Vietravel Airlines launches flights to Macau from Danang, Cam Ranh

Vietravel Airlines, Vietnam’s first carrier operated by a travel agency, has launched two direct services connecting Danang and Cam Ranh, popular beach tourist hubs in central Vietnam, with the world's biggest gambling hub Macau.

Its first VU1337 flight from Macau International Airport landed at Cam Ranh International Airport, around 40 kilometers from Nha Trang, on Thursday, bringing the first tourists from Macau to Vietnam since international tourism reopened in March last year.

Vietravel Airlines operates daily flights on the Danang-Macau and Cam Ranh-Macau routes.

Danang is famous for its long, sandy beaches and will host an international fireworks festival, one of Vietnam’s leading tourism events, from June 2. Cam Ranh is known for its pristine beaches and high-end resorts.

Vietravel Airlines is also working with authorities and partners to launch flights to Taiwan, mainland China, South Korea, and Japan.

Vu Duc Bien, CEO of Vietravel Airlines, said his airline has made thorough preparations to open international routes to help boost Vietnam’s tourism sector.

The firm has launched its first two international routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Thailand, a popular tourism paradise in Southeast Asia, as part of its efforts to tap into the international tourism market.

A series of Vietnamese carriers have recently launched new international routes to meet rising travel demand as tourism picks up.

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines last week launched a direct route connecting Hanoi with India’s Mumbai.

Budget airline Vietjet said it will open a direct route connecting Hanoi with Hiroshima on July 19 to boost investment and tourism.

It also inaugurated the first direct route connecting Hanoi to the "beach paradise" of Phuket last week.

In the first quarter of 2023, Vietnam welcomed nearly 2.7 million international arrivals, of which 89.8% traveled by air, an increase of 29.4% over the same period last year.