VietJet inks deal to open direct flights between HCM City, Brisbane

Vietnamese budget carrier VietJet and the Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) of the Australian state of Queensland signed a cooperation agreement in Sydney on March 16 to open a direct route connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Brisbane.
VietJet inks deal to open direct flights between HCM City, Brisbane ảnh 1VietJet and the Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) sign a cooperation agreement to open a direct route connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Brisbane (Photo: VNA)

Sydney (VNA) – Vietnamese budget carrier VietJetand the Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) of the Australian state ofQueensland signed a cooperation agreement in Sydney on March 16 to open adirect route connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Brisbane.

The deal was inked in the presence of PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who is on an official visit to Australia, JamesMcGrath – Assistant Minister to the Australian Prime Minister, and officials ofVietnam and Australia.

The direct route linking HCM City and Brisbaneis scheduled to open in 2019.

CEO and Managing Director of BAC JulieannneAlroe said the travel frequency between Queensland and Vietnam has risen by anaverage of 8 percent annually over the last five years. VietJet selectedBrisbane as the first destination in Australia for a direct flight with HCMCity given the Vietnamese southern metropolis is one of the five biggestmarkets of Brisbane but there is yet a direct route between them.

Vice Chairman of VietJet Nguyen Thanh Hung saidthe carrier has continually upgraded its fleet and expanded the domestic andinternational flight network so as to bring more flight opportunities tomillions of Vietnamese people and tourists around the globe.

During PM Phuc’s trip, VietJet and theAustralian branch of Investec also signed an agreement on financial aid forfive Airbus A321 planes with total value of 609 million USD.

VietJet is a member of the International Air TransportAssociation (IATA) with the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate.The airline was also named as one of the Top 500 Brands in Asia 2016 by globalmarketing research company Nielsen and the “Best Asian Low Cost Carrier” at theTTG Travel Awards 2015, which compiles votes from travelers, travel agenciesand tour operators in throughout Asia and Asia’s Best Employer Brand by theEmployer Branding Institute and World HRD Congress for many years. The airlinewas also rated as one of the top three fastest growing airline brands onFacebook in the world by Socialbakers.

Currently, the airline boasts a fleet of 55 A320and A321 aircraft, and operates 385 flights each day. It has alreadytransported more than 55 million passengers on a network featuring 82 routes inVietnam and across the region to international destinations such as Thailand,Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China), Hong Kong (China), China,Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar andCambodia.              

Looking ahead, the airline plans to furtherexpand its network across the Asia Pacific region. To prepare for this plan,VietJet has signed agreements with the world’s leading aircraft manufacturersto purchase more brand-new and modern aircraft.-VNA
VNA

See more

Inside Bach Dang shipbuilding factory (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam's industry spearheads transition to circular economy

The circular economy is no longer just a policy choice. It has become an inevitable trend for delivering sustainable and green growth, sharpening competitiveness at home and abroad, and meeting Vietnam’s net-zero emissions target by 2050. It is now a prerequisite to sustain long-term economic expansion, particularly in industrial production and supporting industries.

Algerian officials, representatives of foreign embassies, and numerous global oil and gas companies attend the Bid Round. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam joins int'l bidding for oil and gas exploration in Algeria

Currently, PVEP is involved in oil exploitation at Blocks 433a and 416b of the Bir Seba field in the Hassi Messaoud area, Ouargla province, located more than 600 km south of Algiers. The project stands as one of Petrovietnam’s most successful overseas ventures, demonstrating the operational capacity and technical expertise of Vietnamese engineers on the global stage.

A customer is making payment via QR code at a coffee shop. The Ministry of Finance has proposed new regulations on taxable revenue thresholds for household businesses. (Photo: VNA)

Finance ministry eyes flexible tax thresholds

In a draft law amending several articles of the laws on personal income tax, corporate income tax and value-added tax, Vietnam's finance ministry proposed scrapping the fixed revenue threshold of 500 million VND. Instead, it suggested the threshold be set by the Government based on prevailing economic conditions.

Part of the Vung Ang II Thermal Power Plant. (Photo: VNA)

Vung Ang II thermal power plant inaugurated in Ha Tinh

With a total investment of 2.2 billion USD, the Vung Ang II Thermal Power Plant is developed under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model and has a designed capacity of 1,200 MW, comprising two turbines. The plant is expected to play a key role in ensuring stable electricity supply for the central region and neighbouring areas, thereby facilitating the development of industries, agriculture and services.

Aircraft at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam seeks stable jet fuel supplies from China amid Middle East disruptions

On the basis of the long-standing friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and China, as well as close ties between their aviation authorities, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has asked the Civil Aviation Administration of China to direct relevant fuel suppliers to ensure sufficient and stable supplies for Vietnam.

Illustrative photo (Photo: Xinua/VNA)

Remittances to Ho Chi Minh City decline in Q1 amid global headwinds

Data from the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)'s Region 2 branch showed that remittances transferred through credit institutions and economic organisations in Ho Chi Minh City exceeded 2 billion USD in the January–March period, down 15.6% from the previous quarter and 16.9% year-on-year.

The shipments are unloaded at the airport. (Photo: VNA broadcasts)

Nearly 100 tonnes of Vietnamese fruits, vegetables airlifted to UAE

Vietnamese fresh produce and processed foods are increasingly recognised for their quality, with items such as cashew nuts, coffee and spices gaining popularity among Middle East consumers. In 2025, Vietnam’s farm produce exports to the UAE exceeded 445 million USD, up nearly 24% year-on-year.

The World Coffee Heritage Forum officially opens at the World Coffee Museum in Dak Lak province, with eyes on UNESCO recognition for Vietnamese coffee culture. (Photo: VNA)

World Coffee Heritage Forum opens in Dak Lak

Dak Lak is known as the 'capital' of Vietnamese coffee, with rich, fertile basalt red soil ideal for agriculture. The coffee provides livelihoods for thousands of locals and has developed a unique cultural space, closely tied to the socioeconomic life, customs and identity of local communities.

Chili peppers are on the list of essential goods in Indonesia (Photo: VNA)

Indonesia reduces imports of strategic food commodities

In 2026, Indonesia is expected to have approximately 12 million tonnes of rice carried over from the previous year, supported by annual production of around 34.7 million tonnes. With projected consumption of 31.1 million tonnes, national rice reserves could reach approximately 16 million tonnes by the end of the year.

Hanoi’s roadmap to implement low-emission zones from July is providing a strong boost to the electric two-wheeler market (Photo: VNA)

Low-emission zone roadmap drives electric two-wheeler boom in Hanoi

From July 1, Hanoi will introduce time-based or area-based restrictions on petrol-powered motorcycles within Ring Road 1, with plans to expand coverage across the entire zone by 2028 and extend to areas within Ring Road 3 by 2030. The policy is expected to reshape travel habits for millions of urban residents.