Vietnam Airlines to fly to the U.S.

There are fresh hopes this week of regular flights between Vietnam and the U.S., with Vietnam Airlines brokering a deal for a route via Taiwan.

Pham Ngoc Ming, the airline's Vice Director, has stated previously that the route would be of "great social and political significance".

One of the biggest factors, however, is tourism, with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism reporting that visitor numbers in November increased by 108 percent. A direct comparison between visitor numbers in the first 11 months of 2006 and the corresponding period in 2005 reveals an increase of 115 percent.

At this early stage, there is little information about the route, as officials continue to debate the merits of various U.S. bases.

According to VietNamNet Bridge, the number of Americans visiting Vietnam will double next year, not least because Vietnam is still seen as one of the most desirable destinations for business in Asia.

Vietnam Airlines, the national flag carrier, was established as a state enterprise in April 1989.

© Adfero Ltd

Comments

[Javier Pham]

Good news! I read good things recently about travelling to Vietnam. It is voted as one of ten biggest event in travel industry of United States. The once-embattled nation emerged from its status as an odd destination for travel pioneers to become a major player in mass-volume, popularly priced tourism.