Air New Zealand has launched its third season of non-stop flights between Ho Chi Minh City and New Zealand between June 23 and October 23 this year.

A representative of Air New Zealand and Miss Universe Vietnam, H'Hen Nie, talk about the non-stop flight from HCM City to New Zealand.

The bi-weekly service between Auckland and Vietnam’s southern commercial hub will be on Tuesdays and Saturdays with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft deployed.

The carrier also partners with Singapore Airlines to offer passengers alternative travel options, transiting at Singapore.

Jenni Martin, head of South, South East Asia, Air New Zealand, said: “Vietnam is an emerging market with significant growth predicted in the near future, this direct link has been proven to boost tourism, education and business links between the countries over the past two years."

The fare will be 15.5-59.4 million VND to Auckland from HCM City and 17.8-61.7 million VND from Hanoi.

In the first five months of this year, 18,181 New Zealanders travelled to Vietnam, a 105.4 percent year-on-year increase. The number of Vietnamese visitors to New Zealand has also been growing rapidly, reaching 29,340 by April.-VNS/VNA