DHL Express opens new service to Vietnam

DHL Express has launched new direct flight service from its Asian major hubs to Vietnam to benefit exporters.

The service will fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong, to Bangkok and return to Ho Chi Minh City, providing DHL customers with unprecedented outbound access to the company’s Asia Air network hub in Hong Kong. This also improves the throughput to the key Vietnamese trade lanes of Europe and the United States.

This new direct flight service underscored DHL Express expansion in Vietnam. According to General Statistics Office, Vietnam’s export earnings have grown 34.7 per cent year-on-year while its import bill increased 26.4 per cent year-on-year in the first 11 months of 2011.

Christopher Ong, general director of DHL-VNPT Express, said the global demand for Vietnamese products and the Vietnamese market’s demand for imported goods had never been higher.

“The launch of the new direct flights came at an opportune time as businesses can ride on the growing demands to expand their businesses overseas. As international specialists, DHL Express offers our customers unparalleled levels of connectivity through our global network. This is the key fundamental in delivering superior logistic solutions to our customers,” said Ong.

By launching the new direct services, DHL Express reduce transit time greatly and efficiently bring wider business opportunities to Vietnam-based exporters and the local firms in Ho Chi Minh City. Customers in the city can enjoy a later outbound cut off time of two hours.

DHL Express began operating in Vietnam since 1988 through joint venture with local VNPT Group, DHL-VNPT Express. Last year, the express service provider handled 7,189 tonnes of product in Vietnamese market. It is now operating three service centres in Hanoi, Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City

In early November, DHL Express opened its new $1.4 million facility in Hanoi hub close to Noi Bai International Airport. The newly-built 1,450 square metre state-of-the-art facility has a capacity to process 4,700 inbound and outbound shipments daily and allows for faster recovery and shorter processing times.

The new facility also doubles up as a service centre supporting the neighbouring Vinh Phuc, Soc Son and Thang Long industrial zone areas.