Seaplane service to connect popular islands in Quang Ninh province

Hai Au Aviation is set to launch exclusive seaplane flights over Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province next month, connecting the islands of Tuan Chau and Co To.

The flights will reduce travel times between Ha Long town and Co To island from 90 to 20 minutes on Cessna Grand Caravan 208B-EX seaplanes, considered among the safest of their kind.

Passengers will be given a bird's-eye view of various tourism attractions in the northern coastal province, including Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO natural heritage site, Bai Tu Long Bay, and the islands of Ngoc Vung, Quan Lan, Minh Chau and Co To.

Coming into the peak tourism season, Co To island is offering various services such as coral sea diving, beach activities, and night-time events such as bars, camping, a walking street, street food, and arts.

In the first five months of this year, Co To welcomed 72,000 visitors. The figure included 39,000 in May with 1,118 foreigners.

Quang Ninh province hosted 7.1 million tourists in the first five months of this year, up 70% year-on-year, reaping a revenue of VND13,140 billion ($559.6 million), up 83%, according to provincial data. The province targets to welcome 15 million visitors this year.

The number of foreigners visiting Vietnam in the first five months of the year reached 4.6 million, rising 12.6 times year-on-year but only equivalent to 63% of the same period in pre-pandemic 2019.