He joined the airline in 1994 and began his career in passenger marketing before progressing through several commercial and management positions. Over the years, he developed extensive experience in passenger operations, strategic planning and commercial management, eventually becoming one of the airline’s most senior executives.
Before becoming CEO, Ha held a number of important leadership roles within the Vietnam Airlines organisation. His long internal career meant that he already had a detailed understanding of the airline’s business, network and operational challenges before taking the top job.
He became President and CEO in January 2021, inheriting an airline dealing with the severe consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. International travel restrictions had devastated demand, while Vietnam Airlines faced major financial and operational challenges.
His leadership has since focused on rebuilding the airline’s network, improving financial performance, increasing operational efficiency and positioning Vietnam Airlines for its next stage of growth.
By 2026, the airline has moved beyond its immediate post-pandemic survival phase. Ha is now responsible for leading Vietnam Airlines through a period focused on expansion, fleet utilisation, digital transformation and improving its international competitiveness.
Vietnam Airlines CEO Salary and Compensation in 2026
Le Hong Ha’s exact final compensation for 2026 has not yet been publicly disclosed.
The latest completed-year figure shows that he received approximately VND 2.33 billion during 2025. This represented a substantial increase from the approximately VND 1.38 billion he received during 2024.
His latest reported remuneration therefore provides the most reliable benchmark for his 2026 earnings.
Based on the airline’s executive remuneration structure and the latest reported figure, Le Hong Ha’s estimated 2026 compensation is likely to be in the region of VND 2.0 billion to VND 2.4 billion per year, equivalent to approximately US$80,000 to US$95,000.
The estimated package can therefore be presented as:
- Estimated annual compensation: VND 2.0–2.4 billion
- Approximate monthly equivalent: VND 167–200 million
- Approximate US dollar equivalent: US$80,000–US$95,000
The exact figure will depend on Vietnam Airlines’ final financial and operational performance during 2026.
There is also no guarantee that Ha’s remuneration will increase from the 2025 level. Vietnam Airlines has faced renewed pressure from higher fuel costs and other operating challenges during 2026, making performance-linked remuneration an important factor.
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Peer Comparison
Le Hong Ha’s estimated VND 2.0–2.4 billion compensation is best compared with the leaders of other major Southeast Asian national carriers, particularly Thai Airways and Malaysia Airlines.
The comparison therefore highlights the difference between the three companies.
- Le Hong Ha’s estimated 2026 compensation: VND 2.0–2.4 billion (US$80,000–US$95,000)
- Thai Airways CEO Chai Eamsiri’s compensation: Higher than Vietnam Airlines’ CEO level, although no directly comparable confirmed individual 2026 total is publicly available.
- Malaysian Airlines Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar’s compensation: Estimated at a substantially higher level, reflecting his role as President and Group CEO of the wider Malaysia Aviation Group.
Le Hong Ha’s pay may look modest beside other regional airline leaders, but this largely reflects Vietnam Airlines’ state-linked executive remuneration structure. It should not be interpreted as a direct measure of the size or importance of his responsibilities.
ALSO READ: Thai Airways CEO Salary in 2026
Vietnam Airlines Strategic Focus for 2026
Vietnam Airlines enters 2026 with the challenge of maintaining its recovery while continuing to expand.
One of the airline’s main priorities is international growth. Vietnam Airlines has continued rebuilding and expanding its overseas network, with stronger connectivity across Asia, Europe and Australia remaining central to its long-term strategy.
Fleet utilisation is another major area of focus. Like many airlines around the world, Vietnam Airlines needs to maximise the availability of its aircraft while dealing with maintenance requirements and wider supply-chain challenges.
Improving productivity and controlling costs will be particularly important in 2026. Rising fuel prices can quickly affect airline profitability, and Ha’s management team needs to balance capacity growth with financial discipline.
Digital transformation also remains a major priority. Vietnam Airlines is investing in technology to improve the customer experience and operational efficiency. Digital services, biometric technology and improved passenger systems form part of the airline’s broader modernisation strategy.
The carrier is also working towards its ambition of achieving a five-star international airline standard before 2030. This will require continued investment in the passenger experience, premium services, cabins and overall service quality.
Long Thanh International Airport could create another major opportunity for Vietnam Airlines as Vietnam’s aviation infrastructure develops. The airline will need to determine how best to use new airport capacity to strengthen its international network and hub strategy.
For Le Hong Ha, the central challenge is ensuring that Vietnam Airlines grows without returning to the financial problems that affected the airline in previous years. Expansion, therefore, must be accompanied by stronger productivity, careful cost control and sustainable profitability.
Bottom Line
Le Hong Ha’s latest reported annual remuneration was approximately VND 2.33 billion in 2025.
His exact 2026 compensation has not yet been disclosed, but a reasonable estimate places his annual earnings at approximately VND 2.0–2.4 billion, equivalent to around US$80,000–US$95,000.
That figure is significantly lower than the multi-million-dollar packages received by many airline CEOs elsewhere in the world. It is also below the estimated compensation levels associated with some regional airline leaders, including the head of Malaysia Aviation Group.
However, Vietnam Airlines operates under a very different executive remuneration framework. Ha’s compensation is primarily based on salary and performance rather than massive stock awards.
The more important measure of his leadership in 2026 will be Vietnam Airlines’ ability to sustain its financial recovery. International expansion, fleet utilisation, digital transformation, service improvements and cost control will all determine the airline’s progress.
Having led Vietnam Airlines through one of the most difficult periods in its history, Le Hong Ha now faces a different challenge: turning the airline’s recovery into sustainable long-term growth.
FAQs
Le Hong Ha’s final 2026 compensation has not yet been disclosed. Based on his latest reported remuneration, his estimated annual compensation is approximately VND 2.0–2.4 billion (US$80,000–US$95,000).
Le Hong Ha received approximately VND 2.33 billion in remuneration during 2025, compared with approximately VND 1.38 billion in 2024.
Le Hong Ha’s estimated compensation is lower than the broader estimated executive compensation levels associated with the leaders of Thai Airways and Malaysia Airlines Group. However, direct comparisons are difficult because all three companies use different remuneration and disclosure structures.
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