Vietnam Links with Mongolia and Others as Vietnam Airlines’s New Direct Flights Open Powerful Tourism Gateways Across Europe and Asia

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Vietnam has linked with Mongolia, the Netherlands, Japan and other important travel markets as new direct air services strengthen tourism, business mobility and regional economic development across Europe and Asia.

The two countries are following different aviation strategies, but both are using improved connectivity to make their destinations more accessible.

Vietnam Airlines has opened Vietnam’s first direct air connection with the Netherlands by launching scheduled flights between Hanoi and Amsterdam. The route gives travellers a new nonstop link between Southeast Asia and Western Europe while expanding Vietnam Airlines’ growing European network.

Mongolia, meanwhile, is developing a new international gateway to its southern Gobi region. A direct charter connection from Japan to Dalanzadgad, the administrative centre of Umnugovi Province, allows organised visitors to reach the Gobi Desert without first travelling through Ulaanbaatar.

Together, these services demonstrate how governments, airlines and airports are using direct flights to support tourism growth, trade, investment and the development of destinations beyond traditional capital-city gateways.

Vietnam Airlines Launches First Direct Link with the Netherlands

Vietnam Airlines began direct operations between Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on 16 June 2026.

Official information from Schiphol confirms that Vietnam Airlines operates the route three times each week using an Airbus A350.

The flights connect two important aviation hubs:

• Hanoi, Vietnam’s political capital and a major gateway to northern Vietnam
• Amsterdam, one of Europe’s leading international airports and connecting centres

The service marks Vietnam Airlines’ first scheduled nonstop route to the Netherlands.

It also strengthens the carrier’s European network, which already includes major destinations such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich and Milan.

Amsterdam provides onward connectivity throughout Europe through Schiphol’s large international network. Vietnam Airlines is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, allowing passengers to connect through partner carriers to destinations across the Netherlands and wider Europe.

Correct Route Details

The route should not be described as a direct Ho Chi Minh City–Amsterdam operation.

Vietnam Airlines sells connecting journeys between Amsterdam and Ho Chi Minh City, but the verified nonstop service operates from Hanoi.

Amsterdam Becomes a Strategic European Gateway

Amsterdam is an important addition to Vietnam Airlines’ long-haul network because of its location, airport connectivity and economic significance.

Schiphol offers extensive onward links across:

• The Netherlands
• Belgium
• Germany
• Scandinavia
• The United Kingdom
• Central and Eastern Europe
• North America

Travellers arriving from Hanoi can connect to a large number of European cities without routing through another Vietnamese carrier’s existing gateways.

The service also gives European visitors another direct option for reaching Vietnam. This may support tourism to Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Sapa and the wider northern region.

Passengers can also connect through Vietnam Airlines’ domestic network to destinations including Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc.

The Netherlands Is an Important Trade Partner

The new route has commercial significance beyond tourism.

The Netherlands is one of Vietnam’s important European economic partners and an established centre for international trade, logistics and investment.

Direct flights can support:

• Corporate travel
• Government and diplomatic movements
• Trade delegations
• Meetings and exhibitions
• Educational exchanges
• Air cargo
• Tourism investment
• Visiting friends and relatives

The Airbus A350 is designed for long-distance operations and can transport both passengers and cargo. This makes the service relevant to exporters and importers as well as leisure travellers.

Amsterdam’s position as a major European logistics centre increases the route’s potential importance for freight moving between Vietnam and the European Union.

Vietnam Strengthens Its Northeast Asian Network

Vietnam Airlines’ European expansion is taking place alongside continued development across Northeast Asia.

Japan, South Korea and China remain central to Vietnam’s tourism and aviation economy. These countries provide large volumes of leisure travellers, business visitors, investors and people travelling to visit friends or relatives.

Vietnam Airlines operates services to leading regional cities including:

• Tokyo
• Osaka
• Nagoya
• Fukuoka
• Seoul
• Busan
• Beijing
• Shanghai
• Guangzhou
• Taipei
• Hong Kong

These markets benefit from relatively short flight times and strong commercial links with Vietnam.

Japan and South Korea are also major investment partners. This creates consistent demand for business travel between industrial centres, corporate offices and manufacturing zones.

Direct Flights Support Vietnam’s Tourism Ambitions

Vietnam has identified international connectivity as an important part of its tourism-development strategy.

The country combines air-network expansion with entry facilitation, destination promotion and investment in airport infrastructure.

Improved connectivity helps international visitors reach a broad selection of destinations, including:

• Hanoi
• Ho Chi Minh City
• Da Nang
• Ha Long Bay
• Hoi An
• Hue
• Nha Trang
• Phu Quoc
• Sapa
• Mekong Delta

New long-haul routes can also encourage travellers to stay for longer periods. Visitors arriving directly from Europe may combine cultural cities, beaches and natural attractions during the same journey.

Better air access can strengthen Vietnam’s ability to compete with Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia for international tourism demand.

Mongolia Creates a Direct Gateway to the Gobi Desert

Mongolia is also expanding tourism connectivity, but its strategy focuses on opening a secondary regional gateway.

