Hong Kong Airlines: BIG Bet on Intra-Asia Travel

This might sound like another boring flight announcement but the new Hong Kong - Hanoi daily route launching on 19th December 2025 says a lot about where travel is Asia is heading.

This route hasn't been flown since pre COVID days due to Vietnam closing most international arrivals from March 2020 until it fully reopened in March 2022 however with strict travel restrictions in Hong Kong, this dragged way into 2023.

After years of recovery and uneven demand compared to neighbouring routes BKK / SIN, this move by Hong Kong airlines shows how airlines are shifting their focus: From long haul to high demand between cultural hotspots.

Why is This Route So Important?

As far as I'm concerned, it's not. Although I'm sweating within me to visit Hong Kong again, my budget doesn't allow it, or not until the BudgetBro app launches. However for the rest of the world, it's pretty significant according to TTW. For years Hong Kong - Vietnam has been a business-focused hub, with the occasional BudgetBroer (backpacker) but since Vietnams tourism BOOM and Hong Kong post pandemic recovery, demand for the mid range leisure travel has sky rocketed.

Let's face it, Vietnam has been trending hard: street food, culture, nomads, especially Hanoi being close to Halong bay makes it easy for the weekend travellers. Add in Hong Kong's global connections, this new route basically bridges two of Asia's most exciting travel hubs.

Across Asia, more airlines are quietly doing the same: expanding within the region instead of chasing Europe or America. AirAsia keeps adding more secondary city routes like Chiang Mai, Da Nang and Penang. Vietnam Airlines just boosted Bangkok - Hanoi flights. Even Scoot have been expanding into smaller destinations like Krabi.

That good old saying "Work smarter, not harder." It's reciprocated here: Shorter flights, higher frequency and less dependency on long haul travellers who're very unpredictable.

Final Thoughts

I think not only for backpackers but locals too, this is great news. More flights, less layovers, more spending in secondary cities. It's a win win for everyone involved. One flight at a time, Asia is finally being reconnected. Josh APPROVES!