Officially re-establishing the Hanoi-Moscow air bridge

Flight VN63 with 254 passengers, reaching a 100% occupancy rate, departed at 9:45 a.m. on May 8 from Noi Bai International Airport and landed at Sheremetyevo International Airport (Moscow) at 3:40 p.m. (local time).

On this occasion, all passengers on the inaugural flight received a special souvenir from the national airline.

Vietnam Airlines will operate the Hanoi-Moscow route twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. From July 2026, the airline plans to increase the frequency to three flights a week to meet the increasing travel demand of people between the two countries.

Flights are operated by modern Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner wide-body aircraft with 4-star service according to Skytrax standards, ensuring a comfortable experience for passengers on the nearly 9-hour journey.

Speaking at the event, Vietnam Airlines General Director Le Hong Ha emphasized: “The restoration of direct flights between the two capitals of Hanoi and Moscow opens the door for trade and exchange between Vietnam and the Russian Federation via air, while also contributing to strengthening the trust bridge between the two countries. This is not only a geographical connection, but also a symbol of the strong and increasingly growing cooperative relationship between the two countries.”

Russia has long been one of Vietnam's key tourism markets. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, in 2024, the tourism industry welcomed more than 232,000 Russian visitors, an increase of 84.9% compared to 2023.

In the first two months of 2025 alone, nearly 80,000 Russian visitors came to Vietnam, an increase of 204% over the same period last year. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2019, Russia was the leading market in Europe in terms of the number of tourists to Vietnam.

For Russian tourists, the Hanoi-Moscow route is a convenient bridge to experience the natural beauty and rich culture of Vietnam. At the same time, Russian tourists can continue to explore Southeast Asia from Hanoi. Meanwhile, Vietnamese tourists always consider Moscow a particularly attractive destination and a convenient gateway to Europe or Central Asia.

Flights will be operated using modern Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner wide-body aircraft, providing the best experience for passengers.

Vietnam’s 45-day visa exemption policy for Russian citizens and the mechanism by which Vietnamese citizens can apply for a Russian e-visa within just four days also facilitate two-way tourism. These factors, combined with direct flights connecting the two capitals, are expected to drive strong growth in visitor numbers by 2025.

In the year of its 30th anniversary (1995-2025), Vietnam Airlines continues to carry out its mission of "Taking off with the nation" with the goal of opening and restoring 15 international routes, including destinations such as: Italy, India, UAE,...

These routes not only enhance connectivity but also promote Vietnam's image to the world, contributing to enhancing the country's position in the new era of the nation.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/chinh-thuc-tai-lap-cau-noi-hang-khong-ha-noi-moscow-post878501.html