Thai AirAsia launches new Hanoi–Luang Prabang route to boost regional travel
Thai AirAsia has opened a new direct Hanoi–Luang Prabang route using Fifth Freedom traffic rights, creating a faster and more convenient link between two major heritage destinations in Vietnam and Laos.
THE HANOI TIMES — Thai AirAsia, part of the AirAsia Group ecosystem, has launched a new direct Hanoi–Luang Prabang route under Fifth Freedom traffic rights to boost travel between the two heritage-rich destinations in Vietnam and Laos.
The airline is offering fares starting from VND1.79 million (US$68) one-way.
Passengers on the inaugural direct Hanoi–Luang Prabang flight. Photo courtesy of the company
Hanoi, with more than a thousand years of history, stands among the world’s oldest capitals.
The city holds nearly 6,500 historical and cultural sites and close to 1,800 intangible cultural heritage elements, including six UNESCO-recognized heritages.
Hanoi also manages 22 special national relics, some 1,100 national relics, 1,600 city-level relics and 59 items inscribed in the national list of intangible cultural heritage.
The capital safeguards 351 national treasures, 22 private museums and a community of artisans, including 131 honored as “People’s Artists” and “Meritorious Artists” in intangible cultural heritage.
It is also home to around 1,350 traditional craft villages.
Luang Prabang, known for its well-preserved old quarter and unique blend of traditional Lao and French colonial architecture, remains one of Laos’ most iconic destinations and an essential stop on the Indochina loop linking Thailand, Laos and Vietnam or Cambodia.
At the launch ceremony earlier this week, Santisuk Klongchaiya, CEO of Thai AirAsia, praised Hanoi as a top destination for international travelers.
“We hope this direct route to the world heritage city of Luang Prabang will give tourists and residents of both countries more convenient and competitively priced travel options,” he said.
Tran Thi Bao Thu, Marketing and Communications Director at Vietluxtour, said the new route marks a positive step for Mekong tourism and Indochina tour packages.
She explained that the route helps remove the biggest bottleneck, travel time and limited connectivity, while encouraging longer visitor stays and higher local spending.
Thai AirAsia currently operates the most direct routes between Thailand and Vietnam, connecting Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Danang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc to Bangkok, along with the Hanoi–Chiang Mai route. The airline maintains an average load factor of 87%.
AirAsia Group now operates 16 routes across seven ASEAN destinations with more than 27 daily flights, further strengthening regional travel links.
