Air Vietnam airline international flights – from Saigon to Asia

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS – PERIOD 1951 – 1962

Vietnam Airlines used part of its commercial rights to develop international routes to Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Vientiane, Hong Kong and Singapore, which Air France has reestablished from 1946 to 1949.

In 1952, by DC-3, there was a daily flight to Saigon-Phnom Penh, a weekly flight to Saigon-Bangkok, then a seat added to Siem Reap around 1956, two flights to Saigon-Seno-Vientiane; By DC-4, there were two weekly flights to Saigon-Hanoi-Hong Kong and Saigon-Haiphong-Hong Kong, together with Air France, until November 1954, due to the Geneva Agreement, only Saigon-Hong Kong route remained.

From April 1, 1955, Air Vietnam had commercial rights on the Saigon-Paris route, such as Air France.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS – PERIOD 1962-1972

Since the mid-1960s, Air Vietnam had plan a program to develop international connections. Before Air Vietnam often discussed with Air France about the exploitation of Saigon-Paris route.

Since 1962, international bilateral agreements establishing commercial rights for the Civil Aviation of Vietnam have been negotiated and signed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, representing the Government of Vietnam, with civil aviation agencies of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Korea. China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

International routes were operated by Viscount aircraft in 1961, by Caravelle aircraft in September 1964, then by B-727 aircraft in May 1968, and then by B-707 aircraft on the Saigon-Hong Kong-Osaka-Tokyo route in 1973.

From 1965 to 1968, the regional representative offices of Air Vietnam were expanded, renovated or opened in Vientiane, Bangkok, Singapore, Taipei, Osaka, Tokyo and Manila.

The Saigon-Manila route was opened in April 1968. Also at this time, the Saigon-Hong Kong route had five weekly trips, including two connecting routes to Taipei, Osaka and Tokyo, then increased by three more. The Saigon-Singapore route was also extended to Kuala Lumpur in 1971.

• Read the full story of Air Vietnam – The untold history, 1951-1975

Adresses of AIR VIET NAM offices in Asia in the 60s