Open direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Mongolia.

Direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mongolian capital will begin operating in November, with an expected frequency of 2-3 flights per week, aiming to boost tourism .

Following the visa waiver policy for Vietnamese tourists implemented in March, Mongolia continues to boost its tourism efforts by opening direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City and intensifying promotional programs.

Speaking at the Go Mongola Roadshow, a series of events promoting Mongolian tourism held in Ho Chi Minh City from April 4 to 7, Munkhnasan Oldokh, Vice President of the Mongolian Tourism Association, said that a direct flight will connect Ho Chi Minh City and Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia.

Mr. Munkhnasan Oldokh spoke at an event promoting Mongolian tourism held in Ho Chi Minh City. April 5th. Photo: Bich Phuong

Ho Chi Minh City is a major tourist center and also a locality with a high number of people traveling abroad annually, so the Ulaanbaatar - Ho Chi Minh City flight route will help increase the number of tourists between Mongolia and Vietnam and vice versa.

According to Mr. Munkhnasan, the flight route, once operational, will significantly reduce travel time for tourists from both countries, from the usual 10-19 hours of flight time to just 6 hours. Currently, Vietnamese tourists traveling to Mongolia have to transit through South Korea or Hong Kong.

Mr. Erdene Ochir Bat Unen, marketing representative of Miat Mongolian Airlines, the national airline of Mongolia. They said they would announce the operating plan in September. The expected frequency is 2-3 flights per week, with a maximum capacity of 640 passengers. The proposed ticket price ranges from 300-400 USD per way.

Following the announcement of direct flights, Vietnamese travel companies believe that bringing tourists to Mongolia will be easier, opening up many opportunities to develop tour packages to the country.

Mr. Pham Anh Vu, Marketing Director of Vietnam Tourism Media Joint Stock Company, said that Mongolia is an interesting tourist destination due to its colorful culture, but it hasn't received much attention yet. The company only organizes about 5-7 tours a year during the summer months, mainly for group tours and combining tickets with some charter flights from Mongolian partners, with irregular and infrequent schedules. Because there aren't many convenient flight routes, the cost is high. On average, a Mongolia tour costs between 40-60 million VND depending on the length of the tour.

Mr. Vu believes that the launch of the direct flight route between Ho Chi Minh City and Ulanbaatar will shorten travel time for tourists. Based on this, travel companies will be able to adjust tour itineraries accordingly, resulting in more reasonable tour prices than currently.

Tourist Pham Hoai Thuong visits the tribe. Reindeer amidst the Taiga forest during a trip to Mongolia in winter 2023. Photo: Pham Hoai Thuong

From March 7th, Vietnamese visitors to Mongolia are exempt from visa requirements. Vietnamese citizens can apply for e-visas for three purposes: tourism, transit, and participation in events.

According to statistics from the Mongolian Tourism Association, approximately 2,300 Vietnamese tourists visited Mongolia in 2023. Vietnamese tourists appreciate Mongolia for its unique weather and the opportunity to explore its nomadic culture. In 2024, the Mongolian government aims to welcome one million international tourists and increase the number of visitors from the Vietnamese market.

Bich Phuong

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/mo-duong-bay-thang-tp-hcm-mong-co-4731222.html