This was announced by the British Embassy in Hanoi on November 3. Accordingly, Vietnam Airlines will have four flights a week in the immediate period on the direct air route, which is the fourth of its kind to one of majorities in Europe, aside from Paris, Frankfurt and Moscow.

The airlines is expected to use Boeing 777-200ER aircraft in seven weekly flights by 2014.

Currently, the UK is considered one of Vietnam’s leading investors, with two-way trade turnover reaching over US$2 billion in 2010. Last year, nearly 90,000 British tourists visited Vietnam, up 28 percent compared to 2009.

More than 40,000 Vietnamese are living and working in the UK and more than 4,000 students studying there.

The opening of the direct air route will help the two countries boost aviation cooperation and attract more tourists.