Direct India-Vietnam air service to begin from November 5

For the first time, India and Vietnam will have direct daily flights from November 5 with domestic carrier Jet Airways connecting Delhi and Mumbai to the historic Ho Chi Minh City. A Memorandum of Understanding for connecting the two countries by air was inked today in the presence of President Pranab Mukherjee and his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang.

"We will be beginning the operations from November 5. There will be a flight daily and it would connect Delhi and Mumbai to Ho Chi Minh City," Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal told PTI after signing a deal in this regard with Air Vietnam. Goyal said the route is a "profitable" one and it is expected to see a lot of tourists taking up the choice.

Booking for the flights has already been opened, he said. Goyal said a Boeing 737-800 will service the route and it will have both premier and economy segments to cater to all kinds of flyers.

A similar aircraft will be operated by Air Vietnam daily and is expected to see businessmen, tourists and even students taking the air service to India. The agreement between the two airlines came on the second day of the four-day state visit of Mukherjee to the country.

Apart from this pact, six other Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between the two nations.

Mukherjee will also travel to Ho Chi Minh City tomorrow after finishing bilateral engagements in the national capital.