The relationship between India and Viet Nam is rooted in deep historical links, cultural affinities and growing people-to-people connections. Over the past decade, this partnership has expanded significantly across trade, investment, education, tourism and cultural exchange, most recently marked by the elevation of bilateral ties to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2026.
As engagement across these areas continues to grow, aviation has emerged as a vital enabler, facilitating the movement of people, ideas, businesses and opportunities while bringing the two nations closer together.
Since its privatisation in 2022 under the stewardship of the Tata Group, Air India has embarked on one of the most ambitious transformation journeys in global aviation. Among many other transformational initiatives, such as fleet expansion with orders for 600 new aircraft, refitting the interiors of 66 of the airline’s legacy aircraft, and launching a slew of new products, services, and a global brand identity, Air India has been steadily expanding its worldwide network. In recent years, Air India has added an array of dynamic destinations across the Southeast Asia regions — Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Manila, Bali, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City — signalling its intent to become the carrier of choice for travel between India and the region’s most vibrant economies.
Air India and Viet Nam
Viet Nam has held a special place in this expansion story. Air India first touched down on Vietnamese soil in June 2024, launching non-stop services between Delhi and Ho Chi Minh City — boosting connectivity between India’s capital and Viet Nam’s commercial heartland. Building on the success of that route, Air India took another step in May 2026, commencing non-stop services between Delhi and Hanoi, thus opening its second Vietnamese gateway.
Enabling connections
The India-Viet Nam relationship is fundamentally a people’s relationship. From the philosophical resonances of Buddhism that travelled ancient trade routes, to the modern-day student, entrepreneur, tourist, and professional crossing borders in pursuit of opportunity — human movement has always been at the heart of bilateral warmth. Aviation is the infrastructure of that movement, and Air India’s dual-city presence in Viet Nam reflects a deep understanding of how people actually travel.
Travellers to Viet Nam rarely confine themselves to a single city. The country’s geography and diversity — from the frenetic energy of Ho Chi Minh City in the south to the historic charm and natural splendour surrounding Hanoi in the north — naturally invites multi-city exploration. Air India’s services to both cities enable travellers to book open-jaw itineraries, so that they can fly into Hanoi and depart from Ho Chi Minh City, or vice versa, without the inconvenience of retracing their steps.
A gateway between East and West
Air India’s connectivity between India and Viet Nam extends well beyond connectivity between the two nations. Delhi serves as an efficient transit hub, and Air India’s dual Viet Nam gateways unlock compelling transit possibilities for travellers across multiple continents. Travellers from Europe and the United Kingdom — where Air India operates to 11 points — can conveniently transit through Delhi to reach both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Comparably, Vietnamese travellers seeking to explore London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or other European destinations can seamlessly connect at Delhi onto Air India’s extensive transatlantic and European network.
The Only Full-Service Indian Carrier on the Route
Air India holds a distinction that matters greatly to discerning travellers: it is the only Indian full-service carrier operating between India and Viet Nam, and the only Indian airline offering travellers a choice of cabin — Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy.
Trained to the exacting standards that the Tata Group and the new Air India demand, the airline’s crew bring genuine warmth of Indian hospitality, embodying a tradition of care, grace, and attentiveness that reflects the very spirit of India itself — making every flight an experience.
As both nations look to the skies ahead, Air India reaffirms its dedication to deepening aviation connectivity between India and Viet Nam — connecting peoples, powering commerce, and celebrating the extraordinary partnership two great nations have built together.
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