Historic Launch: First Direct Line Between Vietnam and This Popular European City

Vietnam Airlines launched the first-ever direct route between Vietnam and the Netherlands this week, with the inaugural flight taking off from Hanoi and landing at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport after more than 12 hours of flight time, making the airline the first operator to offer direct flights between the two countries.

The inaugural flight, VN83, took off from Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi with nearly 300 passengers on board an Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft. At the same time, the first flight in the opposite direction from Amsterdam to Hanoi departed on the same day.

The new line will operate three times a week: on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and will allow passengers direct access between Vietnam and the Netherlands, along with convenient connections to hundreds of destinations across Europe via Schiphol, which is considered one of the most important and well-connected airports on the continent.

Vietnam Airlines Airbus A-350. Photo: Shutterstock

Vietnam Airlines sees the move as a significant strategic step in expanding its operations in Europe. With the addition of Amsterdam to its network of destinations, the company operates 12 direct routes between Vietnam and eight major European cities, including Paris, London, Frankfurt, Munich, Milan, Copenhagen, Moscow and now Amsterdam.

Nguyen Quang Truong, senior vice president of Vietnam Airlines, said the opening of the route reflects the company's commitment to expanding its international network and strengthening Vietnam's ties with key markets worldwide. He added the new route is expected to contribute to both tourism and trade and investment ties between Vietnam, the Netherlands and Europe as a whole.

Schiphol also sees the new route as a significant reinforcement of the airport's status as a global connectivity hub. 

Passenger traffic between Vietnam and the Netherlands has exceeded 100,000 passengers in the past year, with all flights between the countries previously operated via a connection. The launch of the direct route is expected to significantly shorten travel times and increase the flow of tourism, business and investment between the countries.