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Vietnam Airlines will launch a new non-stop service between Perth and Ho Chi Minh City in December.
Starting 7 December, the Vietnamese national carrier will fly return three times per week from Perth to Ho Chi Minh City on a 274-seat 787 Dreamliner, adding more than 85,000 seats and nearly 6,000 tonnes of cargo capacity per year between WA and Vietnam.
It will be the second airline to fly direct between Perth and Ho Chi Minh City, with low-cost carrier Vietjet set to begin flights in late November using 230-seat Airbus A321neo aircraft.
Kate Holsgrove, Acting CEO of Perth Airport, said Vietnam has been one of the airport’s key international target markets.
“Vietnam is Western Australia’s 14th largest trading partner, with total trade of $2.4 billion in 2022-23, and the ability to connect by air will only grow business ties,” she said.
“Vietnam is also Western Australia’s 11th largest market for international students accounting for 3% of the State’s total international student enrolments.
“This new, non-stop option will provide more opportunities to tap into this growing visitor market from Vietnam and we look forward to working with our tourism and education industries to welcome Vietnamese visitors and students to our great State and its fantastic institutions and experiences.”
Nguyen Huu Tung, General Manager at Vietnam Airlines Australia, said the new route is in line with the airline’s expansion plans following Sydney and Melbourne.
“Vietnam Airlines believes launching the new, direct flight between Ho Chi Minh City and Perth will promote inbound visitation from Vietnam to Perth where almost 20,000 Vietnamese born Australians and more than 300,000 residents with Vietnamese heritage currently live, not to mention the arrival of Vietnamese younger generations who are looking for opportunities to further their education or a new land to explore,” he said.
Flights from Perth to Ho Chi Minh City will operate on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, returning on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
