The inauguration ceremony, hosted by the Israeli Embassy in Viet Nam, marked a significant milestone in bilateral cooperation across aviation, tourism and economic sectors.
Flight IZ595 departed Tel Aviv at 00:05 local time and landed at Noi Bai at 16:30 after a journey of 11.5 hours. The inaugural service carried representatives of Israel’s travel industry and media, who will conduct market surveys to promote tourism in Viet Nam.
Initially, the route will operate once weekly using a wide-body aircraft with a capacity of approximately 290 passengers. The return flight departs Ha Noi at 19:40 and arrives at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv at 02:25 the following morning, after nearly 12 hours.
This is the first direct air route between Viet Nam and Israel, significantly reducing travel time and eliminating the need for stopovers in third countries. From Tel Aviv, Vietnamese passengers can conveniently connect to destinations across the Middle East and Europe, while Ha Noi is expected to serve as a key gateway for Israeli travellers to Southeast Asia.
Speaking at the ceremony, Israeli Ambassador to Viet Nam Yaron Mayer described the new route as strategically important for strengthening bilateral relations.
He noted that it not only bridges geographical distances but also promotes people-to-people exchanges and opens new opportunities in tourism, trade, investment and innovation, elevating the friendship between the two nations.
Deputy Director of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Nguyen Thi Hoa Mai stated that the direct flights would boost two-way tourism, particularly inbound travel from Israel. Viet Nam aims to welcome 300,000 Israeli visitors annually by 2030, with an average length of stay of 15 days.
Meital Dahan Mizrahi, Vice President of Ground Operations and Service at Arkia Airlines, affirmed that the Ha Noi route aligns with the airline’s expansion strategy in Asia, highlighting Viet Nam’s strong potential as a destination for Israeli tourists and businesses alike.
