The national flag carrier is now operating two round-trip flights per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with plans to increase frequency to three flights weekly starting July 2026. The route is served by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, offering a flight time of approximately nine hours and maintaining the airline’s Skytrax 4-star service standards.
Le Hong Ha, CEO of Vietnam Airlines, described the resumption as a strategic step toward strengthening economic and cultural ties between Vietnam and Russia. “The direct route plays a vital role in facilitating bilateral trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchange,” he noted.
Russia remains one of Vietnam’s key tourism markets. In 2023, the country welcomed approximately 232,000 Russian visitors, an increase of nearly 85 percent compared to the previous year. The upward trend continued into 2024, with nearly 80,000 Russian tourists arriving in the first two months alone, a 204 percent year-on-year surge.
Tourism growth has been bolstered by Vietnam’s 45-day visa waiver for Russian citizens and simplified e-visa procedures for Vietnamese travelers visiting Russia.
Vietnam Airlines suspended its Hanoi–Moscow service in March 2022 to review operational protocols and address regulatory concerns related to aircraft insurance and flight operations in the Russian airspace.