Umnugovi Province in southern Mongolia has welcomed a direct charter service carrying visitors from Japan to Dalanzadgad.

Dalanzadgad is the provincial capital and the main access point for journeys into the southern Gobi Desert.

Previously, most international visitors travelling to the area first entered Mongolia through Ulaanbaatar. They then had to take a domestic flight or complete a long overland journey to reach the Gobi region.

A direct international charter can reduce this additional travel requirement, especially for organised tour groups operating on fixed itineraries.

The Gobi Region Gains Easier International Access

Umnugovi Province contains many of Mongolia’s best-known natural and cultural tourism attractions.

These include:

• Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park
• Yolyn Am, also known as the Valley of the Vultures
• Khongoryn Els, famous for its extensive sand dunes
• Bayanzag, widely known as the Flaming Cliffs
• Dinosaur fossil areas
• Bactrian camel experiences
• Nomadic communities
• Desert landscapes and wildlife

Dalanzadgad functions as a service centre for visitors exploring these attractions.

Tourists commonly use the city for airport transfers, accommodation, supplies, guides and onward transport to desert camps.

Direct international access has the potential to strengthen Dalanzadgad’s position as more than a domestic transit point. It could gradually become a recognised international arrival gateway for the Gobi.

Japan Is an Important Market for Mongolia

Japan has longstanding diplomatic, economic and cultural relations with Mongolia.

Japanese travellers are an important potential market for Mongolia because of their interest in:

• Nature tourism
• Cultural heritage
• Archaeology
• Paleontology
• Photography
• Nomadic traditions
• Small-group travel
• Educational tourism

The Gobi Desert is particularly suitable for organised tours because many attractions are remote and require specialist transport, guides and accommodation planning.

Direct charter flights can make these trips easier to package and sell in Japan.

They may also help Mongolian tour operators offer shorter itineraries by reducing the time visitors spend transferring through Ulaanbaatar.

Local Tourism Businesses Could Gain

Greater international access may create new economic opportunities in Umnugovi Province.

Potential beneficiaries include:

• Hotels and guesthouses
• Ger camps
• Local guides
• Drivers and transport companies
• Restaurants
• Camel-herding communities
• Museums
• Handicraft sellers
• Cultural performers
• Domestic tour operators

Tourism income can be especially valuable in remote regions where economic activity is concentrated in a limited number of sectors.

However, sustained growth will require careful planning. The Gobi is environmentally sensitive, and many communities have limited water, waste-management and transport capacity.

Regional tourism expansion must therefore balance visitor growth with landscape protection and community needs.

Secondary Gateways Are Becoming More Important

The Japan–Dalanzadgad charter reflects a wider aviation trend in which international flights are no longer directed only towards capital cities.

Secondary airports can help travellers reach tourism regions faster while spreading economic benefits beyond major urban centres.

This model is visible in destinations where international services fly directly to:

• Island resorts
• Cultural regions
• Coastal cities
• Mountain gateways
• Desert destinations
• Pilgrimage centres

For Mongolia, direct services to Umnugovi could reduce dependence on Ulaanbaatar as the only major point of entry for international tourism.

If the charter proves commercially successful, it may encourage further seasonal flights from Japan or other Asian markets.

Aviation Connectivity Drives Regional Development

The Vietnam and Mongolia developments demonstrate that direct aviation links can influence more than passenger convenience.

They can support:

• Tourism revenue
• Foreign investment
• Regional employment
• Export activity
• Cultural exchange
• Educational travel
• Hotel development
• Meetings and events
• Destination branding

Vietnam’s Amsterdam service connects two major international hubs and supports large-scale passenger and commercial demand.

Mongolia’s Gobi charter operates on a smaller scale, but it may have a significant local impact by linking an international market directly with a remote tourism region.

Different Routes Serve a Shared Tourism Goal

Vietnam and Mongolia are at different stages of aviation development.

Vietnam has a large national carrier, a broad domestic network and multiple long-haul routes. Its main challenge is to expand global reach while increasing capacity across major source markets.

Mongolia has a smaller aviation market and a highly concentrated tourism gateway. Its opportunity lies in using targeted charter services to connect international visitors directly with distinctive regional attractions.

Despite these differences, the central policy objective is similar.

Both countries are using air connectivity to:

• Reduce travel barriers
• Attract international visitors
• Support local businesses
• Expand tourism beyond existing routes
• Strengthen trade and cultural relations

Asia’s Tourism Network Continues to Expand

The new air links reflect the continued growth of Asian tourism connectivity in 2026.

Airlines are opening long-haul services, restoring regional capacity and serving destinations that previously depended on indirect travel.

For Vietnam, the Hanoi–Amsterdam route adds a valuable European gateway and strengthens links with one of the continent’s most important aviation centres.

For Mongolia, the Japan–Dalanzadgad charter creates a more direct path to the Gobi Desert and offers new opportunities for tourism development in Umnugovi Province.

Together, the services show how carefully selected international routes can reshape travel patterns, strengthen regional economies and introduce lesser-known destinations to new audiences.