Flights depart from Quang Binh’s Dong Hoi Airport on Mondays and Fridays. The departure times are not the same on the two days, but are early in the afternoon. The return flights take off from Chiang Mai late in the afternoon. Flight duration is 1 hour 40 minutes.
Travel industry analysts say the new route will tap into Chiang Mai’s ever-increasing popularity as a tourist destination. They claim it will mainly serve Vietnamese tourists, but the 12GO ASIA travel gurus say Quang Binh is not lacking in the attractions department either.
The UNESCO listed Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is definitely a highlight and boasts amazing limestone karsts and caves. Beaches such as Ly Hoa are noted for the translucence of the South China Sea's waters. Bang Spa’s hot springs and Ho Chi Minh Trail sites are other key draws for tourists.
Jetstar Pacific flights connect Quang Binh and Chiang Mai
News in AsiaLast week saw the inauguration of a new flight route connecting central Vietnam and the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. Vietnamese budget carrier Jetstar Pacific launched a twice weekly service last Friday which links the nation’s Quang Binh Province to the Rose of Thailand’s North.