Passengers on the inaugural flights receive gifts from Vietjet. — Photo courtesy of Vietjet

Budget airline Vietjet on Monday launched two direct flights from Ha Noi and HCM City to New Delhi.

Vietjet is the first airline connecting the two biggest economic, cultural and tourist centres of Viet Nam and the capital of India.

The HCM City-New Delhi route operates four return flights per week. The flight departs from HCM City at 7pm and arrives in New Delhi at 10.50pm. The return flight takes off from New Delhi at 11.50pm and lands in HCM City at 6.10am (all in local times).

Meanwhile, three return flights per week are provided on the Ha Noi-New Delhi route. The flight leaves Ha Noi at 7.10pm and arrives in New Delhi at 10.50pm. The return flight takes off from New Delhi at 11.50pm and lands in Ha Noi at 5.20am (all in local times).

According to Vietjet, India is famous for its diverse, colorful culture, religion, food and tourism.

"Not only is the majestic landscape, India also attracts tourists by many impressive historical world heritages and Bodh Gaya pilgrimage beliefs that everyone wants to come at least once in their lifetime," the airline said in a statement.

Over the past three years, tourist exchanges between the two countries have risen more than 20 per cent per year.

More than 132,000 Indian visitors came to Viet Nam in 2018, an increase of 21 per cent compared to a year earlier, while a total of 31,400 Vietnamese tourists visited India, a year-on-year increase of 32 per cent.

Prices are around VND15 million for a return trip.

In the first seven months of this year, Viet Nam welcomed above 88,560 Indian holiday-makers, up 20 per cent compared to the same period last year. — VNS