A direct flight route linking Hanoi with Hiroshima was launched on May 19, in the witness of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during his visit to Japan to attend the expanded Hiroshima G7 Summit.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other delegates attend the launching ceremony. Photo: Vietjet Air

The route, opened by budget carrier Vietjet Air, is the 8th one connecting Vietnam and Japan.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu said that the new route opens more opportunities for cooperation in investment, trade, tourism, cultural exchange, and people-to-people exchange between Vietnam and Japan and Hanoi and Hiroshima. 

“The event is significant on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries,” he said.

The twice-weekly return service, which will operate on Wednesdays and Sundays, will commence on July 19. With a flight time of approximately four hours and 30 minutes per leg, passengers will depart Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi at 2.15am and land at Hiroshima International Airport at 8.45am. The return leg will depart Hiroshima at 9.45am and arrive in Hanoi at 12.35pm (all local times).

Speaking at the announcement ceremony, Deputy Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture Masahiko Tanabe said: “I hope the direct flights to and from Hiroshima will enhance travel convenience between Vietnam and our prefecture and look forward to active mutual exchanges in a wide range of fields, including business and tourism.”

An overview of the launching ceremony.

Vietjet CEO Dinh Viet Phuong said that as a proud member of Keidanren, the largest comprehensive economic federation in Japan, it is firmly committed to continually expanding its network linking Japan and Vietnam and offering more bilateral and multilateral cooperation opportunities as well as more convenient flight options for their customers.

“Vietjet plans to provide 1.5 million flight seats between the two countries in 2023, comprehensively connecting Japan’s biggest tourism and economic hubs to attractive destinations in Vietnam and many other regional countries, such as Australia, India, Kazakhstan, and others,” he added.

The low-cost carrier operates seven direct routes connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Japanese cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka. It also operates charter flights from Vietnam to destinations such as Niigata, Shizuoka, Fukushima, and Ehime.

Located in southwestern Japan, Hiroshima is a strategic point linking Kansai and Kyushu and serves as a hub for businesses, with a developed marine economy and heavy industry.