Vietnam Airlines is set to deepen its European footprint with the launch of a new non-stop route connecting Hanoi and Amsterdam, creating a fresh aviation bridge between Vietnam and the Netherlands. The service, due to commence on June 16, 2026, will operate three times per week using wide-body Airbus A350 aircraft, expanding the national flag carrier’s long-haul network and unlocking more seamless connections for both European and Vietnamese travelers.

The forthcoming Hanoi to Amsterdam route marks an important milestone in Vietnam Airlines’ long-haul strategy, bringing the Dutch capital into its growing constellation of European destinations. After years in which travelers often relied on one-stop itineraries via major hubs, the direct connection will substantially cut travel time and complexity for passengers flying between Vietnam and the Netherlands.

From June 16, 2026, Vietnam Airlines plans to operate three round-trip flights per week between Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The route will be served by Airbus A350 aircraft, one of the airline’s flagship wide-body types. The aircraft choice underscores the expectation of both business and leisure demand, with a cabin product designed to meet international standards on comfort and service.

For European travelers, the flight opens an efficient gateway not only to Hanoi but to onward destinations across Vietnam and the broader Southeast Asia region. For Vietnamese passengers, Amsterdam will offer convenient access to the Benelux countries, Northern Europe, and a wide range of onward European and transatlantic connections available from Schiphol, one of the continent’s busiest and most connected airports.

Strengthening Vietnam’s European Network

The Hanoi–Amsterdam launch reflects a broader, long-term push by Vietnam Airlines to strengthen its presence in Europe. In recent years, the carrier has inaugurated and restored a series of long-haul services linking Vietnam with major European markets. These include direct flights from Hanoi to Milan, which launched in July 2025, adding Italy to the network for the first time, and new services from Ho Chi Minh City to Copenhagen, introduced in December 2025 as the first nonstop route between Vietnam and Northern Europe.

Alongside established routes to major hubs such as Frankfurt and Paris, the addition of Amsterdam creates a denser European web anchored in both Western and Northern Europe. This diversified footprint is designed to serve a mix of tourism, business, and visiting-friends-and-relatives traffic, while supporting stronger trade and investment ties between Vietnam and its European partners.

Vietnam Airlines has framed its European growth as central to its 2025–2030 strategy, anticipating rising demand from European travelers drawn to Vietnam’s beaches, heritage sites, and emerging culinary scene. At the same time, the airline is positioning itself as a premium option for Vietnamese travelers seeking direct and reliable connections to key European business and cultural centers.

Economic and Tourism Impacts for Vietnam and the Netherlands

The new Hanoi–Amsterdam link is expected to provide a significant boost to tourism, trade, and people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and the Netherlands. The Netherlands is already an important economic partner for Vietnam, particularly as a major investor and key European gateway for logistics, agriculture, and technology. A direct air bridge between the two capitals can help unlock new business opportunities in both directions.

For Dutch companies and travelers, the non-stop service simplifies access to Vietnam’s fast-growing market, eliminating the need for transfers in third-country hubs. For Vietnamese businesses, particularly those in manufacturing, agriculture, and high-tech sectors, the direct link promises more efficient access to partners and clients across the Benelux region and beyond, thanks to Amsterdam’s role as a major entry point for cargo and passenger flows.

Tourism stands to gain as well. Dutch travelers will have a streamlined route to explore Hanoi’s historic quarters, Halong Bay’s limestone karsts, and the cultural tapestry of central and southern Vietnam. At the same time, Vietnamese tourists will find Amsterdam’s canals, museums, and cultural attractions more accessible, with easy onward journeys to neighboring countries including Belgium, Germany, and France.

Enhanced Connectivity Through SkyTeam and KLM Partnership

Vietnam Airlines’ membership in the SkyTeam alliance and its partnership with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines are central to the strategic logic of the Hanoi–Amsterdam route. By linking two alliance hubs directly, the new service will provide passengers with smoother transfers, coordinated schedules, and integrated frequent-flyer benefits across both carriers’ networks.

Travelers flying from Hanoi to Amsterdam will be able to connect onwards on KLM and other SkyTeam member airlines to a wide range of European and transatlantic destinations with a single ticket, through-checked baggage, and aligned customer service standards. Conversely, passengers originating in Europe will have a straightforward path to not only Hanoi but onward domestic and regional destinations served by Vietnam Airlines, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and key cities across Northeast and Southeast Asia.

The partnership also extends to shared lounges, reciprocal mileage earning and redemption, and coordinated customer care in the event of disruptions. For frequent travelers, this alliance-based connectivity can significantly improve the overall journey experience, helping to make Vietnam Airlines more competitive against other Asian and European carriers operating on similar corridors.

