First charter flight brings Russian tourists back to Vietnam's Khanh Hoa after 3-year hiatus
Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 15:36 GMT+7
Over 200 Russian tourists arrived in Khanh Hoa Province, located on Vietnam's south-central coast, on Monday, marking the first direct charter flight from Russia after a three-year suspension due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Azu Air flight ZF2577, which departed from Irkutsk International Airport in Russia with 231 passengers on board, touched down at Cam Ranh International Airport on Monday afternoon.
To celebrate the occasion, the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism organized a welcoming ceremony that included a water salute, traditional lion dance performances, and the presentation of local souvenirs to the foreign guests.
Russia has historically been a key international market for Khanh Hoa, home to the renowned coastal city of Nha Trang.
However, direct flights were halted in March 2022 following advisories from the Russian government amid Western sanctions, leading travelers to rely on connecting flights through countries like Kazakhstan and China.
|
|
| Russian tourists are welcomed by representatives of the province's Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam, March 17, 2025. Photo: A.Phat |
Nguyen Duc Tan, general director of Nha Trang-based Anex Vietnam Trading and Tourism Co. Ltd., announced plans to restore charter flights connecting 11 Russian cities to Nha Trang.
Following the inaugural flight, the company aims to operate approximately 12 flights in March, increasing to 50-55 flights per month from April to June, and 90-100 flights per month starting in July.
The resumption of direct flights is expected to help restore the influx of Russian tourists to Khanh Hoa to pre-pandemic levels.
Currently, Khanh Hoa is implementing various promotional programs and introducing new products, aiming to attract 11.8 million visitors in 2025, including 5.2 million international and 6.6 million domestic tourists, with a target revenue of VND60 trillion (US$2.35 billion).
In 2019, Khanh Hoa welcomed approximately 463,000 Russian tourists, accounting for 71.6 percent of the total number of Russian visitors to Vietnam.
Last year, the province received approximately 105,500 visitors from Russia, marking a 206-percent surge from 2023. However, this was equal to only 22.8 percent of the 2019 figure.
Over the first two months of 2025, Khanh Hoa welcomed 24,000 Russian tourists, reflecting a 73-percent year-on-year growth rate.
Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
