Key Takeaways
• Vietnam Airlines resumed direct Hanoi–Moscow flights on May 8, 2025, after a three-year COVID-19 pause.
• Service starts with two weekly flights, possibly increasing to three in July 2026 due to high demand.
• Russian tourists can visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days; Vietnamese travelers receive expedited Russian e-visas.
Vietnam Airlines has brought back its direct flight service between Hanoi and Moscow, ending a three-year gap that started when the COVID-19 pandemic made global travel almost impossible. This move, which started again on May 8, 2025, is not just about connecting two cities. It represents a major step for tourism, business, and family ties between Vietnam 🇻🇳 and Russia 🇷🇺. The airline’s decision reflects people’s renewed desire to travel and the growing need for easy links between these two countries.
The First Direct Flight Returns: Details and Passenger Experience
On the morning of May 8, 2025, the first Vietnam Airlines flight on this route, VN63, took off from Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport at 9:45 am. After almost nine hours in the air, it landed at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport at 3:40 pm local time. The flight was completely full. All seats were taken, and those onboard were given special gifts to remember this important moment.
This isn’t just any flight service. Vietnam Airlines uses its modern Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner planes for the Hanoi–Moscow route. These aircraft are known for comfort and reliability, with Skytrax 4-star-rated services. Flying such a long distance can be hard, but these planes make the trip easier for everyone.
Flight Schedules and Expansion Plans
At the start, Vietnam Airlines runs the Hanoi–Moscow route twice a week, flying on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Here is how each journey works:
– Outbound (VN063): Departs Hanoi at 10:45 am and reaches Moscow at 3:40 pm.
– Return (VN062): Leaves Moscow at 5:40 pm and arrives back in Hanoi at about 6:05 am the next day.
The airline doesn’t plan to stop here. With ticket demand growing fast, there are plans to add a third weekly flight starting in July 2026. This plan shows Vietnam Airlines’ confidence that more travelers want this route—both for work and vacation.
Tourism Between the Two Countries: Numbers Tell the Story
The timing of Vietnam Airlines reviving its Hanoi–Moscow flights couldn’t be better. People in both Vietnam and Russia clearly want to visit each other’s countries again. In just the first two months of 2025, Vietnam welcomed close to 80,000 Russian tourists. That is more than double the usual number seen at this time of year before the pandemic. For comparison, in all of 2024, over 232,000 Russians traveled to Vietnam. That figure too is double from before COVID-19 struck. In other words, the interest in travel between these two countries has never been higher.
Having direct flights makes vacations much easier for Russians heading to Vietnamese beaches or Vietnamese people wanting to see Moscow’s famous landmarks. It also saves both time and stress, which is especially important when traveling with family or for important business events.
The Travel Experience: Easier and Friendlier
What really helps the flow of travelers is not just the flights but also friendly visa rules. Vietnam now lets Russian citizens come as tourists for up to forty-five days without needing a visa. That is much longer than many other countries offer, so Russians have more time to enjoy their stay without having to worry about paperwork or extra fees.
On the other side, Russia has made things easier for Vietnamese travelers as well. Russians now allow Vietnamese citizens to get electronic visas, which take about four days to process. This simple online process means travelers can make decisions faster and skip long waits at embassies. All of this is aimed at helping people visit family, explore new places, or do business that benefits both countries.
The Economic and Social Importance of Direct Flights
The restored flights between Hanoi and Moscow benefit more than just the tourists. Business ties between Vietnam 🇻🇳 and Russia 🇷🇺 are strong, thanks in part to these direct air links. When businesspeople can get to each other’s countries easily, deals happen more quickly, and trade can grow.
These flights also matter for cultural exchange. Moscow and Hanoi both have big traditions and modern cultures. Direct flights allow artists, students, and families to travel back and forth with ease. It’s much simpler for Vietnamese citizens living in Russia or Russian families with ties to Vietnam to visit home. Simple travel like this helps both societies understand each other better and builds stronger friendships between the two countries.
Vietnam Airlines’ Strategy and Other International Routes
This return to the Moscow route is part of a larger plan by Vietnam Airlines. The company is celebrating its thirtieth year and, as a part of that, it’s reopening fifteen international routes that were paused during the pandemic. This includes not only the Hanoi–Moscow flights but also routes like Cam Ranh to Busan and new services from Hanoi to growing business cities in India like Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
By opening up these connections, Vietnam Airlines signals its hope and belief that international travel is coming back strong. It’s also positioning itself as a leader in connecting Southeast Asia to key cities in Europe and Asia.
The View from Vietnam Airlines’ Leadership
Le Hong Ha, the President and CEO of Vietnam Airlines, called these direct flights “ambassadors” that go beyond just transporting people. He said that every flight helps bring the countries closer together. With the flights resuming, both Vietnam and Russia are about to enter a new stage in their relationship—one based on more open travel, business, and shared interests.
