Vietnam Airlines will become the first and only airline in Vietnam to offer nonstop service to Italy, 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 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 per cent of pre-COVID levels. Moreover, in the first quarter of 2024, Italian visitors to Vietnam rose by 32 per cent 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 per cent increase compared to 2019. In the first quarter of 2024, this figure surged by 24 per cent 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, but more importantly, fostering economic, social, and political ties between Vietnam and Italy, as well as between Vietnam, Europe and beyond. 

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