Vietnam Airlines officially launches direct flights from Hanoi to Amsterdam starting June 2026

Vietnam Airlines officially launches direct flights from Hanoi (HAN) to Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) starting June 2, 2026. This newest European route cuts travel time from 14-18 hours with connections to just 11 hours nonstop.

Operating 3 flights/week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays using the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with lie-flat Business Class and extra-legroom Premium Economy. Launch fares from $756 USD round-trip in Economy.

Hanoi is Vietnam's thousand-year-old capital, and the city where the country's history is easiest to read off the streets. The Old Quarter still follows its medieval guild layout — narrow tube houses barely three metres wide running forty or fifty metres deep, each lane once dedicated to a single trade. A few blocks southeast, the French Quarter opens into colonial mansions and the Opera House, while Ba Dinh holds the political heart of the nation. It is a compact, walkable, intensely social city: most of what visitors come for sits within a short walk of Hoan Kiem Lake, and the best of it happens on plastic stools at street level.

When to go:

• October – November: Autumn: the most comfortable stretch of the year, crisp and dry, and the classic season for visiting Hanoi.
• March – April: Spring: mild and blossoming. Pleasant for walking, with occasional drizzle typical of northern Vietnam.
• December – February: Cool and dry at roughly 15–22°C by day, dropping to 8–12°C at night in December and January. Peak tourist season, so rooms cost more.
• May – September: Hot, humid and wet, with sudden heavy downpours and temperatures above 30°C. Cheapest time to visit, and the Old Quarter is at its liveliest after dark.

Top experiences:

• Old Quarter walking and street food: The 36 guild streets are best explored on foot, ideally in the late afternoon when the food stalls set up. Bun cha, pho and egg coffee are the local anchors.
• Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple: The city's central lake, crossed by the red Huc Bridge to a small temple island. The surrounding roads close to traffic on weekend evenings and fill with games and performances.
• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square: Vietnam's ceremonial heart, alongside the Presidential Palace and One Pillar Pagoda. Modest dress is required and the mausoleum keeps limited morning hours.
• Temple of Literature: Vietnam's first national university, founded in 1070, with courtyards and stelae honouring generations of scholars — the calmest historic site in the city centre.
• Halong Bay day trip: The most popular excursion from Hanoi, usually a long single day or an overnight cruise. Book ahead in peak season and expect several hours of road travel each way.

Full guide: Hanoi destination guide on Pingsme.

Amsterdam features 165 UNESCO-listed canals creating a unique cityscape of narrow leaning houses along waterways. The city is home to Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Europe's most progressive liberal culture.

Summer Amsterdam (June-August) is stunning with 17 hours of daylight, late tulips still blooming, and vibrant outdoor festivals. Pleasant temperatures of 18-25°C — perfect for cycling through the city.

Optimal 5-day itinerary: Days 1-2 — Amsterdam (museums + canals + Red Light District). Day 3 — Keukenhof/Zaanse Schans (traditional windmills). Day 4 — Rotterdam & Delft. Day 5 — The Hague + Scheveningen Beach.

Budget for 5 days, 4 nights is approximately $1,000-1,400 USD (excluding flights): hostels from €30/night, meals €25-40/day, transport via OV-chipkaart €10-15/day.