Thai Airways has resumed its flights to and from Vietnam, with a flight landing at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and another from Hanoi to Bangkok on October 29, according to VNA’s report.
With four round-trip flights per day connecting Bangkok with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Thailand’s national flag carrier hopes to serve as a bridge for tourism, economic, and cultural ties between the two countries.
In 2022, Thailand welcomed over 500,000 tourists from Vietnam, while attracting more than 200,000 Thai tourists to Vietnam. These numbers are expected to double this year.
Staff members of Thai Airways pose for a photo in front of the carrier’s plane landing at Noi Bai International Airport on October 29. Photo courtesy of Thai Airway |
The flights to and from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are among the first international routes that Thai Airways has chosen to resume in order to boost the recovery and development of its operations.
Ngo Minh Duc, chairman of HG Aviation – the general agent of Thai Airways in Vietnam, cited statistics showing that nearly 900,000 Vietnamese have visited Thailand during the first 10 months of 2023, nearly double the number of Thai travelers to Vietnam.
The return of Thai Airways aims to meet the demand of Thai and other countries’ visitors to come to Vietnam. In addition, Vietnamese tourists will have more flight choices to travel to European destinations, he added.
The first guests received gifts from HG Aviation. Source: Tien Phong newspaper |
Addressing the inauguration ceremony in Hanoi on October 25, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara noted that the airline’s resumption of flights between Bangkok and Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is important for the tourism industry and economy of each country.
The Thai Deputy PM described the resumption as a major stride and a symbol of the close ties between Vietnam and Thailand, especially as the two countries are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership (2013-2023).
Nguyen Trung Khanh, head of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, highlighted bilateral tourism cooperation, stating that Vietnam has learned from Thailand’s experience in tourism product development and promotion, as well as support to businesses, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the first 10 months of 2023, Vietnam served approximately 10 million international visitors, including 500,000 from Thailand, he said. He expressed hope that Vietnam’s tourism sector and Thai Airways will collaborate to launch joint tourism products to attract holidaymakers from third countries.
Korakot Chatasingha, a representative from Thai Airways, stated that with the service called Royal Orchid, Thai Airways will operate two flights between Bangkok and Hanoi, and two others between Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City each day.