Positive signs in the global aviation market for 2023, as well as Vietnam Airlines’ resumption of direct flights to China, the world’s most populated country and second-largest economy, bode well for the airline in the new year.

In December 2022, Vietnam Airlines officially reopened direct flights from Hanoi to Shanghai with a frequency of two flights/week; Ho Chi Minh City to Shanghai once a week; and Ho Chi Minh City to Guangzhou once a week. Ticket purchase and departure times are valid from now until March 26, 2023. These are the first routes in the plan to fully restore regular direct flights to China (a market that accounts for 13% of Vietnam Airlines’ international revenue) to develop trade and tourism and meet the travel demands of passengers from both countries after a three-year interruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2023, Vietnam Airlines expects to resume daily flights from Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City to Guangzhou and Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City to Shanghai; offer five flights/week from Hanoi to Beijing; and operate two or three flights/week from Hanoi to Chengdu and Ho Chi Minh City to Hangzhou. Charter flights between Danang, Nha Trang, and other regions of China will also resume to serve market demand. With the resumption of regular flights to China, Vietnam Airlines has now restored almost all of its international destinations, bringing the total number of international flights to 600 flights/week, equivalent to 70% of the pre-pandemic operational frequency.

Flight schedule to China

Flight

Estimated departure time

(local time)

Estimated arrival time

(local time)

Departure date

Hanoi – Shanghai

10:10

14:15

Monday, Friday

Shanghai – Hanoi

15:25

18:15

Monday, Friday

Ho Chi Minh City – Shanghai

9:00

14:15

Wednesday

Shanghai – Ho Chi Minh City

15:25

18:55

Wednesday

Ho Chi Minh City – Guangzhou

9:55

14:10

Friday

Guangzhou – Ho Chi Minh City

15:20

17:30

Friday