Hai Phong opens wider to air travelers
The growing number of direct flights connecting Hai Phong with domestic and international destinations is opening the door wider for the port city to welcome both domestic and international tourists.
Linking key tourist regions
Thai AirAsia has recently launched a direct flight route between Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong city, Vietnam and Bangkok capital city of Thailand. The opening of this route presents a promising opportunity to tap into the tourism potential of both Hai Phong and Bangkok.
To date, Cat Bi International Airport has operated more than 10 flight routes, connecting Hai Phong directly with major tourism hubs both domestically and abroad such as Lijiang (China), Seoul (South Korea), and Bangkok (Thailand).
Instead of transiting through Noi Bai International Airport in Ha Noi, travelers from various countries can now fly directly to Cat Bi International Airport, making travel to Hai Phong more convenient. This allows tourists more time to explore, stay, and enjoy a broader range of experiences in the city.
Direct flights, especially low-cost options, also create favorable conditions for travel companies to design and offer affordable tour packages.
Hai Phong is increasingly known for its distinctive character, vibrant culinary scene, and growing tourism potential. In particular, the recognition of Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, and most recently, the recognition of Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac complex as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, have made Hai Phong a more attractive destination for international tourists visiting Vietnam. Expanding international tourist arrivals via direct flights is also a key strategy in helping the city achieve its 2025 target of receiving over 10 million visitors. Looking further ahead, Hai Phong aims to welcome 35 million tourists, including 5.8 million international arrivals, by 2030.
Developing unique and appealing tourism products
According to the Cat Bi International Airport development plan for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050, the airport is expected to handle 13 million passengers annually with 30 aircraft parking stands by 2030. By 2050, capacity is projected to reach 18 million passengers per year with 50 aircraft stands. Expanding airport capacity and opening new routes will further facilitate tourist arrivals to Hai Phong.
Mai Xuan Thang, Co-Chairman of the Hai Phong Tourism Association, emphasized that to fully capitalize on these flight routes, tour operators need to develop more products with Hai Phong as the main destination to take full advantage of the city’s international airport and diverse transport infrastructure.
The local tourism sector should also create maximum conditions for tour companies to design many more travel packages to Hai Phong by intensifying promotional campaigns and raising the city’s profile among other regions, Thang suggested.
In the near future, the Hai Phong Tourism Association will work closely with travel, accommodation, and service businesses to strengthen partnerships and actively promote tour products and take full advantage of the direct air routes to and from Hai Phong.
NGUYEN DUONG