First direct air route between Viet Nam, Philippines launched

The inaugural flight, VN648, departed from Ho Chi Minh City at 12:50 am on June 17 and landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at 4:20 am the same day.

The national carrier will operate seven flights per week between the two Southeast Asian countries, four on the HCM City-Manila route and the remainder on the Ha Noi-Manila one.

The Viet Nam Airlines’ launch of direct flights is a sign of a growing strategic partnership between the two nations, with many opportunities for both to increase tourism and trade.

Bilateral cooperation in tourism has been positively recovered after being affected by the pandemic.

In the first nine months of 2023, Viet Nam welcomed nearly 130,000 Filipino visitors, while the Philippines greeted around 52,000 Vietnamese tourists, equivalent to the figure of 2019./.