Travel agencies said airlines operating major transit routes through the Middle East — including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines — were among the hardest hit during the disruption.
Several countries such as Iran, Iraq and Jordan, along with key aviation hubs including Doha and Dubai, imposed restrictions or temporarily suspended flights at times due to concerns over missile and drone threats.
As a result, hundreds of connecting flights from Vietnam to Europe via Dubai or Doha were delayed or canceled. Direct services between Vietnam and several major European cities, however, continued operating after adjusting flight paths to avoid high-risk airspace.
More than 3,000 flights have been canceled since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered sweeping airspace closures across the Middle East, according to Euro News.
The Vietnamese Embassy in the UAE said local authorities had committed to covering accommodation and meal expenses for passengers stranded due to conflict-related disruptions.
Around 20,200 travelers have been provided with temporary lodging, meals and assistance with rebooking while awaiting new flight arrangements.
Pham Anh Vu, Deputy General Director of Du Lich Viet Company, a tour agency, advised Vietnamese passengers transiting through the Middle East to prepare for possible schedule changes and extended layovers.
He noted that some Dubai-bound flights were temporarily suspended from Feb. 28 to March 2, with further adjustments depending on developments.
Many customers, despite holding valid tickets and visas, have expressed security concerns and sought to cancel or postpone their tours.
Travel firms said they are assisting clients in rescheduling trips to a more suitable time and working with airlines and partners to minimize costs arising from force majeure circumstances.
For some travelers, the disruption carries significant financial consequences.
Hieu said he remains “on pins and needles” as he is scheduled to attend a tourism fair in Germany on March 3 while currently stranded in Oman.
“The cost of setting up a booth at the fair runs into hundreds of millions of dong (VND100 million equals US$3,800). If we cannot attend, it would be a total loss,” he said, adding that if airspace reopens after March 3, he plans to return to Vietnam immediately.
In Dubai, An said meeting other stranded Vietnamese travelers provided reassurance, as they were able to exchange information and support one another.
He has decided to cancel his Spain trip and return home once the airline confirms a new schedule.
“Just getting home safely is enough,” An said.
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