Minsk (VNA) – Belavia Belarusian Airlines launched its first regular service linking Belarus and Vietnam on March 19, connecting Minsk to Nha Trang – an important step forward in bilateral ties and people-to-people exchanges.
Passengers on the debut Minsk – Nha Trang flight were greeted at Minsk National Airport with a traditional Vietnamese dance performance by the local Vietnamese community, plus souvenirs celebrating the milestone since the upgrade of Vietnam – Belarus ties to a Strategic Partnership in May 2025.
The flight departed Minsk at 00:30 (local time) on March 20 and landed at Cam Ranh International Airport. The inaugural service was fully booked with all 270 seats occupied.
Vladimir Barkun, Deputy General Director for Marketing and Foreign Economic Activity of Belavia, said the route is the longest in the airline’s network, covering nearly 9,300km with an estimated flight duration of around 11 hours.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Belarus Nguyen Van Trung, in his address, said the move is meant to realise the high-level agreements reached during Party General Secretary To Lam’s state visit to Belarus in May 2025, when the two countries upgraded their ties to the Strategic Partnership. The service will meet demand from tourists, business travellers and Vietnamese community living and studying in Belarus while opening the door wide for even more people-to-people exchanges.
He described Belarus as a longstanding friend of Vietnam, with both sides poised to explore new cooperation areas.
On the future prospects, Press Secretary of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry Ruslan Varankov said Belarus is eyeing the launch of a tractor assembly facility right in Vietnam, alongside infrastructure projects using Belarusian equipment. Logistics and tourism cooperation also hold strong potential.
Against the current geopolitical backdrop, Vietnam stands out as an appealing getaway for Belarusian travellers. Better air connectivity, he said, not only brings their people closer, but also unlocks promising business opportunities.
The route was originally scheduled for March 31, but was advanced thanks to robust demand from travel companies.
Belavia will deploy Airbus A330-200 wide-body aircraft for 281 passengers on the service. The inaugural flight featured a special livery marking the airline's 30th anniversary.
The next round-trip flight to and from Nha Trang is set for March 27. From March 31 onward, services will run three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays./.
