The tours, using two 12-seat Cessna Grand Caravan seaplanes, allow visitors to have an aerial view over Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay.

The Hai Au Aviation JSC offers one to three 30-minute flights per day on the Hanoi – Ha Long route with one-way ticket fare of VND 5.3 million (US$ 250) (excluding tax and fees).

Additionally, the company launched an aerial tour above Ha Long Bay costing more than VND5 million (US$ 235) for 25 minutes, and more than VND7 million (US$329) for a 40-minute trip. The tour runs between five and ten flights per day.

According to Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang, the seaplane tours contribute to diversifying transport vehicles. He is also engaged in creating conditions to open new seaplane routes.

The Hai Au company is expected to open a similar service in the northern central region in December, 2014, including routes from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne (Binh Thuan province), Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa province), Chau Doc (An Giang province) and Can Tho city, as well as Con Dao, Phu Quoc and Da Lat, according to CEO of Hai Au company, Luong Hoai Nam.

Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular travel destination located in the northern province of Quang Ninh, a 153-km and 2.5-hour drive from the capital city of Hanoi. The new service promises to contribute to develop tourism in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh province in particular, and Vietnam in general.