Vietnamese airlines launch new routes to Philippines, Taiwan

Vietnam Airlines has inaugurated a route between Vietnam and the Philippines, making it the first Vietnamese carrier to establish a direct connection to the island nation.

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

The national carrier will operate seven flights a week between the two Southeast Asian countries, four on the HCMC-Manila route and the remainder on the Hanoi-Manila.

Vietnam Airlines views it as a promising market, for both tourists and business travellers, serving a community of nearly 30,000 Vietnamese residing in the Philippines and around 7,000 Filipinos living in Vietnam.

In recent years, Vietnam has become attractive to Filipino visitors thanks to its geographical proximity, affordable travel costs and rich cultural heritage, while in turn the Philippines is becoming an attractive destination for Vietnamese visitors.

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

In other news, Vietnamese budget carrier Vietjet has launched two new air routes connecting Phu Quoc Island in the southern province of Kien Giang with the two Taiwanese cities of Taichung and Kaohsiung.

The airline now offers three return flights per week on the Phu Quoc-Taichung route and four return flights per week on the Phu Quoc-Kaohsiung route.

Vietjet is also holding a big promotion this year, discounting international flight tickets to just zero dong (excluding taxes and fees) every Friday from now until December 31 for bookings on the airline’s website or Vietjet Air apps.

Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island, is famous for its stunning beaches, including Sao Beach and Rach Vem, in addition to well-known attractions like the Hon Thom Nature Park, Kiss Bridge Phu Quoc and the Ham Ninh fishing village.

Taichung is known for its ancient architecture and poetic scenery, including Sun Moon Lake, Rainbow Village and the Fengchia night market.

Kaohsiung city is an attractive natural, cultural and historical destination with many famous landmarks such as the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and the National Science and Technology Museum.