Russian arrivals rebound strongly as Vietnam expands direct air links
Vietnam is witnessing a strong recovery in the Russian tourism market, driving renewed growth in direct air connectivity between the two countries. In the first four months of 2026, Vietnam welcomed more than 504,000 Russian visitors, making Russia the country’s largest European source market and the third-largest international market overall, after China and South Korea.
As the operator of 21 airports nationwide, Airports Corporation of Vietnam continues to record rising international passenger traffic at key gateways including Noi Bai International Airport, Cam Ranh International Airport and Da Nang International Airport - destinations particularly favored by Russian travelers.
According to market trends, Russian tourists are increasingly shifting toward Southeast Asia, with Vietnam emerging as a preferred destination thanks to its warm climate, developed beach resort infrastructure, competitive travel costs and suitability for long-stay vacations. The gradual restoration of direct flights between the two countries is also helping accelerate travel demand.
In response to the market recovery, airlines are actively expanding Vietnam–Russia air connectivity. From 1 July 2026, Vietnam Airlines is expected to increase the frequency of its direct Hanoi–Moscow service from three to four flights per week using Boeing 787 wide-body aircraft. The airline currently operates 11 direct routes connecting Vietnam with Europe using Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft.
Meanwhile, Vietjet Air has also resumed charter flights linking Moscow with Da Nang, bringing Russian visitors back to Central Vietnam. From April to October 2026, the charter network is expected to connect 20 cities across Russia, the CIS and Belarus with major Vietnamese destinations including Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet and Phan Rang, with projected traffic exceeding 250,000 international passengers.
Industry experts note that Russian travelers typically have long stays, stable spending levels and strong demand for beach resort tourism. As a result, the recovery of this market is expected to not only boost international passenger traffic but also create positive momentum for tourism and service industries across Vietnam’s coastal destinations.