Khanh Hoa welcomes its first direct flight from Russia in 3 years.

(To Quoc) - Khanh Hoa welcomes direct flights from Russia after nearly three years of suspension, marking the initial recovery of the local tourism industry in this traditional market.

At approximately 3:30 PM on March 17th, Azur Air flight ZF2577, carrying 231 passengers from Irkutsk, landed at Cam Ranh International Airport in Khanh Hoa province.

Immediately after landing, the aircraft was greeted with a water cannon salute. Leaders of the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, representatives of relevant departments and units, and Anex Vietnam Trading and Tourism Company Limited presented flowers and souvenirs to the passengers.

This is the first direct flight from Russia to Khanh Hoa after a three-year hiatus, operated by Anex Vietnam in collaboration with a Russian airline that provided charter flights.

Delegates pose for a commemorative photo with the Russian delegation. Photo: Thao Phat

In 2019, an estimated nearly 463,000 Russian tourists visited Khanh Hoa province, accounting for 71.6% of the total number of Russian tourists to Vietnam (646,000) and making them the province's second largest international tourist market at that time.

However, since March 2022, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical instability, direct flights from Russia to Khanh Hoa have been suspended. Russians wishing to travel to Khanh Hoa have to fly via several countries such as Kazakhstan and China, causing a sharp decrease in the number of tourists from Russia to Khanh Hoa.

Estimates for 2022 and 2023 were 14,007 and 51,209 visitors respectively. By 2024, the number of Russian tourists to Khanh Hoa had recovered, estimated at 105,000 visitors (a 206% increase compared to the same period), but this was only 22.8% of the 2019 figure.

Russian tourists are delighted to travel to Khanh Hoa on a charter flight. Photo: Thao Phat

Mr. Nguyen Duc Tan, General Director of Anex Vietnam Trading and Tourism Company Limited, said that from March 2025, Anex Vietnam will resume operating charter flights connecting 11 Russian cities to Khanh Hoa. The frequency of service in March 2025 will be 12 flights. From April to June 2025, it will be approximately 50-55 flights per month, and from July 2025 onwards, it will be 90-100 flights per month.

Mr. Cung Quynh Anh, Deputy Director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that having direct flights makes it easier for Russian citizens to access Khanh Hoa without having to transit through other countries. Restoring the flight route will not only shorten travel time but also reduce airfare costs, creating favorable conditions for Khanh Hoa to recover and attract the Russian tourist market again.

In the first three months of 2025, Khanh Hoa welcomed over 2.5 million overnight visitors (a 19.69% increase compared to the same period last year), exceeding the Q1 plan and reaching 21.95% of the annual plan. According to the plan, Khanh Hoa's tourism industry aims to welcome 11.8 million tourists this year, including 6.6 million domestic and 5.2 million international visitors, with tourism revenue reaching 60,000 billion VND.