In conjunction with the State visit of President To Lam of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Vietnam Airlines has announced the launch of a nonstop service between Hanoi and Phnom Penh. Additionally, the airline has signed cooperation agreements with key partners in Cambodia to foster aviation and tourism development between the two countries. 

The new route is set to commence on 27 October 2024, with a frequency of four flights a week on Mondays; Wednesdays; Fridays; and Sundays on Airbus A321. Passengers currently travelling from Hanoi to Phnom Penh must transit through Vientiane, Laos, on the airline's Indochina service. 

This new route will bring Vietnam Airlines' total number of routes between Vietnam and Cambodia to five by the end of October, including four direct routes: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh; Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap; and one Indochina route. The total number of flights between the two countries will reach 86 per week. 

The Vietnam - Cambodia route was among the first to be operated by Vietnam Airlines 31 years ago. Expanding routes to Cambodia has always been a strategic priority for the carrier, reflecting the close ties between the two neighbouring countries. 

Vietnam Airlines' extensive network in Indochina provides significant operational advantages through the frequency of flights and convenient connection times. The new route is expected to attract international travellers wishing to combine visits to Vietnam with other destinations in the region, including Japan; Korea; and European countries. 

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. 

Mr. Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Airlines, said: “The new nonstop service is poised to deliver better connectivity between Vietnam and Cambodia. As the flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines is committed to providing the safe and efficient operation of Cambodian service. We will continue to expand our network, enhance cooperation, and improve competitiveness and service quality to meet passenger expectations. Our goal is to support mutual economic, social, and cultural development, as well as foster cooperative relations between our two nations.” 

In addition to announcing the new route, Vietnam Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Cambodia Angkor Air, the Cambodia Tourism Association, and SaigonTourist Group. This agreement, part of the "Two Nations - One Destination" programme, aims to enhance bilateral tourism promotion, and support joint marketing efforts and collaboration on aviation products and services. 

Cambodia represents a significant market for aviation and tourism. Over the past 30 years, the aviation market between the two countries has experienced strong air passenger growth annually of 24 per cent at about 450,000 passengers. In 2023, Vietnam was the second-largest source of tourists to Cambodia, with over one million visitors, while Cambodian tourists to Vietnam numbered over 400,000, ranking eighth among international markets. 

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