Delegates cut the ribbon to launch the Vietnam-Israel direct air route, Hanoi, January 5, 2026. (Photo: vietnamtourism.gov.vn)

Passengers on the inaugural flight included representatives of Israeli travel companies and media outlets who are visiting Vietnam to explore tourism cooperation opportunities.

The Tel Aviv-Hanoi service is the first-ever direct flight between the two countries, significantly reducing travel time and eliminating the need for transit through a third country.

From Tel Aviv, Vietnamese passengers can connect to multiple destinations across the Middle East and Europe, while Israeli travelers can use Hanoi as a gateway to Southeast Asia.

In the initial phase, the route will operate one wide-body flight per week, with a capacity of around 290 passengers. On the return leg, flights depart Noi Bai at 7:40 p.m. and arrive at Ben Gurion Airport at 2:25 a.m. local time after nearly 12 hours in the air.

The direct route is expected to help boost Vietnam-Israel trade to over 4 billion US dollars this year.