Deputy Premier of Western Australia Rita Saffioti speaks at the event. — VNA/VNS Photo

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines recently announced a direct flight service between HCM City and Perth, Australia, which will begin on December 7.

Speaking at the ceremony, Premier of Western Australia Roger Cook said securing this new direct flight between Việt Nam and Perth opens up an abundance of opportunities between the two destinations and represents a whole new inbound visitor market for Western Australia's industry, tourism and hospitality sectors.

"We have a growing Western Australian-Vietnamese community in our state, which has contributed to our social, economic and cultural development and this announcement will provide better direct connections for the community whether it be for leisure, business or studying opportunities,” he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Premier and Minister of Tourism of Western Australia Rita Saffioti said Việt Nam is becoming an emerging tourism market for Western Australia, with 10,000 visitors travelling into the state for the year up until March 2023, and these new flights will further bolster that with a further 43,000 people able to come in each year.

"With flights starting in December, just in time for the peak summer season, I'm sure this route will be very popular, and helps affirm our status as the Western Gateway to Australia,” she said.

Flights from HCM City will depart at 15:50 every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday and arrive in Perth at 23:05 on the same day (local time). Flights from Perth will depart at 00:50 every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday and arrive in HCM City at 06:10 the following day. Passengers have been able to purchase tickets for this route since September 1.

With the new route, Vietnam Airlines will operate 23 round-trip flights between Việt Nam and Australia each week, averaging three flights per day. — VNS