Vietnam Air to launch Hanoi-Quy Nhon service
10/01/09 (GMT+7)
Vietnam Airlines is preparing to commence weekly flights between Hanoi and Binh Dinh next week to help bring more travelers to Quy Nhon City and other parts of the central coastal province, according to the airline's chief executive officer, Pham Ngoc Minh.
Minh said that the new service between Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi and Phu Cat Airport in Binh Dinh Province is part of the national air carrier's strategy to expand its domestic flight network.
Vietnam Airlines will fly thrice a week between Hanoi and Phu Cat Airport beginning January 16, 10 days ahead of the Lunar New Year's Day, in addition to its daily service between Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Cat Airport, which is 30 kilometers from Quy Nhon.
Minh said at a meeting with provincial leaders last month that Vietnam Airlines would use Fokker planes for the Hanoi-Binh Dinh service but would consider using Airbus A320 aircraft later.
Nguyen Thanh Son, deputy director of the Binh Dinh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the Fokker plane would be able to transport 70 passengers to Binh Dinh on every flight from Hanoi on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Son said that Binh Dinh pinned high hopes on attracting more visitors with the good arrival and departure times of the new service.
Flights will depart Noi Bai Airport at 6:45 a.m. and arrive at Phu Cat Airport at 8:25 a.m. and leave Phu Cat Airport for Hanoi at 9:15 a.m.
Passengers on the flight from Hanoi will enjoy a 30% discount for room rates if they stay at a three-star hotel in Binh Dinh and a 50% discount at four-star hotels including Hoang Yen and Saigon-Quy Nhon.
A Binh Dinh transportation firm will provide free shuttle bus service for those coming to the province from Hanoi. "We target tourists as well as investors from the north," Son said.
Binh Dinh Province attracted 720,000 visitors in 2008, including over 57,000 international travelers, and generated nearly VND190 billion in tourism revenue, over US$10 million, a 32% year-on-year increase.
Son credited the sharp 28% year- on-year increase in the number of visitors to Binh Dinh to major festivals including the extravagant Tay Son-Binh Dinh in August that helped promote attractions in the province.
Son expects the number to grow by about 10% this year given the new air service.
A major festival will take place at Quang Tung Museum in late January to mark the 220th anniversary of the great Ngoc Hoi-Dong Da victory by the Tay Son troops over invaders in 1789. The festival includes tours to historical and cultural sites.
(Source: SGT, URL:http://english.vietnamnet.vn/travel/2009/01/823012/)
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