Ha Long Bay will permanently cease seaplane services from April 1st.
Hai Au Aviation Company has announced the discontinuation of its seaplane sightseeing tour of Ha Long Bay after 10 years of operation due to a change in business strategy.
From April 1st, the seaplane sightseeing tour of Ha Long Bay will officially cease. This is the latest announcement from Hai Au Aviation Company (HAA), the pioneering and sole provider of this unique experience in Vietnam for the past decade.
Reasons for discontinuing operations and the service context.
A representative from Hai Au Aviation Company stated that the decision to cease seaplane services in Ha Long Bay stems from a change in the company's business strategy. This move comes amidst a shrinking of sightseeing flight services in the area. Previously, in 2023, Quang Ninh province also discontinued helicopter sightseeing flights over the bay.
A 10-year journey flying over heritage sites.
Established in 2011, Hai Au Aviation made its first commercial flight connecting Noi Bai International Airport and Ha Long Bay in September 2014. The company specializes in using the Cessna Caravan C208B-EX seaplane, manufactured in the USA.
To ensure safe operation at sea, each aircraft is equipped with two large buoyancy aids under its fuselage, along with state-of-the-art aviation equipment such as weather radar, storm tracking systems, and global GPS positioning. With flight altitudes ranging from 500m to 3,000m, visitors can easily livestream, film, and photograph panoramic views of the world's natural wonders from a completely different perspective.
Details about costs and experiences before closing.
Standard sightseeing tours typically last around 25 minutes and have a maximum capacity of 14 people (including 12 passengers and 2 pilots). Ticket prices are listed at 1.6 million VND for Vietnamese citizens and approximately 2 million VND for international visitors.
Besides short scenic flights, the airline also offered charter flights or flights from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Island starting from 9 million VND. The discontinuation of this service is a source of regret for the tourism community, as it was once one of the most distinctive high-end experiences when it comes to tourism in Quang Ninh.
