Vietnamese airlines have announced new discounts on local and international flights for the next several months.

National carrier Vietnam Airlines is cutting between 20-70 percent off the prices of many domestic flights purchased between March 8-19, charging VND1,199,000 (US$57) for one-way Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City flights and VND777,000 ($37) for flights between Hanoi/HCMC and Hue/Da Nang.

The reduced fares apply for flights made between April 1-26 and September 5 to October 31.

A Monday report by Thoi bao Kinh te Saigon Online quoted a source from Vietnam Airlines as saying the discounted seats will total more than 100,000, or 17 percent of all tickets sold during the promotional period.

Many two-way flights to 26 destinations in Asia, Europe and Australia, covering more than 80,000 seats, will also be discounted to between $49-499.

Two-way tickets from HCMC to Bangkok/Kuala Lumpur/Singapore will cost $49, and $499 between Hanoi/HCMC to London or Paris.

The promotional international tickets also have to be purchased between March 8-19. They are valid for flights made between April 1-11, April 18-25, May 3-31, and September 5 to October 31.

Just before the Vietnam Airlines promotion was announced Monday, the new private budget airline VietJetAir announced domestic fares of VND299,000 ($14) for Hanoi-HCMC flights, before it launches the new routes HCMC – Da Nang on April 27 and Hanoi – Nha Trang on May 19.

VietJetAir said around 30,000 cheap tickets will be sold randomly until 5 p.m. on April 4, for travel period between April 1 to December 31, except for flights between April 27 and May 2, August 31 and September 3, and December 22-25.