Vietnam and Russia launched three new air routes — Đà Nẵng–Moscow, Nha Trang–Kazan, and Nha Trang–Novosibirsk — during the ASEAN–Russia Summit held from 16 to 18 June 2026. Building on a 2015 rail freight agreement, Vietnam Railways (VNR) and Russian Railways (RZD) expanded cooperation in 2018 and again in 2024 with FESCO to deploy sea-rail multimodal transport. Nguyễn Anh Sơn, Director General of Vietnam’s Export–Import Department, stressed that logistics collaboration now spans green logistics, smart systems, cold chain, and semiconductor supply chains. Both nations are OSJD members, leveraging shared frameworks to enhance supply chain resilience amid global restructuring.
According to congthuong.vn, Vietnam and Russia have launched three new air routes and deepened multimodal rail-sea logistics cooperation during the ASEAN–Russia Summit held from 16 to 18 June 2026 in the Russian Federation.
Three New Air Routes Launched Amid Summit Diplomacy
At the ASEAN–Russia Summit — marking 35 years of ASEAN–Russia relations — Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng led a high-level delegation and delivered opening remarks at the ASEAN–Russia Business Forum. During the event, Vietjet announced the launch of three new air routes: Đà Nẵng–Moscow, Nha Trang–Kazan, and Nha Trang–Novosibirsk. The expansion follows growing demand for direct connectivity to support trade, tourism, and investment flows between the two countries.
The new routes are expected to strengthen air cargo capacity and passenger mobility, complementing ongoing efforts to diversify transportation corridors amid global supply chain restructuring. According to the source, this marks a strategic shift beyond conventional bilateral transport toward integrated multimodal networks linking air, sea, and rail infrastructure.
Rail-Sea Integration Accelerates Under OSJD Framework
Both Vietnam and Russia are members of the Organization for Cooperation of Railways (OSJD), and their national rail operators — Vietnam Railways (VNR) and Russian Railways (RZD) — have maintained formal cooperation since 2015. That year, VNR and RZD signed a memorandum to boost international rail freight volumes transiting both territories. In 2018, VNR began collaborating with RZD Logistics, and in 2024, it signed a further agreement with FESCO to implement combined sea-rail multimodal transport solutions.
These agreements aim to shorten transit times for goods moving between Southeast Asia and Europe via the Trans-Siberian corridor. The source states that VNR and RZD continue joint technical work to optimize cross-border rail tariffs, customs procedures, and intermodal terminal interoperability — particularly for containerized and time-sensitive cargo.
Logistics Cooperation Expands Beyond Infrastructure
Nguyễn Anh Sơn, Director General of the Export–Import Department at Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, emphasized that logistics collaboration now extends far beyond physical transport. He noted that opportunities exist across green logistics, smart logistics, digital supply chain platforms, cold chain services, semiconductor logistics, and cross-border e-commerce distribution centers.
“This is not just about trade cooperation — it’s about building a high-connectivity regional logistics network that complements and strengthens ASEAN’s collective competitiveness.” — Nguyễn Anh Sơn, Director General, Export–Import Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade
The source highlights Vietnam’s strategic advantages: its geographic position along key maritime lanes, expanding port infrastructure, growing export manufacturing base, and rapid adoption of e-commerce logistics systems. These factors position Vietnam as a pivotal node in ASEAN–Russia supply chain resilience initiatives.
Strategic Context: Global Reconfiguration Drives Bilateral Action
The intensified cooperation unfolds against a backdrop of accelerating global supply chain reconfiguration. As multinational enterprises prioritize market and route diversification — especially away from single-source dependencies — ASEAN and Russia see mutual benefit in developing stable, flexible, and shock-resistant supply chains. According to the report, ASEAN is increasingly recognized as one of the world’s most dynamic economic regions, with Vietnam playing a central role due to its production scale, export growth, and infrastructure modernization.
Vietnam’s participation in the ASEAN–Russia summit reflects a broader effort to institutionalize logistics linkages — including harmonizing digital documentation standards, advancing data-sharing protocols, and attracting investment from global logistics leaders. The source states that such collaboration also supports broader regional goals related to sustainable development and green economy transitions.
Source: congthuong.vn
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
