PARIS: Air France signed a code share agreement with Vietnam Airlines that will allow clients to fly directly from Paris to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, the French company said on Friday.

The flights, three times a week, will be operated by Vietnam Airlines in a Boeing 777-200 using Air France's "AF" flight code starting July 3, the airline said in a statement.

The deal will allow Air France to offer six flights to Hanoi per week and seven to Ho Chi Minh City, which includes routes stopping over in Bangkok.

Under the agreement, Air France will operate later this year non-stop flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Paris, also three times a week.

Vietnam Airlines, which will join the SkyTeam alliance that includes Air France this year, has a fleet of 70 planes and carries nine million passengers per year.