Vietnam Airlines to launch new routes to India's Mumbai

Vietnam Airlines plans to launch two new routes from Hanoi and HCMC to Mumbai from May 20 to tap into what has been one of Vietnam's fastest-recovering tourism markets post-pandemic.

The national flag carrier will operate four weekly flights on the Hanoi-Mumbai route every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and three flights on the HCMC-Mumbai route every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, it said in a press release.

Last year, Vietnam Airlines launched direct services between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and New Delhi, becoming the second Vietnamese carrier to fly to India after Vietjet.

Last year, Vietnam received 137,000 Indian tourists, 82% of the number it welcomed from the country pre-pandemic, making it one of Vietnam's fastest-recovering tourism markets.

Destinations like Vietnam are fast gaining popularity among Indian families, thanks to better accessibility and connectivity with direct flights, as well as faster e-visa processing.

Located on Maharashtra's coast, Mumbai is India's most populous city and one of the world's largest and most densely populated urban areas.