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EN
On May 6th, the Hanoi Department of Tourism facilitated a two-way exchange of tourists between Hanoi tourism businesses and travel agencies in the Far East region (Russian Federation).
To attract Vietnamese tourists to this region, the Russian airline IrAero has launched a direct international flight from Irkutsk (Russia) to Hanoi (Vietnam) with a frequency of 2 flights per week, making it very convenient for tourists to visit and explore the beautiful natural scenery and culture of this area.
This direct flight shortens travel time between the two cities from 9 hours to 6 hours and 30 minutes, opening up new opportunities for tourism cooperation between Hanoi and the Russian Far East.
rAero Airlines has launched a direct international flight from Irkutsk (Russia) to Hanoi (Vietnam).
The total number of Russian tourists visiting Vietnam was 646,524 in 2019, while in 2023 Vietnam only welcomed less than 70,000 Russian tourists, despite having fully opened its doors to international visitors and offering a 45-day visa exemption for Russian citizens, effective from August 15, 2023.
The main reason is the lack of direct flights connecting Russian cities to tourist cities in Vietnam.
At a working exchange program aimed at connecting and facilitating two-way tourist exchanges between Hanoi tourism businesses and travel agencies in the Far East, and introducing the tourism potential and strengths of the Far East (Russian Federation), Malinovskii Roman, Vice President of the Asia-Europe Business Association, informed that the city of Irkutsk, located in southeastern Russia, was founded in the 17th century and therefore has many UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Irkutsk is a city located in southeastern Russia, the administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast, with a population of approximately 620,000.
In particular, 60 km from the city center lies Lake Baikal, considered the largest freshwater lake in the world, with its stunning natural scenery and unique cultural features, making it an ideal destination for international tourists.
According to the Hanoi Department of Tourism, in recent times, over 50% of Vietnamese tourists have chosen Russia as their destination. Hanoi has also signed a cooperation agreement with the city of Moscow (Russia), through which it will organize a Vietnamese goods fair in Moscow.
The Moscow Day event is scheduled to be held in Hanoi in September 2024, providing an opportunity for tourism businesses in the Far East to promote and connect tour packages to Irkutsk with Vietnamese partners.
