The seaplane tour service on Ha Long Bay has got off to a rocky start with disappointing results after just one month of operation, according to Quang Ninh Authorities and Hai Au Aviation.
The seaplane service to see Ha Long Bay
This might be partially due to the inconveniences attached to the service. According to Hai Au Aviation, customers must travel to Noi Bai International Airport to catch the flights, which are routed along the Hanoi-Haiphong path before going to Ha Long City. This flight path takes as much as three times longer than a direct route, which makes the trip, making the travel time about the same as going by car, but at a much higher cost.
Also, passengers on these flights are not allowed to take photos because of national defense regulations, which prohibits photographs at altitudes of 1,000 to 2,000 metres over the bay. In reality, this altitude is too high for passengers to enjoy the scenery below.
Also, Hai Au must seek permission from authorities for each flight, which could cause problems if they see a sudden spike in demand. The company has already had to refuse a number of bookings for this reason.
The People‘s Committee of Quang Ninh and Hai Au Aviation have asked the Ministry of National Defense to approve more direct routes between Hanoi and Ha Long City. They are also seeking the ministry’s permission to conduct flights from Gia Lam Airport and from another strip near West Lake that was built during the colonial period.
Đăng ký: VietNam News
