AirAsia planes sit on the tarmac at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia. Photo by Reuters.

The budget carrier has announced it will begin the Kuala Lumpur – Can Tho service on April 8 with four flights a week and the Bangkok – Can Tho service from May 2 with three flights, AirAsia said in a recent statement.

They will be the first international flights to Vietnam’s fourth biggest city. 

Tran Viet Phuong, director of the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, told local media that the services would help increase the number of foreign tourists visiting the Mekong Delta. 

He added that visitors from not only Southeast Asia but also from India and Australia would find it easier to reach the city given AirAsia's network. 

AirAsia Malaysia CEO Riad Asmat said, "We foresee the new route not only contributing to the socio-economic development of the city, but also providing new opportunities for the people in Mekong Delta to connect with ASEAN and beyond through our wide network."

According to the Can Tho Tourism Association, 8.48 million tourists visited the city in 2018, a 12.5 percent increase from the previous year.