Vietnam Airlines on December 16 officially launched its first direct flight between Ho Chi Minh City and Copenhagen, marking the first-ever nonstop air link between Vietnam and Northern Europe.

Vietnam Airlines inaugurates its HCM City–Copenhagen route at a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Nguyen Van Dung, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, and representatives of the Danish Embassy and the HCM City Department of Tourism.

The new route represents a significant step in the national flag carrier’s European network expansion strategy for the 2025–2030 period, responding to rising demand for travel, business, trade and family visits between Vietnam and the Nordic region.

The inaugural flight, VN39, departed Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 22.45 on December 15 and landed safely at Copenhagen Airport after more than 12 hours of flight time, carrying over 200 passengers aboard a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

On the return leg, flight VN38 departed Copenhagen at 22.50 local time on December 16 and arrived in HCM City later the same day, serving more than 300 passengers.

The HCM City–Copenhagen service will operate three times a week. Flights depart HCM City on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, while return flights leave Copenhagen on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings.

The new route is expected to significantly improve connectivity between Vietnam and Denmark, while better serving the Vietnamese community in Northern Europe, estimated at around 70,000 people. It is also anticipated to support the continued growth of Nordic visitors to Vietnam, which has increased steadily in recent years.

Dang Anh Tuan, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines, said Copenhagen is a key market in the airline’s European expansion strategy.

“The direct service substantially shortens travel time between Vietnam and Denmark, enhances Vietnam Airlines’ competitiveness, and opens up new opportunities for tourism, trade and people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and Northern Europe,” Tuan said.

“This direct connectivity brings tangible benefits to passengers, businesses and the Vietnamese community in the region.”

Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is consistently ranked among the world’s most liveable cities and serves as a major transport hub for Scandinavia. From Copenhagen Airport, passengers can easily connect to destinations across Sweden, Norway and Finland through a modern transport infrastructure and extensive regional network.

As a result, the new route not only meets travel demand to Denmark but also provides faster and more convenient access to the wider Nordic region, compared to previous itineraries requiring transit through other hubs.

The Nordic market is regarded as particularly promising, especially during the winter season, when travellers from Northern Europe seek warmer destinations such as Vietnam. With the launch of the Copenhagen route, Vietnam Airlines becomes one of the few Southeast Asian carriers offering direct services to Northern Europe.

The new service further strengthens the airline’s European network, which already includes Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, London, Milan and Moscow.

The HCM City–Copenhagen route also marks a notable milestone in Vietnam Airlines’ 30-year development journey, underscoring its commitment to expanding intercontinental connectivity, reinforcing the role of the national flag carrier, and promoting Vietnam’s image, culture and people to the world.

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