Vietnam-Russia flights expand, boosting tourism and cargo trade

Airlines add Vietnam-Russia services

Expanded air links between Vietnam and Russia are supporting a strong rebound in two-way tourism, with airlines adding services and travel firms rolling out more tour options.

Vietnam Airlines said Russia is among the markets it is prioritizing as it expands its international network.

Since July 1, the carrier has increased its Hanoi-Moscow service from three to four flights per week, using Boeing 787 aircraft.

Vietjet has announced plans to launch routes linking Da Nang with Moscow, Nha Trang with Kazan, and Nha Trang with Novosibirsk, while Aeroflot is expected to begin flying between Moscow and Phu Quoc on October 15 with two weekly services.

The additional routes are broadening Vietnam’s access to the Russian market beyond Moscow and connecting Vietnamese destinations with more Russian cities.

Vietnam welcomed more than 863,500 Russian visitors in the first seven months of 2026, up 274 percent year on year, according to the National Statistics Office.

Russia is now Vietnam’s third-largest source market for international visitors, with Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, and Phan Thiet among their most popular destinations.

Charter services are also expanding. Anex Vietnam expects to bring 13,000-15,000 Russian tourists to Phu Quoc each month during the 2026-27 autumn-winter season.

The increase in flights is also giving Vietnamese travelers more options to visit Russia.

Travel firms are offering six- to eight-day tours from Ho Chi Minh City for VND32 million-65 million ($1,230-2,495) per person, typically with stopovers in China or the Middle East.

Direct-flight packages and nine- to 10-day Russia-Belarus tours are priced at around VND68 million-90 million ($2,610-3,455).

Russian goods increasingly available online in Vietnam

Russian products are becoming increasingly common on Vietnamese e-commerce platforms and online stores, ranging from chocolate, confectionery, cheese, salami, smoked meat, olives, and dried fish to cosmetics and personal care products.

A survey of several online sellers showed that 250-300-gram packs of salami are priced at VND215,000-300,000 (US$8.25-11.50), cheese at around VND145,000 ($5.60) per box, olives at about VND250,000 ($9.60), and high-cocoa chocolate at roughly VND330,000 ($12.70).

Some specialty dried fish products sell for around VND700,000 ($26.90).

An online seller in Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Hoa Ward said customers often inquire about premium Beluga vodka, confectionery, and dietary supplements from Russia.

Prices vary depending on the source, weight, and timing of shipments, while goods carried as personal luggage are also affected by airfares, flight schedules, and shipment volumes.

The growth of online shopping has also fueled services covering product sourcing, payment, shipment consolidation, packaging, customs clearance, and home delivery in Vietnam.

Faster route for Vietnamese exports

The increase in direct flights is also supporting air cargo between the two countries.

At Tan Son Nhat International Airport, shipments of fresh fruit, seafood, processed food, pharmaceuticals, and electronic components between Vietnam and Russia are increasing as airlines add services.

Direct flights shorten delivery times, reduce cargo handling, and lower the risk of spoilage, particularly for perishable products.

Air freight also allows Vietnamese businesses to send small shipments to Russia to test demand before expanding distribution.

Vietnamese goods commonly transported by air include coffee, tea, cashew nuts, dried fruit, dried food, spices, garments, and handicrafts.

Shipments from Russia to Vietnam mainly consist of chocolate, confectionery, cheese, smoked meat, cosmetics, and consumer goods.

Nguyen Thanh My of an international freight forwarding company said the expanding air network is turning passenger aircraft into a “cargo bridge,” helping Vietnamese products reach Russia faster while bringing Russian goods closer to consumers in Vietnam.