Hanoi, Luang Prabang linked by new direct flight

Thai AirAsia’s first Hanoi-Luang Prabang flight was 87 percent full, according to the airline.

Tickets are currently on sale for VND1.79 million (US$68) per one-way trip.

The route comes as visitor numbers between the two countries rise.

Vietnam welcomed more than 158,000 Laotian tourists in the first 10 months of 2025, including over 10,500 in October, a 123-percent increase from the same month last year, according to the National Statistics Office.

Tour operators said the new direct flight could boost tourism in the Mekong subregion by reducing travel time and improving connectivity.

“Luang Prabang’s well-preserved colonial and traditional architecture makes it an attractive destination, and direct flights make multi-country Indochina trips more feasible for international visitors," said Tran Thi Bao Thu, marketing director at Vietluxtour.

The flight also provides opportunities for tour operators to expand Indochina itineraries and increase spending at the destination, as travelers no longer need to transfer through other cities or travel long distances by road.