Vietnam Airlines to open first nonstop Hanoi-Amsterdam route to enhance Europe ties
The move aims to open a new gateway to Europe and advance the national flag carrier’s strategy to expand its European network.
THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnam Airlines is going to launch its first-ever nonstop service between Hanoi and Amsterdam in mid-June, establishing a direct air link between Hanoi and Amsterdam and strengthening Vietnam’s connectivity with one of Europe’s most important aviation and trade hubs.
According to Nguyen Quang Trung, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines, the national flag carrier will deploy wide-body Airbus A350 aircraft on its new nonstop Vietnam-Netherlands service starting June 16.
A flight of Vietnam Airlines on the sky. Photos courtesy of the national flag carrier
"The new service will raise the number of direct routes between Vietnam and Europe to 12, across eight destinations, including Paris, Frankfurt, London, Munich, Milan, Copenhagen, Moscow and Amsterdam. This will further consolidate our long-haul network and expand Vietnam’s international reach," said Trung.
The carrier will operate three round-trip flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The schedule has been tailored to accommodate European travelers bound for Vietnam while enabling seamless onward connections to key domestic destinations including Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc.
Trung noted that presence at one of the world’s leading economic, logistics and aviation hubs will be seen as a catalyst for deeper economic integration and stronger people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Beyond passenger transport, the new route is expected to create significant opportunities for air cargo, particularly for Vietnam’s high-value exports to Europe such as electronics, textiles and garments, fresh agricultural produce, and seafood.
"The direct connection will shorten delivery time, optimise supply chains, and improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese businesses," Trung emphasized.
Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is one of Europe’s largest aviation and logistics hubs, serving as a major gateway to North America, Africa, and other regions.
Amid limited airport capacity, the fact that Vietnam Airlines has been granted operating slots is seen as a testament to the carrier’s credibility and operational capability in the international aviation market.
Currently, the Netherlands is Vietnam’s largest trading partner in Europe, with imports from Vietnam exceeding US$11 billion in 2025.
Beyond passenger services, the new route is expected to enhance cargo transport, facilitating the shipment of Vietnam’s major export goods to European markets.
A Vietnamese community of nearly 27,000 people living, studying and working in the Netherlands also contributes to steady travel demand between the two countries.