Onboard Experience on the Airbus A350

The decision to deploy Airbus A350 aircraft on the Hanoi–Amsterdam route positions Vietnam Airlines to highlight its long-haul product. The A350 is a next-generation, fuel-efficient wide-body, known for its quieter cabin, modern interiors, and improved air quality, all of which are important considerations on a flight of roughly 12 hours.

Vietnam Airlines typically configures its A350s with a multi-class layout, including Business, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins. Business Class is expected to offer lie-flat seats, direct aisle access in most configurations, and enhanced privacy, catering to corporate travelers and high-end leisure passengers. Premium Economy aims to attract cost-conscious long-haul travelers seeking extra legroom, enhanced recline, and upgraded service without the full premium of Business Class.

Economy cabins on the A350 are designed to balance capacity with comfort, with seatback in-flight entertainment, adjustable headrests, and meal services that highlight Vietnamese culinary influences. The aircraft’s lower cabin altitude and improved humidity compared with older wide-body types can also reduce fatigue, making a tangible difference on overnight and ultra-long sectors such as Hanoi–Amsterdam.

Seamless Travel for European and Vietnamese Markets

Beyond the symbolism of connecting two capitals, Vietnam Airlines is clearly targeting practical benefits for travelers on both sides of the route. For European passengers, the new service offers a nonstop overnight or daytime option, depending on scheduling, with immediate onward domestic connections in Vietnam. This suits both tourists hoping to quickly reach beach destinations and business travelers who require efficient access to industrial hubs and major cities.

Vietnamese travelers, in turn, will gain greater schedule choice for journeys into Europe. By adding Amsterdam to existing points like Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, and Copenhagen, the airline can offer more flexible itineraries that match different preferences for departure times, connection patterns, and arrival cities. Families visiting relatives in Europe, students traveling to and from universities, and professionals shuttling between offices will all benefit from diversified options.

Importantly, the non-stop structure reduces the stress and uncertainty that can accompany transfers in third-country hubs, such as tight connections, separate tickets, and inconsistent service standards. With a direct Hanoi–Amsterdam flight feeding structured alliance networks at each end, Vietnam Airlines is positioning this route as a seamless, integrated journey rather than a patchwork of segments.

Part of a Wider International Expansion

The launch of the Hanoi–Amsterdam route comes amid a broader expansion of Vietnam Airlines’ international network. In 2025 and 2026, the airline has focused on both restoring pre-pandemic routes and opening new markets. It has restarted the Hanoi–Moscow service, strengthened connections with Northeast Asia through new and resumed routes to Beijing and other Chinese cities, and expanded intra-Asian connectivity with services such as the Jakarta–Hanoi route inaugurated in late 2025.

This mix of European long-haul and Asian regional routes is designed to create a balanced network that can withstand fluctuations in individual markets. While tourism demand can be highly seasonal, especially on leisure-heavy routes, the airline’s focus on combining business links, visiting-friends-and-relatives segments, and tourism flows is intended to improve year-round load factors and revenue stability.

For Vietnam’s broader aviation sector, these moves signal a continued shift toward positioning the country as a regional hub, leveraging its geographic location between Northeast and Southeast Asia and its growing economic profile. As more travelers choose Vietnam Airlines and its partners for both point-to-point and connecting journeys, Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports are likely to see more transit traffic from Europe to Asia and within Asia itself.

Implications for Travelers Planning Future Trips

With the Hanoi–Amsterdam route expected to begin on June 16, 2026, travelers planning medium- to long-term trips can already start to factor this new option into their itineraries. Those based in Europe who are considering Vietnam for late 2026 vacations, business travel, or family visits may find that the direct flight from Amsterdam simplifies planning and opens opportunities to combine Vietnam with neighboring destinations using regional connections.

Vietnamese travelers heading to Europe will be able to view Amsterdam as a new primary entry and exit point, particularly convenient for itineraries that include the Netherlands, Belgium, western Germany, or Scandinavia. The ability to book single-ticket, alliance-based connections via Amsterdam will be especially valuable for complex multi-city trips involving multiple airlines and tight connections.

As launch day approaches, prospective passengers can expect Vietnam Airlines and its partners to promote introductory fares and package deals, particularly targeted at tour operators, corporate accounts, and leisure travelers booking well in advance. Given the competition on Europe–Asia corridors, pricing will be an important factor in how quickly the route matures, but the combination of a modern aircraft, alliance connectivity, and the growing appeal of Vietnam as a destination gives the Hanoi–Amsterdam service strong fundamentals from the outset.