Vietnam Airlines is preparing to stitch a new thread into the SkyTeam network map with the launch of nonstop flights between Hanoi and Amsterdam, a route that promises far more than another line on the timetable. Beginning June 16, 2026, the Vietnamese flag carrier will operate three weekly nonstop services to Amsterdam Schiphol using its long haul Airbus A350 aircraft, opening a fresh gateway between Southeast Asia and Northern Europe and deepening its cooperation with SkyTeam pillar member KLM at one of the alliance’s most powerful hubs.
A New Bridge Between Hanoi and the Low Countries
The upcoming Hanoi to Amsterdam route will mark the first time Vietnam’s capital is linked directly to the Netherlands by a nonstop scheduled service. Launching on June 16, 2026 with three flights per week, Vietnam Airlines is positioning the new route as both a business connector and a tourism enabler between two fast developing markets. Instead of funneling passengers via Paris, Frankfurt or other European gateways, travelers will be able to step on board in Hanoi and disembark at Schiphol in one hop.
This move builds on Vietnam Airlines’ existing European network, which already includes frequent flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to London, Paris and Frankfurt. Those services helped the carrier establish a strong foothold in Western Europe and tap into onward flows through partner hubs. Amsterdam now becomes the next logical step, especially given the Netherlands’ role as a trade and logistics powerhouse and the rapidly growing interest from European travelers in Vietnam’s beaches, heritage cities and emerging business centers.
For Dutch travelers, the direct link to Hanoi simplifies access not only to northern Vietnam but also to the country’s domestic network and onward connections across Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia. For travelers originating in Vietnam, a nonstop to Amsterdam unlocks quick access to the Benelux region and, via KLM and other SkyTeam partners, onward journeys to Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and North America.
Why Amsterdam Matters So Much to SkyTeam
Amsterdam Schiphol is one of SkyTeam’s most important global hubs and the primary base of KLM, a founding member of the alliance. The airport is designed around quick and efficient transfers, with a compact terminal layout that makes it easier to connect between long haul and European flights compared with some more sprawling hubs. For an airline like Vietnam Airlines, adding Amsterdam to its map is not simply about point to point traffic but about tapping into a vast web of feeder and onward routes operated by KLM and other alliance members.
From Amsterdam, KLM serves dozens of European cities, as well as destinations throughout North America, the Middle East and Africa. Vietnam Airlines passengers arriving from Hanoi will be able to connect under a single SkyTeam umbrella to cities as varied as Manchester, Dublin, Stockholm, Reykjavik or Vancouver, often with checked baggage through and coordinated schedules. At the same time, travelers from regional European markets will gain a new one stop pathway into Vietnam that does not require backtracking via Paris or Frankfurt.
The hub strategy is central to SkyTeam’s promise of a seamless global journey. Vietnam Airlines, which joined the alliance in 2010, has been steadily increasing its reliance on European partners to deepen its reach. Amsterdam’s inclusion brings the carrier closer to the core of that network, complementing Paris Charles de Gaulle and London Heathrow and providing more choice for frequent flyers who value alliance recognition, lounge access and reciprocal benefits.
The Role of KLM and Deeper Alliance Synergies
Although specific codeshare details on the Hanoi Amsterdam route are still to be finalized, the broader pattern within SkyTeam makes the future direction clear. Vietnam Airlines already cooperates extensively with European partners on routes such as Hanoi to London, Paris and Frankfurt, while other SkyTeam players including SAS and Air Europa are expanding codeshares that rely on Vietnam Airlines for long haul capacity between Europe and Vietnam. The new Amsterdam service is expected to slot neatly into this framework.
KLM, which already lists Vietnam Airlines as a partner at Schiphol, offers SkyPriority services and shared check in options for passengers connecting between the two carriers’ flights. For customers holding Vietnam Airlines tickets issued via KLM or vice versa, the experience is likely to be increasingly integrated, allowing online check in across both airlines, coordinated minimum connection times and access to lounges for eligible SkyTeam Elite Plus and business class travelers.
For SkyTeam as an alliance, the Hanoi Amsterdam route is another example of how member airlines can combine strengths rather than duplicate capacity. Instead of both KLM and Vietnam Airlines operating their own metal on the route, it is likely that Vietnam Airlines will anchor the nonstop link using its A350 fleet while KLM provides short haul feed and distribution across Europe and beyond. The result is a tighter, more efficient network that still gives passengers multiple itinerary choices under a shared loyalty and service umbrella.
On Board: The Vietnam Airlines A350 Experience
Vietnam Airlines plans to deploy the Airbus A350 on its Hanoi Amsterdam rotation, a choice that reflects the airline’s broader strategy of using new generation widebody aircraft on its longest services. The A350 is prized for its fuel efficiency and lower cabin altitude, which can reduce passenger fatigue on long overnight sectors between Asia and Europe. That matters on a flight that will likely run to around 12 hours in each direction, often scheduled to maximize connections on both ends.
On board, passengers can expect the carrier’s latest international cabin product, including a fully flat business class layout and a refreshed economy class with individual screens, in seat power and contemporary cabin lighting. Vietnam Airlines has invested significantly in its long haul experience as it has added new destinations and frequencies to Europe, Australia and Russia, part of a wider push to position itself as a premium full service Asian carrier rather than a purely regional player.
