“We’ve worked closely with the State Government to focus on international aviation markets which will benefit the Western Australian tourism industry and the wider economy,” said Perth Airport’s chief commercial and aviation officer, Kate Holsgrove.

“Vietnam is Western Australia’s 14^th largest trading partner, with total trade of $2.4 billion in 2022-23, and the ability to connect by air will only grow business ties.

“This new non-stop service with our new airline partner Vietnam Airlines will unlock more opportunities by generating more than 85,000 seats and nearly 6,000 tons of cargo capacity annually.”

According to Vietnam Airlines’ Australia general manager, Nguyen Huu Tung, the new route is in line with the carrier’s strategy to expand its Australian network.

“Vietnam Airlines’ new, non-stop service between Ho Chi Minh City and Perth will help bring Western Australians to numerous famous tourist spots in Vietnam,” he said.

“Travelling beyond Vietnam will also be made easy thanks to convenient connecting from Ho Chi Minh City to Europe and North-East Asia on Vietnam Airlines’ expanding flight network.”

Vietnam Airlines is not the first carrier to open up a direct service between Perth and Vietnam, with low-cost airline Vietjet having commenced five return A321neo services per week last month, connecting through to Adelaide.

Aside from these two routes, no other direct services currently link WA to Vietnam, though several airlines, including Vietjet, Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar and Bamboo Airways, fly from the east coast to Ho Chi Minh City and/or Hanoi.