Ho Chi Minh City–Copenhagen: Vietnam Airlines Launches New Nonstop European Route

On December 15, 2025, Vietnam Airlines (VN), the national flag carrier of Vietnam, inaugurated its first direct nonstop service between Ho Chi Minh City and Copenhagen, Denmark, establishing the first-ever air link between Vietnam and Northern Europe. The inaugural flight took place and according to VietnamPlus “represents a significant step in the national flag carrier’s European network expansion strategy for the 2025–2030 period“.

The inaugural sector, designated flight VN39, departed Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport (SGN), Ho Chi Minh City at 22:45 local time and successfully landed at Copenhagen Airport (CPH) after more than 12 hours of flight time on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, carrying over 200 passengers. The return service, VN38, operated the next morning, accommodating more than 300 passengers.

Vietnam Airlines’ direct Ho Chi Minh City–Copenhagen route operates with a three-times-weekly frequency, departing SGN on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, and returning from CPH on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings.

• The Vietnamese diaspora in Northern Europe, estimated by VietnamNews, at approximately 70,000 people, represents a strong community travel base
• Copenhagen’s status as a major Scandinavian transport hub affords onward connectivity to Sweden, Norway and Finland, enhancing the route’s utility beyond the point-to-point market.

Vietnam Airlines sees Copenhagen as an important addition to its European network, with the route expected to strengthen links between Vietnam and the Nordic region. Deputy General Director Đặng Anh Tuấn said the nonstop service would cut journey times between Vietnam and Denmark while supporting greater travel, trade, tourism, and cultural ties.

The airline also expects the direct connection to serve Vietnamese communities in Northern Europe and provide more convenient access for both business and leisure travelers. According to Tuấn, the new route will broaden Vietnam Airlines’ presence in the region while creating opportunities for passengers and businesses on both sides.

Aircraft Deployment by Vietnam Airlines between Ho Chih Minh and Copenhagen

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner deployed on the SGN–CPH route is a cornerstone of Vietnam Airlines’ long-haul fleet. First introduced into commercial service in the early 2010s. Vietnam Airlines operates 11 aircraft of this type, with an average age of 9.8 years. The higher-density 311-seat configuration likely operated VN38’s return service, which carried more than 300 passengers — a figure that exceeds the standard 274-seat layout used on most of the fleet.

The oldest aircraft is VN-A861, delivered in July 2015, which is approximately 10.4 years old. It is followed by VN-A862 and VN-A863, delivered in August 2015, at 10.4 and 10.3 years old, respectively. At the other end of the fleet, VN-A871 is the youngest aircraft, having been delivered in May 2017 and now standing at approximately 8.6 years old.

All in All

Vietnam Airlines’ debut of nonstop flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Copenhagen marks a watershed moment in aviation connectivity between Vietnam and Northern Europe. Vietnam is the only carrier that is offering a non-stop flight between the two cities. Emirates offers a one-stop flight connection with a stop at Dubai International Airport, while Qatar’s stop is at Doha.