First direct flight between Bhutan and Vietnam to be launched in 2025

By Hoang Vu September 2, 2024 | 11:00 pm PT

A Bhutan Airlines aircraft. Photo courtesy of the airline

Bhutan Airlines will launch the first direct service to Vietnam with flights between HCMC and Paro, which has one of the world's most geographically challenging airports, starting in 2025.

It plans to operate 10 round-trip flights annually, using Airbus A319 aircraft, the carrier announced at a recent event in HCMC.

A round trip is expected to cost around VND26 million (US$1,045) for business class and VND22 million ($885) for economy.

Travelers between the two countries now have to transit through Thailand or India.

Paro Airport is situated at an altitude of over 2,400 meters above sea level and surrounded by mountains 5,500 meters high.

The airport is renowned as one of the most challenging in the world for landing and takeoff due to its short runway and strong winds.

Bhutan received 315,599 international visitors in 2019, with 73% coming from India, according to an annual report published by the Tourism Council of Bhutan.

Last year the Himalayan kingdom received around 130,000 tourists.

Bhutan does not want backpackers and charges a daily fee for tourists at $100. It has a gross national happiness index rising from 0.743 in 2010 to 0.781 in 2022.

Founded in 2011, Bhutan Airlines, the country's only private carrier, operates a fleet of Airbus A319 aircraft, and offers both scheduled and charter flights.