Low-fare carrier of China's Macau SAR Viva Macau will launch direct flights between Macau and Vietnam's southern Ho Chi Minh City in mid-December.

The first flight is slated for Dec. 14, local newspaper Vietnam News reported on Nov. 14.

There will be four weekly flights with one-way ticket prices of at least US$82, excluding fees and surcharges.

Vietnam's aviation market is expected to annually grow 12-14 percent in the 2006-2010 period, 9-11 percent in the 2010-2015 period, and 10-12 percent in the 2015-2020 period, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam.