In conjunction with the visit of His Excellency To Lam, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Vietnam Airlines has officially inaugurated direct flights between Hanoi and Phnom Penh.

This significant milestone was marked by the airline's signing of cooperation agreements with key Cambodian partners to bolster aviation and tourism development between the two nations.

At the inauguration ceremony, His Excellency Sok Soken, Minister of Tourism for Cambodia, expressed his enthusiasm.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia and on my own behalf, I am very pleased to participate in the opening ceremony of the Hanoi-Phnom Penh route by Vietnam Airlines and the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the Cambodia-Vietnam tourism promotion programme 'Two Countries, One Destination,' which holds profound significance today,” he said.

He welcomed the new connection between the two capitals and highlighted the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Cambodia Angkor Air, Vietnam Airlines JSC, the Cambodian Tourism Association (CATA) and the Saigon tourist Group.

The collaboration aims to strengthen tourism and business ties, enhancing travel convenience and fostering closer bilateral relations.

The new direct flight service is scheduled to commence on October 27, with four weekly flights operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, using the Airbus A321 aircraft.

At present, passengers traveling from Hanoi to Phnom Penh must transit through Vientiane, Laos, via Indochina Airlines. The new direct route will eliminate this layover, significantly improving travel efficiency.

By the end of October, Vietnam Airlines will operate a total of five flights between Vietnam and Cambodia, including four direct routes: Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh-Phnom Penh and Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh-Siem Reap, along with another flight operated by Indochina Airlines. This will increase the total number of flights between the two countries to 86 per week.

Vietnam Airlines has a long history of connecting Vietnam and Cambodia, with the first flights dating back 31 years.

Expanding its network in Cambodia remains a key strategic objective for the airline, reflecting the enduring and close ties between the neighbouring countries.

The new direct flights are expected to attract tourists from Vietnam and other regions, including Japan, South Korea and Europe, by offering better connectivity and streamlined transit times.

Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of Vietnam Airlines Corporation, commented on the new service: “The new direct flight enhances connectivity between Vietnam and Cambodia. Vietnam Airlines is committed to providing safe and efficient operations in Cambodia. We will continue to expand our network, foster cooperation, improve competitiveness, and deliver high-quality services to satisfy our customers.”

Over the past three decades, Vietnam Airlines has transported nearly 8.2 million passengers and 28,400 tons of cargo on more than 81,000 flights between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Cambodia has become a vital market for aviation and tourism, with air passenger numbers growing by 24 per cent annually, reaching approximately 450,000 passengers.

In 2023, Vietnam became the second-largest source of tourists to Cambodia, with over 1 million visitors, while more than 400,000 Cambodian tourists visited Vietnam, ranking eighth in the international market.

The new Hanoi-Phnom Penh direct flights mark a significant step forward in enhancing the aviation and tourism sectors of both countries, promoting economic, social, and cultural development, and reinforcing the strong bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia.