Emirates has confirmed it will further expand its global network with the start of a non-stop, daily service between Dubai and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

With the start of flights to Vietnam, the airline’s eighth route launch of 2012, Emirates now operates to 13 cities in ten countries in the Far East; opening up one of the most popular tourist destinations to the airline’s six continent wide network.

“Through Emirates’ non-stop, daily service, Vietnam is now connected via one-stop in our Dubai hub to our global network, which includes 31 destinations in Europe, 22 in Africa, 16 in the Middle East, 11 in North and South America and 19 in the West Asia and Indian Ocean region,” explained Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ executive vice president, passenger sales worldwide.

“We also look forward to opening up a wealth of opportunities in Vietnam for business and leisure travellers from the six continents that our passengers join our flights from.

“Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most vibrant cities of South East Asia.

“The city is recognised as the commercial capital of Vietnam, a country that has one of the fastest growing economies in Asia and that is why we have chosen this time to add Ho Chi Minh City to our rapidly expanding network.

“I would like to thank the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam for their support, partnership and vision in ensuring that the launch of Emirates’ services was a success.

“We look forward to growing our partnership with Vietnam,” continued Antinori.

The inaugural flight, which had passengers onboard from 16 countries spread across Asia, Europe, the USA and the Middle East, was operated by Captain Hamad Al Mazrooei, from the UAE along with First Officer Tran Holm, who was born in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Emirates currently uses an Airbus 330-200 in a two class configuration on the route, with 27 Business Class seats and 251 Economy Class seats.

Emirates flight EK 390 departs Dubai International Airport at 09:15 arriving at Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 19:35.

The return flight EK 391 departs at 21:10 arriving in Dubai at 01:05 the following day.