HÀ NỘI — National carrier Vietnam Airlines and Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism signed a tourism development co-operation agreement in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Tuesday that runs through 2021.

The signing ceremony took place under the witness of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and General Secretary and President Nguyễn Phú Trọng, who ended his two-day working visit to Cambodia on Tuesday.

As one of airlines that carries the highest volumes of passengers to Cambodia, Vietnam Airlines said it would make an important contribution to the development of the tourism in "Southeast Asia’s golden land" through this co-operation agreement.

According to the agreement, the airline will promote Cambodian tourism through fairs in collaboration with Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism to build common tourism products and organise workshops.

Vietnam Airlines will consider opening new routes connecting Hạ Long Bay and Đà Nẵng to Cambodia’s destinations including Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.

The carrier will also support the provision of free tickets for Cambodian officials and experts attending workshops and training programmes for resource development; create employment opportunities at the airline for outstanding students in the tourism industry; implement marketing programmes; and introduce products to key markets to improve the quality of travel and accommodation services in Cambodia.

Aircraft A321 will transport passengers and goods on the route between Việt Nam and Cambodia. — Photos Vietnam Airlines

CEO of Vietnam Airlines Dương Trí Thành said the co-operation between Vietnam Airlines and Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism meant consolidating and expanding the fundamental relationship between the two countries.

“Vietnam Airlines is delighted to be the ‘air messenger’ along with Cambodia in the fields of aviation tourism and trade promotion, contributing to boosting the Cambodian economy,” Thành said.

In 2018, the two-way passenger volume of Việt Nam and Cambodia on Vietnam Airlines was more than 700,000 seats.

Vietnam Airlines has operated the route connecting Việt Nam with Cambodia for more than 40 years. The carrier is currently operating two routes across Indochina and three direct routes to Cambodia including Hà Nội-Siem Reap, HCM City-Siem Reap and HCM City-Phnom Penh with a total frequency of 56 flights per week.

In addition, Cambodia Angkor Air also operates routes from Đà Nẵng to Siem Reap, and between HCM City and Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, with a total frequency of 56 flights per week.

It is expected that from April 2019, Vietnam Airlines will run four flights per week on the Đà Nẵng-Siem Reap route.