The airline’s cultural identity is also an important part of its onboard product. From Vietnamese inspired menus to understated traditional motifs in the cabin design and uniforms, Vietnam Airlines aims to showcase the country’s heritage while still meeting international expectations for comfort and technology. For many passengers from Europe, the Hanoi Amsterdam route will serve as their first encounter with Vietnamese hospitality, long before the cabin doors open onto the tarmac in Hanoi.
Strengthening Economic and Tourism Ties
The launch of nonstop Hanoi Amsterdam flights carries strategic significance beyond aviation. Vietnam and the Netherlands have cultivated fast growing economic ties, particularly in sectors such as logistics, agriculture, maritime engineering and renewable energy. Direct air connectivity is a practical enabler of that relationship, trimming hours off business trips and providing more predictable travel options for delegations, investors and technical specialists moving between the two countries.
On the tourism side, Vietnam has enjoyed a surge of interest from European travelers in the last decade, drawn by a combination of improved infrastructure, a diverse landscape and relatively favorable pricing. At the same time, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have grown into important city break destinations in their own right, serving as gateways to Halong Bay, the northern highlands, central Vietnam and the Mekong Delta. For Dutch and other European tourists, nonstop access from Amsterdam reduces the friction of travel and is likely to stimulate new demand, particularly among time conscious travelers who prefer to avoid multiple stops.
Conversely, Vietnamese outbound tourism to Europe is also on the rise as incomes grow domestically and more travelers seek educational, cultural and shopping experiences abroad. Amsterdam’s reputation as a compact, walkable city with a rich museum scene makes it a natural draw, and its central location in Europe makes it a convenient launchpad for multi city itineraries that link the Netherlands with neighboring Belgium, Germany or France. The new route thus supports two way visitor flows that can benefit both economies.
A Strategic Step in Vietnam Airlines’ European Growth
Vietnam Airlines has been steadily reshaping its long haul network as global travel recovered in the mid 2020s. The carrier increased frequencies to London, Paris and Frankfurt after 2023, resumed its Hanoi Moscow route with Boeing 787 9 aircraft in 2025 and has signaled plans for new destinations such as Milan. Each of these moves underscores a belief that Europe will remain a core pillar of its international business, complementing services to Northeast Asia, Australia and, eventually, North America.
The decision to add Amsterdam fits into this broader strategy of diversifying entry points into Europe while deepening reliance on alliance partners for distribution. Rather than concentrating all European capacity through one or two cities, Vietnam Airlines is building a multi hub approach, giving travelers in Vietnam more flexibility when planning trips and reducing pressure on any single gateway. Amsterdam, with its strong SkyTeam presence and efficient transfer infrastructure, is a natural component of that strategy.
Fleet developments also play a role. Vietnam Airlines has continued to expand and renew its widebody fleet with both Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s, giving it the operational flexibility to open new routes while maintaining capacity on existing ones. Deploying the A350 on Hanoi Amsterdam leverages the aircraft’s strengths on long thin routes where efficiency and passenger comfort are both critical to long term success.
What This Means for Passengers and Frequent Flyers
For individual travelers, the most obvious benefit of the new SkyTeam connection is choice. Passengers in Vietnam heading for the Netherlands, the Benelux region or Scandinavia will gain a new nonstop option that can be combined with SkyTeam connections on a single ticket, complete with through baggage and alliance recognition. Those living in Hanoi or northern Vietnam will no longer need to route through Ho Chi Minh City or connect via another European hub to reach Amsterdam.
Frequent flyer program members stand to benefit as well. Travelers earning miles with Vietnam Airlines’ own Lotusmiles program or with SkyTeam partners such as KLM, Air France or Delta should see the Hanoi Amsterdam sector eligible for accrual and redemption, subject to fare class rules. Elite and Elite Plus members can typically expect priority services on departure and arrival, including priority check in, boarding and baggage handling, along with lounge access where eligibility criteria are met.
For connecting passengers, the interplay between Vietnam Airlines and KLM at Schiphol will be particularly important. Efficient scheduling that aligns arrival times from Hanoi with key departure banks for European and transatlantic services can make the difference between a smooth sub two hour connection and a long layover. While full details of the initial timetable are still emerging, the history of cooperation within SkyTeam suggests that both carriers will aim to structure schedules with connectivity in mind.
Looking Ahead: A Test Case for Future SkyTeam Expansion in Asia
The Hanoi Amsterdam route is more than a one off addition; it serves as a test case for how SkyTeam can leverage the strengths of its Asian members to expand global connectivity. As Vietnam’s aviation market continues to grow and its carriers add long haul aircraft, alliance based cooperation like this will become an increasingly important way to spread risk, share revenue and offer passengers new routing options without oversaturating any single corridor.
If the route performs strongly, it could encourage Vietnam Airlines to consider additional European cities that align closely with alliance hubs, or to deepen partnerships with carriers such as SAS or Air Europa that already codeshare on routes between Vietnam and Europe. In reverse, European members may look to Vietnam as a springboard into secondary Southeast Asian markets using Vietnam Airlines’ domestic and regional network, much as they rely on Korean Air in Northeast Asia or Garuda Indonesia in the Indonesian archipelago.
For now, all eyes are on June 16, 2026, when the first nonstop Vietnam Airlines service from Hanoi to Amsterdam is due to take off. In an era where alliances are constantly reassessing how best to add value, this new SkyTeam connection stands out as a carefully targeted move: one that aligns network planning, fleet strategy and passenger demand into a single long haul arc across Eurasia, and offers travelers a fresh and distinctly Vietnamese way to reach one of Europe’s most connected hubs.