The route will be expanded from three to four weekly services, with a new Sunday flight added to existing departures on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Flights are operated using Boeing 787 wide-body aircraft, with capacity adjustments to be made in line with market conditions.
Travel between Vietnam and Russia is rebounding strongly, with Russian arrivals reaching about 690,000 in 2025, nearly triple year on year. In the first two months of 2026, arrivals totalled around 246,000, also up threefold, while overall air traffic has exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
Nguyen Quang Trung, deputy chief executive of Vietnam Airlines, said the carrier would monitor demand and adjust operations while maintaining strict safety standards, adding that expanding international services, particularly in Europe, would strengthen global connectivity.
Vietnam Airlines currently operates 11 direct routes between Vietnam and Europe using Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft, and plans to launch a direct Hanoi-Amsterdam service on June 16 to expand its presence in Western Europe.
Vietnamese and Russian authorities are also working to finalise a new bilateral air services agreement to provide a more favourable legal framework for airlines. Vietnam has asked Russia to facilitate operations and transit for its carriers to enhance connectivity and efficiency.
In 2025, airlines from both countries operated more than 3,100 flights, carrying over 800,000 passengers and more than 3,000 tonnes of cargo, highlighting strong growth potential.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, Vietnam’s aviation market handled 24.19 million passengers and 392,480 tonnes of cargo in the first quarter of this year. Domestic traffic reached 10.2 million passengers, up 12.6 per cent year on year, while international traffic rose 19.4 per cent to 13.99 million.
Vietnam’s largest inbound markets include China, South Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Japan, the United States, India, Australia, Cambodia, the Philippines and Malaysia.
