Seaplanes flying over Ha Long Bay halt their flight.

After more than 12 years of operating scenic seaplane tours over Ha Long Bay, Hai Au Airlines officially announced the cessation of its seaplane services for viewing Ha Long Bay from April 1, 2026.

On March 6th, Hai Au Aviation (HAA) announced that it will cease operating seaplane sightseeing tours of Ha Long Bay starting April 1st, 2026.

Seaplanes for sightseeing in Ha Long Bay will cease flying from April 1st.

PHOTO: HAA

According to the company representative, the decision to discontinue the service was made in the context of a change in the company's business direction after more than a decade of operating this unique tourism product.

Established in 2011, HAA Airlines is a pioneer in Vietnam in providing scenic seaplane tours. In September 2014, the airline operated its first commercial flight from Noi Bai International Airport to Ha Long Bay, opening up a new type of aerial tourism experience.

The seaplane operated by the airline is the Cessna Caravan C208B-EX, manufactured in 2014 and imported directly from the United States. To be able to take off and land on the water in Ha Long Bay, the aircraft is equipped with two buoyancy aids under the fuselage and modern avionics systems such as weather radar, GPS navigation, and a storm tracking system.

Ha Long Bay as seen from a seaplane.

PHOTO: HAA

Each scenic flight lasts approximately 25 minutes, taking visitors at an altitude of 500 to 3,000 meters above sea level, offering panoramic views of Ha Long Bay from above. The seaplane has a maximum capacity of 14 people, including 12 passengers and two pilots.

Previously, tickets for the scenic bay flight experience cost around 1.6 million VND for Vietnamese customers and 2 million VND for international customers. In addition, the airline also offers private charter flights or flights from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Island at prices starting from around 9 million VND.

Previously, in 2023, Quang Ninh province also stopped offering helicopter sightseeing tours of Ha Long Bay. The cessation of seaplane operations means that this type of sightseeing tour of the bay from above is no longer offered in the locality.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thuy-phi-co-ngam-vinh-ha-long-dung-bay-185260306154749107.htm