Pham Ngoc Minh, Vietnam Airlines' president said: "England has becomeone of the most important trading partners in the European Union withVietnam", adding that nearly 90,000 English tourists had come to VietNam last year, an increase of 28 percent compared to 2009.
He made his statement at a conference co-organised by Vietnam Airlinesand the Vietnamese embassy in England on April 19 in London.
UK Trade and Investment Deputy Director in Asia Rob Lally said VietNam had become a favourite destination for English tourists andbusinessmen. The airline hopes that Vietnam will become a tourist hubfor holidaymakers wishing to travel to Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, hesaid.
Vietnam Airlines plans to use BoeingB777-200ER to fly from Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat to Heathrow and Gatwickairports. Four flights a week are initially scheduled, rising to sevenby 2014.
About 40,000 Vietnamese are living and workingin England and about 7,000 Vietnamese students are studying there,according to Minh./.