Founder’s public return signals a strategic reset for Vietnam’s resort and aviation ecosystem
After months of silence, Trinh Van Quyet, founder of FLC Group and Bamboo Airways, has resurfaced at a high-level meeting with the Korean Embassy in Vietnam—a move closely watched by investors tracking Vietnam’s tourism and aviation recovery. The reappearance is more than symbolic: it coincides with renewed outreach to South Korea, Vietnam’s largest foreign investor and a critical source market for international travel.
Held at the embassy’s headquarters, the meeting brought together Choi Youngsam and senior representatives from FLC and Bamboo Airways to discuss cooperation across tourism, real estate, aviation, and high-value services. The timing matters. Bilateral economic ties between Vietnam and South Korea continue to deepen, with Korean cumulative investment surpassing US$95 billion and Korean travelers ranking among Vietnam’s most important inbound segments.
Ambassador Choi described FLC as the first business delegation to meet the embassy in the new year, praising the group’s multi-sector model and its role in advancing the Vietnam–Korea strategic partnership. The embassy, he said, will continue to act as a bridge for Korean companies seeking opportunities in Vietnam—particularly in areas where synergies are strongest, from resort development and golf tourism to aviation and premium services.
For FLC, the Korean market is already core. At flagship destinations such as Ha Long, Quy Nhon, and Sam Son, Korean visitors account for more than half of annual international arrivals, with particularly strong growth among business travelers, golfers, and MICE groups. Over two decades, the group has assembled a nationwide tourism–golf–aviation ecosystem spanning more than 10,000 hectares of land, thousands of hotel rooms and villas, international-standard golf courses, and an airline that has ranked among Vietnam’s leaders in on-time performance.
Bamboo Airways identified South Korea early as a priority market. Since launching its first Vietnam–Korea route in 2019, the carrier has expanded regular services to Incheon from Da Nang, Cam Ranh, and Hanoi, complemented by charter programs that funnel Korean tourists directly into FLC resort hubs. Embassy officials highlighted the airline’s connective role in accelerating trade, tourism, and business exchange between the two economies.
Looking ahead, FLC plans to intensify promotion in South Korea, including an investment and tourism roadshow slated for April 2026—reviving a format that previously drew hundreds of Korean investors, travel firms, banks, and funds. Whether this momentum translates into sustained capital inflows and traffic growth will depend on execution, but Mr. Quyet’s public return suggests a deliberate attempt to reset narratives and re-engage global partners. For regional investors, the question now is whether Vietnam’s resort–aviation playbook, powered by Korean demand, is entering a new growth cycle—or merely testing the waters before a larger comeback.
