According to the plan, the first Ho Chi Minh City - Van Don direct flight route will be put into operation by Sun Phuoc Airways, belonging to Sungroup, from June 15, 2026 with a frequency of 4 flights/week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
The flight schedule is designed to meet the flexible travel needs of passengers: the flight departs from Ho Chi Minh City at 3:30 PM and lands in Van Don at 5:30 PM; in the opposite direction, the flight takes off from Van Don at 6:10 PM and lands in Ho Chi Minh City at 8:30 PM (local time).
Establishing this direct flight route helps passengers save significant travel time, eliminating dependence on traditional transit points. More importantly, the flight route acts as a strategic trade bridge, opening up more opportunities to connect supply chains, trade, and especially tourism between the two economic regions.
For the Northeast region, Van Don International Airport is an important strategic infrastructure. This is a modern traffic gateway, directly connecting to prominent heritages and scenic spots of Quang Ninh, such as: Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, as well as the Quan Lan, Minh Chau, Co To island tourism system. In 2026, Quang Ninh aims to attract 22 million visitors (including 5.2 million international visitors), bringing in revenue of about 67,000 billion VND.
In the context that the locality is strongly promoting the model of heritage economy, night economy, green tourism and high-quality resort complexes, direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City are expected to become a lever to attract domestic tourists with large purchasing power from the South.
In the opposite direction, the flight route also creates favorable conditions for people in Quang Ninh and neighboring areas to easily access the largest economic center of the country, supporting investment needs and business exchanges.
Previously, some airlines, including Vietnam Airlines, operated the Ho Chi Minh City - Van Don route but were temporarily suspended due to aircraft fuel shortages caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
