Vietnam Airlines is currently operating flights between Ho Chi Minh City and 18 cities in the US under codeshare agreements with foreign carriers, according to its website. National carrier Vietnam Airlines is reportedly looking to open direct services to the US in 2018, saying it is "good timing" to start a plan that has been in the works for 10 years. Figures from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism showed 292,960 American visitors arrived in Vietnam in the first six months, up 14.5 percent from the same period last year. The market's demand has also been rising given increasing trade activities between Vietnam and the US, he said. The plan was revealed by CEO Duong Tri Thanh in an interview with BBC at the Farnborough International Air Show in England's Hampshire on Thursday.

Source: Thanhnien News July 16, 2016 04:41 UTC