From the 8th of December 2011 passengers will, for the first time ever, be able to fly non-stop from the UK to Vietnam. The national carrier Vietnam Airlines plans to use Boeing 777 aircraft to run seven flights a week by 2014. The flights will link Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to London’s Gatwick Airport, which is the second largest airport in London.

Pham Ngoc Minh, Vietnam Airlines General Director, said “The new service will make London the carrier’s fourth destination in Europe behind Paris, Frankfurt and Moscow.” This now means that Vietnam is set to become an alternative stopover of choice for those flying between the UK and Australia. For an ‘off the beaten track’ stopover package check out our Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Explorer package below.