BY TIM HEDGLEY, GROUP TRAVEL EDITOR
With three-weekly flights (Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays) between Hanoi and Milan commencing from 1 July 2025 on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
The addition will see the airline boasting nine European routes.
Vietnam Airlines has also outlined plans to introduce the Ho Chi Minh City to Milan route after 2025.
Vietnam’s flag carrier is the only airline operating between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Paris, Frankfurt, and London.
This October, Munich will become the most recent European destination to join the carrier’s network.
Vietnam and Italy established diplomatic relations in 1973 and upgraded to a strategic partnership in 2013. Vietnam is Italy’s largest trading partner in the ASEAN, while Italy is ranked as Vietnam’s fourth largest trading partner within the EU. Bilateral trade between the two nations has witnessed steady growth over the years.
Italy is emerging as a significant market for Vietnam’s aviation sector. In 2023, Vietnam welcomed 81,000 tourists from Italy, which is about 89 percent of pre-COVID levels. Moreover, in the first quarter of 2024, Italian visitors to Vietnam rose by 32 percent compared to the same period in 2019, showing Vietnam’s potential to become a favourite destination for Italian travellers.
Situated in central Europe, Milan is Italy’s second-largest city and is celebrated as one of the world’s leading fashion capitals. In 2023, 37,800 passengers travelled from Milan to Vietnam—a 1.4 percent increase compared to 2019. In the first quarter of 2024, this figure surged by 24 percent compared to the same period in 2019.
The Hanoi to Milan service will not only cater to travellers from Italy but also attract passengers from other European countries. This new launch signifies Vietnam Airlines’ commitment to expanding its global network, offering greater flexibility to passengers, and, more importantly, fostering economic, social, and political ties between Vietnam and Italy, as well as between Vietnam, Europe, and beyond.
About Vietnam Airlines
Vietnam Airlines, a member of Skyteam Alliance, is the flag carrier of Vietnam. It connects the world’s most thriving destinations domestically, regionally, and globally, operating 100 routes to 21 domestic and 29 international destinations. Vietnam Airlines boasts one of the youngest and most modern fleets in Asia, highlighted by its Boeing 787-9 and 787-10 Dreamliners, Airbus A350-900 XWBs, and Airbus A321neo.
Vietnam Airlines (www.vietnamairlines.com) is the only airline operating nonstop services between London Heathrow and Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Flights are operated by the latest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, featuring Economy, Premium Economy, and Business Class cabins that offer impeccable levels of comfort and service throughout every journey.
The airline takes great pride in enhancing connectivity between the UK, European, and Vietnamese markets, boosting commercial ties and economic recovery post-pandemic. In 2019, the UK was ranked as Vietnam Airlines’ top 10 largest source of international visitors to Vietnam.
The carrier is recognised as one of the region’s finest airlines thanks to its modern fleet and its commitment towards innovation and development — earning it international acclaim as validated by numerous prestigious awards such as 4-Star Airline Rating and World’s Top 100 Airlines by Skytrax – the international air transport rating organisation; Asia’s Leading Airline Brand, Asia’s Leading Airline – Economy Class/Premium Economy Class and World’s Leading Cultural Airline by World Travel Awards. These achievements stand as a testament to the airline’s quality across a range of products and services.
Vietnam Airlines has spearheaded Vietnam’s aviation market – one of the fastest-growing domestic markets in the world – throughout 30 years of development. Fuelled by a vibrant domestic market and rapidly growing international traffic, Vietnam Airlines is well on the way to establishing itself as major force in Asia.
