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Unveiling the First Direct Flight Connecting Vietnam and Northern Europe

18 December, 2025

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THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnam Airlines, the nation’s flagship carrier, launched its inaugural direct flight from Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) to Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital, on December 16. This historic route marks the first-ever non-stop connection between Vietnam and Northern Europe.

Vietnam Airlines celebrates the launch of its HCMC-Copenhagen route with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Photo: Vietnam Airlines

Flight VN39 departed Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 22:45 on December 15, touching down at Copenhagen Airport after a 12-hour journey. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner carried over 200 passengers on this landmark flight.

The return flight, VN38, departed Copenhagen at 22:50 local time on December 16, arriving in HCMC later that day with more than 300 passengers on board.

Vietnam Airlines will operate three weekly round-trip flights using the state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Departures from HCMC are scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings, with return flights from Copenhagen on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings.

Dang Anh Tuan, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines, highlighted the route’s significance in strengthening air connectivity between Vietnam and Denmark. It also better serves the estimated 70,000 Vietnamese residents in Northern Europe.

The new service is expected to support the growing number of Nordic visitors to Vietnam, as the direct connection significantly reduces travel time between the two regions.

The first passengers aboard the inaugural HCMC-Copenhagen flight. Photo: Vietnam Airlines

This direct route enhances Vietnam Airlines’ competitive edge, opening new avenues for tourism, trade, and cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Northern Europe.

The route meets the growing demand for travel to Denmark and provides faster access to the broader Nordic region. From Copenhagen Airport, passengers can seamlessly connect to destinations across Sweden, Norway, and Finland via a modern transport network and extensive regional connections.

The Nordic market is highly promising, especially during winter, when travelers from Northern Europe seek warmer destinations like Vietnam. With the Copenhagen route, Vietnam Airlines joins the select group of Southeast Asian carriers offering non-stop flights to Northern Europe.

Dang Anh Tuan noted that the HCMC-Copenhagen route expands the airline’s European network, which already includes Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, London, Milan, and Moscow.

He emphasized that this new service marks a significant milestone in Vietnam Airlines’ 30-year history, reinforcing its commitment to intercontinental connectivity and promoting Vietnam’s image, culture, and people globally.

In mid-November, Vietnam Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding with Copenhagen Airport to collaborate on infrastructure use, service quality enhancements, and joint promotional campaigns aimed at boosting tourism and investment between the two regions.