Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has announced its plans to launch daily flights to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s commercial capital and most populous city, in October 2013.

It will be Etihad Airways’ sixth online destination within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, joining Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Singapore. In conjunction with its partner airlines, the new Ho Chi Minh Cityservice extends Etihad Airways’ total flight network reach to 21 ASEAN destinations.

Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan said: “We are delighted to announce the introduction of Ho Chi Minh City to the Etihad Airways’ global flight network. Like our home-base of Abu Dhabi, it is a vibrant, culturally rich and expanding city popular with business and leisure travellers.”

Ambassador of Vietnam to the UAE, HE Tran Ngoc Thach said: “I believe that Etihad’s direct flights toVietnamwill contribute to improving understanding between the two peoples of Vietnam and the UAE. More and more tourists will come to Vietnam and a greater number of tourists will come to the UAE. They will also help to increase trade and tourism between our two countries for the benefit of the people and countries.”

Etihad Airways codeshare with Vietnam Airlines already provides Etihad Airways passengers with daily connections through Bangkok and Kuala Lumpurto both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. For the convenience of Pakistani travellers, Etihad currently operates 23 weekly flights from Pakistan to Abu Dhabi– daily from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad; and bi-weekly from Peshawar.