Airlines are making the most of the recent Aussie interest in Vietnam, with new flights from both Jetstar and Vietnam Airlines taking off in recent months.
In the last year, travellers from Australia to Vietnam have spiked 5.8% to 248,500, and inbound visitors from the Asian nation have grown by 21%.
Jetstar has jumped to capitalise on this growth, introducing direct flights three times a week from Melbourne and four times a week from Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City.
Jetstar CEO Australia and New Zealand, Dean Salter, said “There is enormous potential for Vietnam to become one of the most popular destinations for Australian travellers thanks to its wonderful year-round climate and great beaches, food and culture.”
For Qantas owned carrier, the new flights are the next step in expanding its international network, said Salter.
As well as outbound traffic growth, Jetstar also expects to see visitors from Vietnam increasing, with large Vietnamese communities in both Sydney and Melbourne.
Vietnam Airlines too has upped its presence in Australia with the inaugural Hanoi-Sydney flight arriving at the end of March.
Vietnam Airlines general manager Hung Truong told travelBulletin the additional route meant the carrier was now operating 17 weekly services to Australia.
The new service has been welcomed by the local Vietnamese community in Sydney, as it supports the strong VFR market. Sydney-Hanoi flights operate three times a week.
