Vietnam Airlines has announced that it will launch a nonstop service between Hanoi and Amsterdam from June 2026, marking Vietnam’s first direct air route to the Netherlands. The sector is currently not served by any airline. In fact, no carrier currently connects Vietnam to the Netherlands.
The new service will raise the number of direct routes between Vietnam and Europe to 12, connecting with eight destinations, including Paris, Frankfurt, London, Munich, Milan, Copenhagen, Moscow, and Amsterdam.
From 16 June, Vietnam Airlines will operate three round-trip flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, using wide-body Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The schedule is designed to facilitate travel from Europe to Vietnam while offering convenient onward connections across the airline’s domestic and Asian network, including tourism destinations and economic hubs such as Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and other key cities.
Increase in trade and passenger traffic
Amid rising travel demand between Europe and Southeast Asia, this new route is seen as an effective solution to shorten travel time, reduce transit stops, and enhance passengers’ experience.
The Netherlands is currently Vietnam’s largest trading partner in Europe, with Vietnamese exports exceeding US$11 billion in 2025, and is also a major investor with approximately US$16 billion in accumulated investment capital.
Travel demand between the two countries is underpinned by a Vietnamese community of nearly 27,000 people living, studying and working in the Netherlands, alongside growing business and tourism flows.
According to market data, two-way passenger traffic exceeded 122,000 travellers in 2024 and is expected to continue rising in 2025. Passenger volumes on the Hanoi–Amsterdam route alone are forecast to grow by more than 40% year on year.
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.
Limited slots at Schiphol
At a time when take-off and landing slots at the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport remain highly constrained, Vietnam Airlines’ allocation of slots underscores the growing position of the national carrier in the international aviation industry.
Thai Airways had also recently announced the resumption of its Bangkok to Amsterdam route from 1 July, with daily flights on an Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The airline last flew between the two cities 28 years ago, with a flight via Zurich.
LATAM Airlines further increased frequencies on its upcoming new route to Amsterdam. The carrier’s frequencies to Amsterdam have now reached six a week or when the route begins at the end of March. It will begin with four weekly flights for the first month, moving to five weekly from 18 April, and six weekly from 23 April.
Photo of Vietnam Airlines aircraft at Hanoi International Airport was taken by the writer.
