The commonwealth of independent states (CIS) is an intergovernmental group of post-Soviet countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, many of which are part of a regional free trade area.
Tourism remains a key growth driver for Danang, sustaining double-digit expansion and playing a central role in socio-economic development. This year, the city is intensifying promotion campaigns and aims to attract nearly 20 million visitors.
The reopening of these routes is expected to diversify source markets and reinforce growth momentum. Operated in collaboration between airlines and travel firms, the services are set to support tourism expansion throughout 2026.
On April 13, flight VJ55 from Astana, Kazakhstan, landed at Danang International Airport with 370 passengers, including around 250 travel industry representatives from CIS countries. The Astana-Danang route will operate three weekly flights in April and May, increasing to six from June.
A flight from Vladivostok, Russia, carrying about 220 passengers, is scheduled to arrive on April 16, with frequency set to rise from two to three flights per month starting May.
In parallel, the city is hosting a famtrip from April 13 to 18, bringing together more than 250 travel firms from the CIS to explore local tourism offerings. Networking and business matching events on April 17 and 18 are expected to boost inbound travel.
Amid global market volatility, Russia and CIS countries are seen as high-potential markets, with visitors typically spending more and staying longer.
In the first quarter of 2026, Danang welcomed around 2.3 million international arrivals, including more than 100,000 from Russia and the CIS, accounting for 4.35 per cent. The city is targeting tourism growth of 30 to 40 per cent this year, with these markets identified as key drivers.
From April to October 2026, nearly 570 flights from Russia and CIS countries are expected to operate to Danang, carrying an estimated 120,000 passengers. The network will expand beyond Kazakhstan to include Uzbekistan, Belarus and Russian cities such as Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Novokuznetsk and Barnaul, with most flights operated on a charter basis.
In the first quarter alone, Danang recorded 4.2 million overnight visitors, up 15.3 per cent year on year, including 2.3 million international and more than 1.8 million domestic travellers. For 2026, the city aims to serve over 19 million accommodation guests and generate around VND 70 trillion (approximately USD 2.7 billion) in tourism-related revenue, including accommodation, catering and travel services.