Making Travel Even Smoother in the Future
With the direct Hanoi–Moscow flights back up and running, both countries are looking for more ways to make travel easy and friendly. As VisaVerge.com reports, both governments have already put in place traveler-friendly visa programs and fast-track entry systems. Experts think that if the positive trends keep going, there could be more cooperation, easier travel, and more direct routes in the near future.
Broader Effects: Who Benefits Most?
There are several different groups who stand to gain from Vietnam Airlines’ revived Hanoi–Moscow flights. Here are some of the top ones:
- Leisure Travelers: Russian tourists can reach Vietnam’s beaches, cities, and historic places with one simple flight. Vietnamese people get the same comfort heading to Moscow for holidays.
- Business Travelers: Trade between the two countries gets a boost when business trips are easier. Time saved on flights and simpler entry rules mean negotiations can happen faster and more deals can be made.
- Students and Researchers: Direct flights make it easier for Vietnamese and Russian students studying abroad to visit home or attend educational events. Professors and researchers can travel for conferences without stressful layovers.
- Families and Communities: For relatives living in different countries, direct flights mean more face-to-face time. Large Vietnamese communities in Russia or Russian expats in Vietnam now enjoy better connectivity.
- Airline and Airport Workers: With more flights comes job growth for those working in airports, service, maintenance, and tourism-related businesses in both Hanoi and Moscow.
Looking Closer: Numbers and Facts
Here are some quick facts that show the real effect of these flights:
- The Boeing 787-9 that Vietnam Airlines uses can seat up to 300 people, meaning hundreds can travel each week on these direct flights.
- When the service started back up, every seat on the first journey was filled.
- Demand has been so strong that Vietnam Airlines is already planning a third weekly flight soon.
- Friendly visa policies mean Russians can stay in Vietnam for up to 45 days without a visa, and Vietnamese travelers can use Russia’s quick electronic visa.
- In early 2025, Vietnam saw almost 80,000 visitors from Russia in just two months. That is the highest number in years and shows a real hunger for travel on this route.
Why Timing Matters
During the pandemic, many travel links were cut. This stopped not just vacations but also business, family visits, and cultural exchanges. Now, as health risks fall and more people feel comfortable flying again, routes like Hanoi to Moscow become key ways to rebuild what was lost. The timing is also important because it lines up with the summer travel season—traditionally a period when more people want to fly for vacations or to see family.
Impact on Global Travel Recovery
Vietnam Airlines is not alone in restarting international flights, but the company’s decision to make the Hanoi–Moscow route a priority shows how important Russia and Vietnam’s relationship is. Their strong travel and trade partnership may even serve as a model for other countries restarting suspended flights.
For those wanting to know more about safe travel or the details of visa entry, checking up-to-date guidance is always a smart idea. You can find the latest official travel and visa information by visiting the Vietnam Immigration Department’s page to make sure you have the correct documents and know the travel rules.
Final Thoughts: What’s Next for Travelers and the Two Nations
The reopening of direct flights between Hanoi and Moscow is about much more than planes in the sky. It shows that international travel is recovering and that people in Vietnam and Russia want to reconnect. With high demand, growing tourism numbers, and support from both governments, these flights will likely continue to get even more popular. The resulting boost in business, education, and friendships sets the stage for a bright future for people traveling between the two cities.
Travelers planning a trip between Vietnam and Russia now have the comfort of a direct route that shortens travel time, removes the hassle of changing planes, and offers modern comforts. With Vietnam Airlines leading the way, these flights open new opportunities not just for passengers but for both nations as a whole. As more routes return and new ones are added, the skies between Southeast Asia and Europe will be busier—and the connections between friends, families, and businesses will only grow stronger.
Learn Today
Direct flight → A nonstop journey between two cities, without layovers, improving convenience for business, tourism, and family visits.
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner → A modern, long-range passenger aircraft used for comfort and efficiency on Vietnam Airlines’ Hanoi–Moscow route.
Visa-free entry → Policy allowing travelers to visit a country without obtaining a visa in advance, simplifying and encouraging international visits.
Electronic visa (e-visa) → An online visa application, usually faster to process, allowing entry without visits to an embassy or consulate.
Skytrax 4-star-rated → Service quality rating from Skytrax, an international airline review organization, indicating high standards for passenger comfort and services.
This Article in a Nutshell
Vietnam Airlines has restarted direct flights between Hanoi and Moscow, boosting tourism, business, and cultural links. Two weekly flights are available, with plans for a third in July 2026. Modern Boeing 787-9 planes promise comfort. Travelers benefit from friendly visa policies, making visits between Vietnam and Russia faster and easier than ever.
— By VisaVerge.com
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