The announcement was made during a signing ceremony with President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, White House officials, and Vietnamese government leaders on September 11.

With enhanced fuel efficiency and environmental performance, the 737 MAX will provide best-in-class flexibility for Vietnam’s growing aviation market.

The 737 MAX family will allow Vietnam Airlines to fly up to 3,500 nautical miles (6,480 km) on increasingly popular international and regional routes.

US and Vietnamese officials said the commitment will bolster jobs in both countries and strengthen the bilateral economic partnership. Building on Boeing’s long history of collaboration with Vietnam’s civil aviation industry, the carrier’s 737 MAX fleet will support the country’s goal of becoming a leading aviation hub.

Dang Ngoc Hoa, chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Airlines stated, "In line with Vietnam Airlines' 2025-2030 fleet strategy and vision to 2035, aircraft investment underpins the positive recovery momentum and prosperous outlook for the company."

“The new narrow-body fleet will allow us to foster our overall development and extend our high-quality service on both our domestic and Asian routes. It will also modernise our fleet with more fuel-efficient models,” Hoa continued.

Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing said, “Southeast Asia is one of the world’s fastest growing aviation markets, and the 737 MAX is the perfect aeroplane for Vietnam Airlines to efficiently meet that regional demand. We value our historic partnership with Vietnam Airlines, dating back to 1995 when the airline first leased 767s.”

Since the launch, more than 100 customers around the world have placed firm orders for more than 5,600 737 MAX planes. The model reduces fuel use and carbon emissions by 20 per cent and has a smaller noise footprint than the planes it replaces.

Vietnam Airlines currently operates a fleet of 15 787 Dreamliner jets and serves over 50 destinations in 17 countries. A member of the SkyTeam Alliance, passengers flying on Vietnam Airlines or any of its 18 partners can earn and redeem miles for travel to 1,000 destinations worldwide.

Boeing is committed to its strong relationships with Vietnamese suppliers and partnering to create a strong, efficient, and resilient global supply chain to deliver the highest quality products and services to its customers.

Currently, Boeing has a corporate office in Hanoi and field service offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.