S Korea’s biggest low-cost carrier Jeju Air opens new route to Da Lat

South Korea’s largest low-cost airline Jeju Air will launch a new direct route from Incheon to Vietnam's Central Highlands resort town of Da Lat from December 20.

There would be seven return flights a week. Flights will depart from Incheon at 10:20 p.m., and arrive in Da Lat at 1:30 a.m. (local time), while the return leg from Da Lat will depart at 2:30 a.m. and land at Incheon airport at 9:30 a.m. the same day, according to the carrier's announcement on Friday.

Jeju Air currently holds the leading position among South Korea’s airlines in terms of the number of direct routes to Vietnam. It operates routes from Incheon to Vietnam’s popular tourism hubs Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City, and from Busan to Da Nang.

Vietnam welcomed 10 million international visitors in the first 10 months of the year, exceeding this year’s 8-million target.

South Korea is the biggest feeder market of Vietnam’s tourism with 2.9 million arrivals in the period. In 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam received 3.5 million South Korean tourists.

South Korea's Eastar Jet Airlines on Monday restarted its direct air service from Incheon to Cam Ranh, a popular resort town near Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa province, after three years of suspension.

A number of South Korean carriers have also announced plans to start direct services to Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s biggest island off the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang, this year.

Jeju Air plans to launch a daily Seoul-Phu Quoc service this month, while Korean Air and Jin Air are set to fly on the same route from late November.

Situated on a plateau around 1,500 meters above sea level, Da Lat enjoys year-round cool weather that stands in contrast to Vietnam's tropical climate. It used to be a summer hideout for French officials who built villas in the hills to escape the heat and humidity of the lowlands.

Last July, budget carrier Vietjet launched a direct route connecting Da Lat with Busan, the largest coastal city of South Korea.

In 2023, Da Lat aims to welcome 6.5 million tourists, an increase of 18.2% from the previous year. This includes 250,000 international visitors, up 67% year-on-year.

In the first eight months of this year, Da Lat welcomed 4.7 million visitors, up 1.8%.