Vietnamese airlines open more international routes

Vietnamese airlines are significantly expanding their international networks, with new routes connecting Vietnam to Europe and Northeast Asia. Vietjet announced on May 26 that it has begun selling tickets for a new route from Hanoi to Prague, marking a major step in its expansion into the European Union market.

The Hanoi-Prague route is slated to commence operations on October 10, utilizing wide-body A330 aircraft. Initially, the service will offer two round-trip flights per week, with a transit stop in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Ticket prices for the Eco class start from 5.94 million VND (excluding taxes and fees) per leg, while the Deluxe class is priced from 7.32 million VND. This new service is expected to cater to the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic and provide additional travel options for tourists and businesses between Vietnam and Europe. Airport data indicates that over 75,000 passengers traveled between Prague and Hanoi in 2025.

Other Vietnamese carriers are also broadening their international reach. Sun PhuQuoc Airways launched a Phu Quoc to Hong Kong route on May 22, operating five flights weekly, following its existing services to Taipei and Seoul. Meanwhile, Vietnam Airlines plans to increase its direct Hanoi-Moscow flights to four per week starting July 1, 2026, using Boeing 787 aircraft to meet recovering travel demand between Vietnam and Russia.

Travel businesses view the expansion of international routes as a positive development for tourism and commerce. However, they note that operational success hinges on factors such as stable flight frequencies, competitive pricing, tour connectivity, and actual market demand. For long-haul routes like those to Europe, operational costs, including fuel, flight duration, layover points, and service quality, remain critical considerations for passenger choices.