Vietnam’s proposal to launch direct flights to Bangladesh has been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and is now awaiting final clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mohammad Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan told bdnews24.com on Tuesday that both Vietnam Airlines, the state-owned carrier, and a private airline have applied for permission to operate flights to Bangladesh. “We aim to launch flights soon. Their global sales agent in Bangladesh is ready, and now, it’s waiting for ministry approval,” he said.
Vietnam’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Nguyen Manh Cuong, met with the CAAB chairman at the agency’s headquarters on Tuesday to discuss the launch of direct flights, finalize a ground service agreement, and sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance aviation cooperation.
The discussions also focused on expanding collaboration in the aviation sector, with representatives from the Vietnamese embassy, FlyPort Limited (Vietnam Airlines’ local agent), and CAAB officials in attendance.
Vietnam, a Southeast Asian country with a land area of 331,000 square kilometers, shares borders with China to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and maritime boundaries with Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The air distance between Bangladesh and Vietnam is approximately 2,165 kilometers.
Currently, flights with layovers take an average of 7-8 hours, with some routes exceeding 10 hours depending on the transit locations and wait times. A direct flight would reduce travel time to around three hours.
At present, airlines like Qatar Airways, China Southern, Thai Airways, IndiGo, AirAsia, and Malaysia Airlines operate flights between Bangladesh and Thailand. Discussions on direct flights between Bangladesh and Vietnam began in 2021 under the tenure of State Minister Mahbub Ali, resurfaced in 2024 under former Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Faruk Khan, but had not materialized until now.
Abdus Salam Aref, president of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB), told bdnews24.com: “There are no direct flights from Bangladesh to Vietnam, leaving travelers with limited options. Direct flights would make travel easier, reduce costs, and save time for tourists from both countries.”
He also noted that cargo and air freight services would facilitate trade and create new business opportunities, benefiting both nations.
