Hai Phong seeks to open more flight routes to alleviate difficulties for tourism.

Hai Phong and the aviation industry are seeking solutions to open new flight routes, overcome difficulties, and turn Cat Bi Airport into a driving force for tourism growth in the city.

Promoting the "symbiotic" relationship

In the development of tourism in Hai Phong, the issue of linking aviation and tourism to resolve bottlenecks has been raised as an urgent requirement. Facing the situation of shrinking flight routes and high ticket prices affecting competitiveness, Hai Phong's tourism and aviation sectors have sat down to find solutions to attract tourists, in the context of the large-scale expansion of Cat Bi Airport.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Hung - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Phong City (center of the photo) pledged to create the most favorable conditions, continue to improve policies and invest in upgrading destinations to better serve tourists. Photo: Duyen Vu.

Accordingly, at a recent conference, representatives from businesses assessed that tourism and aviation have long been considered "partners in progress," sharing a close symbiotic relationship. Aviation helps connect tourists to distant destinations quickly, while tourism provides a plentiful source of customers for airlines. However, this linkage is facing many challenges.

According to businesses, air transportation costs currently account for more than 40% of the price structure of a tour. The continuous increase in airfare, especially during holidays and the summer, has become a major obstacle, reducing the competitiveness of destinations like Hai Phong. Flight delays and cancellations also negatively impact the tourist experience and the reputation of travel companies.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Hung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Phong City, shared that although the city's tourism industry has made impressive strides, welcoming over 5.2 million visitors and generating 5,510 billion VND in revenue in the first six months of 2025, the overall picture has shown some dark areas since the end of 2023.

"Due to the impact of the global economic downturn and the restructuring of airlines, many routes from Hai Phong to provinces and cities nationwide and internationally have been temporarily suspended. The frequency of remaining flights has also decreased significantly," Mr. Hung said.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Hung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Phong City, shared his heartfelt thoughts with businesses, working together to find solutions to overcome difficulties and develop tourism to its full potential. Photo: Duyen Vu.

Currently, Cat Bi International Airport, a crucial air gateway for the entire Northern Coastal region, is operating a stable 40-50 flights per day. However, once-highly anticipated routes such as Bangkok (Thailand) and Shenzhen (China) have been temporarily suspended, leaving much regret for the city's tourism industry.

Mr. Le Huy Truong, Deputy Director of Cat Bi International Airport, said that the airport currently maintains key domestic routes to Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc, Buon Ma Thuot, Da Lat, and Can Tho. Internationally, there are routes to Incheon (South Korea) and several Chinese cities such as Lijiang, Nanning, and Kunming.

Expectations from the airport "mega-project"

Despite these challenges, Hai Phong is still placing a big bet on its aviation infrastructure. The city possesses a rare advantage with its five-tiered transportation system. Among them, Cat Bi International Airport meets 4E standards, capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, and serves as a strategic backup airport for Noi Bai.

A new impetus for development is being placed on the construction project of Terminal 2, which commenced last August. With a designed capacity of 5 million passengers per year in phase 1, Terminal 2 will significantly increase the total capacity of Cat Bi Airport.

Representatives from Vietravel Airlines shared the difficulties and proposed solutions to overcome obstacles in developing tourism linked to aviation. Photo: Dinh Muoi.

According to Mr. Le Huy Truong, when all supporting facilities such as the cargo terminal (capacity of 100,000 tons/year), logistics area, and technical maintenance area are completed, Cat Bi International Airport could reach an operating capacity of up to 13 million passengers/year and 250,000 tons of cargo/year.

Despite infrastructure investment, the number of passengers passing through the airport in the first 10 months of 2025 only reached over 2 million, a modest figure compared to its potential. "In the context of strong expansion planning, close linkage with the tourism industry is a key strategy to maximize the airport's operational efficiency," Mr. Truong emphasized.

In addition, representatives of travel businesses frankly raised their urgent needs. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh - Director of Saigontourist's branch in Hai Phong, suggested that Cat Bi International Airport and airlines should soon increase the frequency of current flights, especially during peak season.

A tourism business shares its difficulties and obstacles and proposes solutions to overcome them. Photo: Dinh Muoi.

"Tourists need stable flight schedules and reasonable prices. In addition, ground services at the airport need to be upgraded to provide a more professional and convenient experience. We suggest closer cooperation between the government, airlines, and travel agencies in developing promotional packages to stimulate demand and promote Hai Phong as a destination," Ms. Thanh said.

In response to these proposals, the relevant parties have committed to taking action. Representatives from Cat Bi International Airport stated that they will coordinate with the Department of Tourism and airlines to promote the reopening of existing routes and explore potential new routes to Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. The airport will also develop a non-aviation service ecosystem such as a tourist information center, tour sales counters, an OCOP product area, and a local food court right within the terminal.

This collaboration between the aviation industry and tourism businesses is expected to create a real boost, transforming the potential of aviation infrastructure into a powerful growth engine for the tourism sector. The goal is not only to bring more tourists to Hai Phong, but also to affirm the city's position on the regional and global tourism map.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director General of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, affirmed that the agency will continue to work alongside Hai Phong, advising the Government on policies and mechanisms to support the opening of new flight routes, remove difficulties for businesses, and ensure a civilized and safe tourism environment.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/hai-phong-tim-cach-mo-them-duong-bay-go-kho-cho-du-lich-d785226.html