Vietnamese carriers launch flights from Saigon to new airport

Budget carrier Vietjet Air last Sunday launched a new route between Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City and Van Don Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh, following national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines' similar move late last month. 

The new air route aims to tap demand for travel to Quang Ninh, home to the world famous natural heritage site, Ha Long Bay.

VietJet Air operates four flights a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The flight time is 2 hours and 15 minutes, departing from Ho Chi Minh City at 7 a.m. and from Van Don at 9.50 a.m.

Meanwhile, Vietnam Airlines operates one flight a day. The flights depart from Ho Chi Minh City at 2 p.m. and from Van Don at 4.45 p.m, with estimated flying time of 2 hours and 5 minutes.

Bamboo Airways, Vietnam’s fifth and newest airline, also said it will offer flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Van Don soon.

Van Don Airport, which opened last month and is Vietnam's first private airport, facilitates travels to Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province, one of the country’s most notable travel destinations.

The bay, recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994, was named among the world’s seven new natural wonders by Swiss organization New Open World in 2011.

The UK travel guide publisher Rough Guides recently mentioned the "impressive" rock formations in Ha Long Bay, four hours drive to the west of capital city Hanoi, and terraced rice fields in the northern highlands town Sa Pa as "not-to-be-missed" beauty sites in Vietnam.

Quang Ninh welcomed 10.7 million visitors in the first 10 months of 2018, a 25 percent increase year-on-year. Tourism revenues for the period increased 28 percent to VND19 trillion ($818 million), according to official figures.