HÀ NỘI — Expanding air connectivity between Việt Nam and Türkiye is boosting tourism, trade and broader economic ties, as rising flight frequency and travel demand place aviation links at the centre of a decade of growing cooperation.

Turkish Airlines on April 14 marked 10 years of operations in the Hà Nội market at an event in Melia Hanoi, bringing together representatives of the airline, the Embassy of Türkiye and travel industry partners, and highlighting a decade of expanding aviation links between the two countries.

In recent years, cooperation between Việt Nam and Türkiye in tourism and aviation has shown steady progress, contributing to increased exchanges in travel, trade and culture. Officials said the expansion of direct air links has played an important role in this trend.

The number of direct flights between the two countries has gradually increased with plans to raise frequency from 14 to 20 flights per week. The move is expected to improve connectivity and facilitate travel and business activities.

Turkish Ambassador to Việt Nam Korhan Kemik said the air route has developed into an important link over the past decade, contributing to broader bilateral cooperation.

Türkiye remains a destination of interest for international travellers with well-known attractions such as Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque alongside its cultural heritage and cuisine.

As the national carrier Turkish Airlines currently operates flights to 133 countries and 358 destinations worldwide. In Việt Nam the airline reported carrying around 1.15 million passengers from Hà Nội to international destinations between 2016 and 2025.

The direct Hà Nội–Istanbul route, launched in 2019 and increased to daily services in 2024, has contributed to improved links between Việt Nam Europe and other regions via Istanbul a major international aviation hub.

Additional services including stopover programmes allow transit passengers to visit the city during layovers.

Dincer Sayici, general manager of Turkish Airlines in Hà Nội, said Việt Nam remains an important market for the airline in the region with demand for both travel and trade continuing to grow.

The event also provided an opportunity for the airline to engage with partners in Việt Nam and review its operations over the past decade amid broader changes in global travel patterns. — BIZHUB/VNS