Russia's Ministry of Transport and Vietnam's aviation authorities have agreed to raise the cap on scheduled flights between the two countries to 105 flights a week for each side. The agreement followed talks in Hanoi and builds on a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Vietnam earlier in September 2026. For travellers, that means more seats on direct flights, potentially steadier fares during the busy winter season, and a chance for new direct routes from cities that currently require a connection to reach Vietnam.
What exactly changed
The new memorandum raises the allowed number of weekly flights by roughly half compared with the current volume — a cap within which airlines from both countries can now add aircraft and open routes without further intergovernmental approval. Raising the quota does not by itself mean an instant jump in flights: airlines still have to decide where and when to expand, so schedules for the coming weeks won't change overnight.
How many flights operate today
According to the Ministry of Transport, Russian carriers currently fly 11 routes to Vietnam with a combined 39 flights a week, while Vietnamese airlines operate 13 routes and 31 weekly flights. That's roughly 70 weekly flights combined — so the new 105-flights-per-side cap leaves plenty of room for a meaningful expansion of the network if demand holds up.
| Metric | Currently | New cap |
|---|---|---|
| Routes flown by Russian carriers | 11 | no fixed route limit |
| Weekly flights by Russian carriers | 39 | up to 105 |
| Routes flown by Vietnamese carriers | 13 | no fixed route limit |
| Weekly flights by Vietnamese carriers | 31 | up to 105 |
Which cities could get new direct flights
The Ministry of Transport named the cities under consideration for new routes to Vietnam: Kazan, Barnaul, Novokuznetsk and Blagoveshchensk. Direct flights from Moscow already serve Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Da Nang, and this winter Azur Air is expanding its seasonal programme, resuming flights to Nha Trang from Omsk, Perm, Samara and Chelyabinsk in addition to departures from Moscow, Mineralnye Vody and Tyumen. All of this remains airline planning rather than a confirmed schedule — exact launch dates for new routes are usually announced a few weeks before tickets go on sale.
What it means if you're planning a trip
Passenger growth backs up the interest in the route: more than 1 million passengers flew between the two countries in the first seven months of 2026, with roughly 2 million expected for the full year — Vietnam is already among the five most in-demand destinations for Russian travellers. A higher flight cap usually leads to new direct routes and a more flexible schedule during the high season, but check exact dates and fares on airline websites closer to departure — our Airlines section lists the current routes. If you're still deciding on a coastal city, take a look at a similarly structured piece on season and visas — our guide to Thailand in winter — or browse the destination catalog to compare options by budget.
Sources
- Vedomosti, "Russia and Vietnam to expand air links to 105 flights a week" — 25 September 2026
- Tourdom.ru, citing Russia's Ministry of Transport, "Mintrans: Russia and Vietnam agreed to significantly increase the number of flights between the two countries" — 25 September 2026
* Schedules, routes and flight numbers change — check the latest information with the airline before buying tickets.
