Direct flights are now operating between Cam Ranh International Airport in Khanh Hoa Province and Dong Hoi Airport in Quang Tri Province. The flight takes just over an hour and is expected to make travel easier while linking beaches, natural attractions and historical sites in central Vietnam.
Shorter journeys
The first flight from Cam Ranh landed in Dong Hoi just over an hour after departure. For passengers, the new route offers a more convenient trip and a chance to visit other destinations along the central coast.
Previously, travelling between the two provinces by road took considerable time, especially for short holidays and trips combining leisure with business. Direct air services have reduced that barrier for residents, businesses and tourists.
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tu, a tourist from Khanh Hoa who took the first flight, said the direct service saved time and was less tiring than other forms of transport. Another passenger, Dao Anh Bai, said he had previously travelled between the provinces by coach for around 17 to 19 hours, while the flight took about one hour and 15 minutes.
Beyond local demand, the Cam Ranh-Dong Hoi route could expand tourism, trade and investment cooperation between Quang Tri, Khanh Hoa and neighbouring provinces.
Khanh Hoa is known for coastal and island tourism, resorts and developed accommodation infrastructure. Quang Tri has Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, caves, historical and revolutionary sites, and beaches.
The connection allows itineraries combining beach holidays, nature, history and culture. Bui Thi Thanh Thuy, deputy director of the Quang Tri Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Centre, said the route would connect destinations on the central heritage route and create conditions for joint programmes.
Thuy said air connectivity made travel easier and supported joint tourism programmes. Such programmes could extend visitors' stays, increase tourist spending and improve tourism products.
Linked destinations
The new route is a first step towards tourism cooperation between Quang Tri and Khanh Hoa. The provinces now need to develop distinctive tourism products, promote them and create itineraries that match visitor demand.
Khanh Hoa could become an entry point for international visitors who want to see Quang Tri. Quang Tri's caves and cultural and historical attractions could, in turn, add new experiences for visitors staying at Khanh Hoa's resorts.
Thai Thi Le Hang, director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the route fitted the province's approach of offering “one journey, multiple experiences”. She said it was important to maintain regular flights and include the route in a network of linked tourism products.
Inter-regional tourism also requires cooperation among management agencies, airlines, accommodation providers and travel companies. Itineraries need to reflect the needs of different visitor groups, service quality and competition.
Expanding air connectivity is particularly important for Quang Tri as it develops products based on nature, history, culture and beach holidays. In the first nine months of 2026, the province welcomed more than 9.3 million visitors, up 11.67 per cent year-on-year. Domestic arrivals exceeded 8.97 million and international visitors totalled 425,500. Tourism revenue was estimated at VNĐ10.8 trillion, also up 11.67 per cent from the same period last year.
Direct flights could make the destinations more accessible to domestic and international visitors, especially those combining beach holidays with nature, cultural and historical trips. To keep the route viable, the provinces will need joint promotion, business links, a stable schedule and enough passengers.
Sources: Viet Nam News
