Khanh Hoa - a "magnet" attracting Russian tourists

Khanh Hoa is returning to its position as a "magnet" for Russian tourists, receiving more than 30 flights per week from the land of birch trees. With Nordwind opening more routes from 8 major Russian cities, this number will increase to 35 flights per week and may increase further when entering the peak winter tourist season.

Khanh Hoa is returning to its position as a "magnet" for Russian tourists, receiving more than 30 flights per week from the land of birch trees. With Nordwind opening more routes from 8 major Russian cities, this number will increase to 35 flights per week and may increase further when entering the peak winter tourist season.

Nordwind Airlines returns after 5 years

On September 29, the Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion in collaboration with Pegas Misr Vietnam Travel Co., Ltd. and related units organized a ceremony to welcome the first flight of Nordwind Airlines (under Pegas Touristik Group) bringing tourists direct flights from Russia to Cam Ranh after more than 5 years of ceasing operations. Attending the ceremony were comrade Nguyen Long Bien - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Mr. Timur Sadykov - Consul General of Russia in Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Abdullah Cankaya - Vice President of Pegas Touristik Asia and the Pacific ; leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Long Bien and delegates welcomed Russian guests to Khanh Hoa on a Nordwind Airlines flight.

The Nordwind Airlines flight landed at Cam Ranh Airport at 12:30 carrying 379 passengers and was welcomed with a water cannon ceremony at the apron. At the International Terminal, the first 20 passengers and flight crew were presented with flowers and gifts by provincial leaders and delegates. Pegas Misr Vietnam Travel Co., Ltd. organized a welcoming performance with a strong Vietnamese character, conveying the message that Khanh Hoa is an attractive destination with beautiful natural landscapes and rich cultural identity, friendly and hospitable. Ms. Duong Tu Anh - Director of Nam Anh Co., Ltd. (Nordwind Airlines representative in Vietnam) shared that Nordwind Airlines was very happy when the first flight back to Khanh Hoa was warmly welcomed, this is the best "message" that Khanh Hoa sends to Russian tourists.

Despite the long flight, Russian tourists are very excited to travel to Khanh Hoa. Ms. Anastasia Kuznetsova said: “I have been to Khanh Hoa since 2016 and have had interesting experiences here. Due to the Covid-19 epidemic, I have not been back for a long time. When I saw that Nordwind had a flight to Khanh Hoa, my son and I immediately decided to return here. We will definitely have a wonderful vacation in this land.” Similarly, Ms. Anastasiya Orlova expressed her excitement to explore Khanh Hoa tourism when she returned for the second time: “I know that Khanh Hoa has had many new tourism products recently. During my stay here, I will continue to experience the charm of this land.”

According to Ms. Hoang Thi Phong Thu - Chairwoman of the Board of Members of Pegas Misr Vietnam Travel Co., Ltd., from now until the end of October 2025, the company will cooperate with Nordwind to organize 18 to 22 flights per month from the following cities: Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, Ekaterinburg, Khabarovsk, Irkutsk, Kazan, Krasnoyarsk. It is expected that each month there will be about 6,800 visitors to Khanh Hoa. This number may increase when entering the peak winter vacation season of Russian visitors.

Visitors to Khanh Hoa will stay for 10 to 12 days, some up to 28 days at 4-5 star hotels and resorts. Tourists join tours to visit relics, scenic spots, islands and explore local cuisine.

Russian tourists increase dramatically

Russian tourists are one of the important international tourist markets of Khanh Hoa tourism. With airlines reopening direct flights, the Russian tourist market is recovering very well and returning to its position as the main tourist market of Khanh Hoa tourism. "Since the beginning of the year, when direct flights resumed, the number of Russian tourists has grown dramatically. In just 8 months of 2025, Khanh Hoa welcomed 279,000 Russian tourists, an increase of 294.9%. It is expected that from now until the end of the year, the number of Russian tourists will reach and even exceed that of 2019, which was 463,000," said Mr. Cung Quynh Anh - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Pegas Misr Vietnam Travel Company Limited staff give gifts to Russian tourists.

Speaking to reporters of Khanh Hoa Newspaper, Radio and Television, Russian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Timur Sadykov highly appreciated the development of Khanh Hoa tourism, as well as the enthusiastic welcome of provincial leaders to Russian guests. "Khanh Hoa is a magnet attracting Russian guests. Every time they return, Russian guests see Nha Trang developing day by day. The warm welcome of the local government and tourism industry also contributes to spreading the image and attracting more Russian guests" - Mr. Timur Sadykov said. Mr. Timur Sadykov also said: "In addition to infrastructure development, the provincial government is especially interested in building more new tourism products to better serve the Russian tourist market. The Russian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City always acts as a bridge to bring more Russian guests to Vietnam in general, Khanh Hoa in particular".

With the great demand for vacations from the Russian tourist market and local investment in infrastructure and tourism products, Khanh Hoa is gradually affirming its position as the leading destination for Russian tourists in Vietnam. Before Nordwind, Russian airlines Azur Air, Aeroflot, Ikar Airlines, IrAero Airlines, Red Wings and Vietnam's Vietjet Air have continuously resumed flights from Russia to Cam Ranh. To date, there are more than 30 flights per week from major Russian cities to Khanh Hoa. With the participation of Nordwind, the number of flights from Russia to Khanh Hoa will increase to about 35 flights per week. "After the merger, the province has opened up many opportunities for Khanh Hoa to build unique, culturally-rich tourism products to serve international tourists, of which Russian tourists are the key market. To prepare for the upcoming winter tourist season, the tourism industry recommends that businesses build new, suitable products, focus on training human resources and strengthen security and safety for tourists," said Mr. Cung Quynh Anh.

According to information from the Association of Russian Tour Operators (ATOR), Thailand is forecast to be the leading beach resort destination in Asia in the winter of 2025 - 2026 for Russian tourists. However, in terms of annual tourist growth rate, Vietnam is ahead. Specifically, Thailand still dominates with 33.1%, but lower than last year (38.5%); Vietnam accounts for 11.2%, much higher than last year (2.15%). Many Russian travel companies have noted that Vietnamese destinations have risen in terms of tour sales for the winter of 2025 - 2026 thanks to the expansion of flight programs and the diversification of domestic tours. In addition, pent-up demand and the novelty effect have pushed Russian tourists to Vietnam, mainly via direct charter flights to Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa and Phu Quoc.

XUAN THANH

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/du-lich/202509/khanh-hoa-thoi-nam-cham-thu-hut-khach-nga-8f10eab/