South Korea charter flights to chart course for Vietnam attractions

By Hoang Phong May 11, 2022 | 06:30 pm PT

An aircraft of Korean Air on taxiways of Incheon Airport in South Korea. Photo by Shutterstock/Jimmy Tran

South Korea's Chungbuk Province plans to operate return flights from its capital city Cheongju to many international destinations, including several tourist hotspots in Vietnam.

The flights from Cheongju, which is around 113 kilometers from Seoul, will land in Da Nang in central Vietnam and Da Lat in the Central Highlands starting this July, the Vietnam News Agency reported, quoting Chungbuk officials.

Da Nang and Da Lat had become favored tourist destinations of South Koreans before the Covid-19 pandemic led to lockdowns and closures.

Several South Korean carriers have increased flights to and from Hanoi and HCMC after entry restrictions were lifted.

South Korea was Vietnam's second largest tourism market before the pandemic, with over 4.3 million arrivals in 2019.

Vietnam has also resumed its visa exemption policy for tourists from South Korea as it reopened its borders to foreign tourists on March 15.

Starting April 1, South Korea has also allowed all foreign tourists to enter the country without mandatory quarantine requirements.