A Tale of Two Cities

Leading Vietnamese consumer airline – Vietjet links Hanoi, Vietnam with Osaka, Japan.

Vietjet will soon welcome its latest route addition linking Hanoi with Osaka, Japan. Starting 8 November, the route will be operational on a daily basis with a flight time of 4 hours per leg.

Although located 3,269 kilometres apart, the French-colonial city of Hanoi and port city of Osaka shares many common traits. Boasting stupendous scenery, rich culture and diversity, both destinations are lively dynamic cities that are rapidly emerging as two of the latest hotspots of Asia.

Here we highlight reasons why Hanoi and Osaka warrant a spot on your travel bucket list.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Located on the western bank of the Red River in northern Vietnam, the high-octane capital city of Vietnam is a combination of old-world charm and modern development brought on by a recent surge in tourism.

The city best described as the cultural heart of Vietnam has much to offer visitors, from lovely parks and museums to street-side restaurants, tree-fringed boulevards and fine colonial architecture.

While in Hanoi, a visit to the historic Hoan Kiem District (the Old Quarter) is a must. Dive into the backstreets and weave through alleyways on foot to discover boutique stores, cafes and local shops for a truly authentic experience of the city. Don’t be alarmed by the commotion of blaring horns from scooters vying for right of way as this is quintessentially Hanoi.

Hanoi’s understated charm also lies in its eclectic mix of foreign influences. Traces of the city’s French colonial past are deeply etched in its culture from the architecture, language spoken, right down to its famous Vietnamese drip filter coffee which is a reinvention of the French press.

A city with a thousand year history, culture vultures will also be delighted by the many historical sights Hanoi has to offer such as the Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Hoa Lo Prison and the Hanoi Imperial Citadel.

Osaka, Japan

Despite being commonly overlooked in comparison to the popular neighbouring cities, the cosmopolitan city of Osaka is fast becoming a rising contender as a perennial favourite among repeat visitors who have tasted and seen what the city has to offer.

Home to tourist favourites such as Universal Studios Japan, Osaka Castle and Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, the bustling city of Osaka packs quite a punch when it comes to local attractions and world-class dining.

A culinary mecca, food lovers will be spoilt for choice with Osaka’s unrivalled epicurean delights ranging from street side takoyaki and okonomiyaki to Michelin-starred establishments. Take a stroll along Dotonbori – the neon-lit commercial street lined with an enormous selection of restaurants, street vendors and bars and savour some of the best cuisines Osaka has to offer.

From shopping arcades to flea markets, Osaka is also a shopaholic’s haven. Some must-visit marketplaces include Shintennoji Temple market, Kuromon Ichiba market, Amemura and Shinsaibashi-suji – the 600m long shopping avenue located in the heart of the Minami district.

These are merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the many attractions the two cities has to offer.

In celebration of Vietjet’s new route, the airline is offering 700,000 tickets priced from only RM0* from the period of 4 – 6 July 2018 during the golden hours of 1 – 3pm daily. These hot promotional tickets are applicable on Vietjet’s entire flight network including Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia – and yes that’s right, Hanoi and Osaka! So what are you waiting for? Check out https://www.vietjetair.com/Sites/Web/en-US/Home and make your booking today!