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Specifically, Vietnam Airlines flight VN98 departed from Tan Son Nhat Airport at 8:57 PM on November 28th and landed at San Francisco Airport at 7:42 PM local time on the same day (10:42 AM on November 29th in Vietnam time). The non-stop flight from Ho Chi Minh City to San Francisco (California) had a total duration of 13 hours and 45 minutes.
The flight was operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner – one of the world's most modern wide-body aircraft from the American aircraft manufacturer Boeing.
To date, Vietnam Airlines is the first and only Vietnamese airline to operate regular direct flights to the United States. This means that VN98 is the first regular flight in history to open a direct route between Vietnam and the United States operated by a Vietnamese airline.
The General Director of Vietnam Airlines, Mr. Le Hong Ha, stated that a year ago, the airline operated a direct flight from Vietnam to San Francisco airport to bring Vietnamese citizens back home: "We are very pleased and proud that today's flight is also a direct flight landing at San Francisco airport, but it carries a completely new meaning, marking a major step forward for Vietnam Airlines and a historic milestone for Vietnamese aviation with the official establishment of a regular Vietnam-US flight route."
Mr. Ivar C. Satero, Director of San Francisco International Airport, also expressed his honor that Vietnam Airlines had chosen San Francisco as its first destination in the US. He also stated that this event marked a significant step forward in making San Francisco Airport "a leading gateway in the US for passengers from Vietnam to access areas in the San Francisco Bay Area."
These are the passengers on the first regular flight to America.
On the more than 13-hour flight, in addition to the two main meals and a regular snack, passengers are also served special meals consisting of high-quality, nutritious specialties produced and processed in the United States, such as wine, cheese, California grapes, Washington apples, blueberries, and American walnuts.
Special meals are available for passengers on flight VN98.
According to Vietnam Airlines, starting November 28th, the airline will operate two regular flights per week between Ho Chi Minh City and San Francisco. Furthermore, after the pandemic is brought under control and the Vietnamese government officially allows the reopening of regular international flights, the number of flights will be increased to seven per week.
During this period, Vietnam Airlines is also continuing to research opening new routes to the US, such as between Los Angeles and Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
