Vietnam Airlines adds flights to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan as demand climbs

Vietnam Airlines is adding a substantial number of flights to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, a move that will give UK business travellers more options for onward connections when working in Vietnam or hopping between Southeast and Northeast Asian markets.

The carrier is responding to strong demand across business, leisure, trade and family-visit traffic between Vietnam and the region, and says the extra services will provide greater flexibility for passengers travelling through its Hanoi and Da Nang hubs.

What is changing and when

From Hanoi, the airline will lift its Taipei service from seven to 11 weekly flights. The Hanoi to Osaka route will also grow from seven to 11 weekly flights between 26 October and 30 November 2026, before stepping up again to 14 weekly flights, the equivalent of two daily services, from 1 December 2026.

Da Nang, the central Vietnamese city that has become an increasingly popular base for both conferences and coastal bleisure trips, gains the most. The Da Nang to Seoul (Incheon) route increased to 14 weekly flights from 1 July, while services to Tokyo (Narita) and Osaka (Kansai) have risen to 11 and five weekly flights respectively.

For UK travellers, the practical benefit is a denser web of regional connections. British passport holders can currently visit Vietnam without a visa for up to 45 days for tourism or business, according to Foreign Office guidance, making the country a workable springboard for multi-stop trips across the region.

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Promotional fares on offer

To support the expansion, Vietnam Airlines is offering promotional round-trip fares from VND 7,724,000 (approximately GBP 220) on Hanoi to Taipei and VND 14,660,000 (approximately GBP 417) on Hanoi to Osaka, inclusive of taxes and fees. Tickets must be issued by 31 July 2026. Travel on the Taipei route must be completed by 31 July 2026, while the Osaka fare is valid for travel through 31 December 2026. Members of the airline’s Lotusmiles programme will also earn bonus miles based on booking class.

The carrier, recently named among the world’s 25 safest full-service airlines for 2026, counts Northeast Asia among its strongest international markets. According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance, South Korea was the country’s second-largest international source market in the first six months of 2026, with more than 2.16 million visitor arrivals. Japan and Taiwan also continue to generate steady two-way traffic, reflecting deepening economic and people-to-people links.

Part of a wider network push

The frequency increases sit within a broader international expansion. In 2026 the airline launched new direct services to Amsterdam, Phuket and Colombo, and the growth comes as Vietnam invests £720 million in new airports to support tourism and supply chains.

For SME travellers managing budgets, the timing is useful. Stronger frequencies typically mean more fare competition and easier rebooking when meetings overrun, while two daily Hanoi to Osaka rotations from December offer same-day flexibility that a single daily service cannot. Full schedules and fares are available on the Vietnam Airlines website.

Vietnam Airlines says the expansion is intended to serve rising passenger demand while supporting tourism, trade and economic cooperation between Vietnam and its key international markets.