VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Transport last week had a meeting with Russian ambassador to Vietnam Konstantin Vasilievich Vnukov to discuss a plan to launch direct air service between Vietnam and Vladivostok.

Illustrative image -- File photo

Vnukov said that to bolster economic and trade ties between Russia and Vietnam, it is important to strengthen cooperation in transportation. In particular, Russia is interested in an air route between Hanoi and Vladivostok.

Meanwhile, the ministry said direct flights between the two countries would help promote economic, trade and tourism ties.

Earlier, domestic air carriers including Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet had plans for direct services between Vietnam and Russia.

As part of the framework of the 17th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Vietnam-Russia on trade, economic and science and technology cooperation in September 2014, leaders of Vietjet and Vladivostok international airport clinched an agreement to open Hanoi-Vladivostok service from March 2015.

Low-frills carrier Vietjet expected the route to boost tourism and trade ties between the two countries because Hanoi, HCMC and local beaches in Vietnam are attractive to Russian tourists.

However, the plan has not been translated into reality due to economic woes and a significant decline in Russian visitors to Vietnam due to the strong depreciation of the Russian ruble currency against the U.S. dollar, which leads Russians to pay more for overseas vacations.

SGT