Vietnam Airlines on June 20 announced that it would officially open a direct flight route from Vietnam to the United Kingdom (UK) on December 8.

Vietnam Airlines planned to use Boeing B777-200ER aircraft to fly between Vietnam and Gatwick airport in the UK .

According to Vietnam Airlines General Director, Pham Ngoc Minh, the new route aimed to actively promote tourism and business travel between Vietnam and the UK .

The airline hopes that the route will also help Vietnam become a major entry-exit gateway from Indochina .

Strategic partnership was stablished in September last year and economic and trade relations between Vietnam and the UK were boosted, with two-way trade between the two countries reaching over 2 billion USD.

The UK was also the third-largest European Union investor in Vietnam , with its total investment of 3 billion USD./.