A new flight route, connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Hoi (Quang Binh Province), operating from Dong Hoi Airport will open July 1. It is hoped the new route will provide opportunities for development, said Nguyen Huy Hoai, deputy chairman of Quang Binh People’s Committee.

Fokker 70 planes with 79 seats is used for Ho Chi Minh City - Dong Hoi route.

The opening ceremony for the new domestic route will be held at 8am on July 1 at Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh Province.

Dr. Nguyen Huy Hoai, deputy Chairman of Quang Binh People’s Committee, discussed the route with SGGP newspaper.

Quang Binh and neighboring provinces have waited sometime for the new route to open.

According to Dr. Hoai, opening flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Hoi will not only help establish better relations between HCMC and Quang Binh Province, but also create many opportunities for trade between central provinces and international countries.

The route also will create good conditions for travelers coming to tourist attractions, such as the pristine Nhat Le Beach and Bang Mineral Hot Spring, the World Heritage-listed Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, as well better maintaining family relationships of Quang Binh citizens working in Ho Chi Minh City.

The air route will provide three flights a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Using Fokker 70 planes with 79 seats, the flights will depart from Dong Hoi at 8:45am and from HCMC at 11:10am. Each trip will take about one hour and 35 minutes.

One-way will cost VND900,000 to VND1.7 million (US$50.60-$95.50).

According to Vietnam Airlines, to make profits from the route, at least 70 percent of seats must be taken, and is the most difficult task at present.

Dr Hoai said that to effectively run the route, Vietnam Airlines and provincial authorities need to heavily promote the service.

It is hoped that the route Ho Chi Minh City – Dong Hoi route will create better conditions for Quang Binh Province to integrate with provinces nationwide.