Direct Hanoi-Moscow flights resume after three-year suspension

Vietnam Airlines has officially resumed direct flights between Hanoi and Moscow, ending a three-year suspension caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and global geopolitical tensions.

Flight VN63 departed Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi at 9:45 am on Thursday and landed at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport at 3:40 pm local time.

The flight was fully booked, carrying 254 passengers.

Vietnam Airlines is currently operating two weekly flights on the route on Tuesdays and Thursdays, using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Each leg of the journey takes approximately nine hours.

The airline plans to increase the frequency to three flights per week beginning in July 2026 to accommodate growing demand, a company representative said.

In addition to direct service, travelers can also reach Moscow via connecting flights operated by international carriers such as Qatar Airways (via Doha), China Eastern Airlines (via Shanghai), and Air China (via Beijing), with round-trip fares ranging from VND8 million (US$308) VND15 million ($580), depending on the season.

At present, there are no direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Moscow. Passengers traveling from the southern hub must transit through Hanoi or connect via international gateways.

Russia remains a key tourism market for Vietnam.

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, the country welcomed over 232,000 Russian visitors in 2024, an 85-percent increase from the previous year.

In the first two months of 2025, nearly 80,000 Russian tourists arrived in Vietnammore than triple the figure from the same period in 2024.

Moscow continues to be a top European destination for Vietnamese travelers.

Currently, Russian citizens enjoy a 45-day visa exemption to enter Vietnam, while Vietnamese tourists can apply for a Russian e-visa, typically issued within four working days, making travel between the two countries increasingly convenient.

Tourism authorities and businesses are actively working to attract more Russian visitors.

In March, Khanh Hoa Province welcomed a charter flight from Irkutsk operated by Azur Air, bringing 231 Russian tourists to Cam Ranh International Airport.

It was the first such flight since March 2022, signaling renewed momentum in Vietnam's tourism ties with Russia.

Since then, charter flights from Russia to Nha Trang, a popular beach destination located in Khanh Hoa, have resumed at a growing pace, supporting a strong recovery in the market.

Minh Duy - Cong Trung / Tuoi Tre News

(2025/05/09-18:17)