First direct flight from Hanoi to Hiroshima will be offered by Vietjet.

To promote investment and tourism between Vietnam and Japan, low-cost airline Vietjet said on Friday that it will launch a direct flight linking Hanoi with Hiroshima beginning on July 19.

The airline stated there will be two flights every week on Wednesday and Sunday during a ceremony that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who is in Japan for the G7 enlarged conference, attended.

Masahiko Tanabe, deputy governor of Hiroshima Prefecture, spoke at the event and stated that the new air route is anticipated to accelerate collaboration between Hiroshima and Vietnam in a number of areas, including investment, trade, and tourism.

Vietjet now operates 58 round-trip flights weekly between the two nations thanks to the new route.

More than 1.5 million seats will be served between Vietnam and Japan this year, according to the carrier.

Over 128,000 Japanese visitors visited Vietnam last year, which is about 10% more than pre-pandemic levels.

More than 284,000 Vietnamese tourists visited Japan last year, making up 7.4% of all foreign travelers there.