From July 1, 2025, Vinh International Airport (Nghe An) will temporarily stop operating to serve infrastructure upgrades. This activity is expected to last 6 months and will create many significant impacts on the tourism industry of Ha Tinh - a locality bordering Nghe An and heavily dependent on this aviation hub.
As the main transit airport for the North Central region, Vinh airport not only serves Nghe An people but is also the “gateway” for Ha Tinh tourism. When Vinh airport closes, Ha Tinh passengers are forced to transfer to more distant airports such as Tho Xuan (Thanh Hoa) or Dong Hoi ( Quang Binh ), increasing costs and travel time. This is especially disadvantageous for groups of tourists going to places such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi or international passengers who need convenient connections.
“Vinh airport is temporarily closed, causing tourists to have to travel at least 2-4 hours longer than before. For tourists traveling to the South or internationally, the schedule must be changed, incurring additional transportation costs and the risk of being late,” said Mr. Le Doan - Viet Holiday Trading and Tourism Company Limited.
The temporary suspension of Vinh airport has caused many inconveniences to Ha Tinh people's travel itineraries. Instead of taking only about an hour to travel to the airport, tourists now have to travel 130-180 km further to alternative airports such as Tho Xuan (Thanh Hoa) or Dong Hoi (Quang Binh). This significantly increases travel costs, especially for families or large groups. Travel time is also longer, forcing many tour schedules to be adjusted or shortened.
In addition, due to the lack of direct flights from Vinh airport, it is difficult for tourists from Ha Tinh to access familiar destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, Phu Quoc or international routes. Some package tours have been forced to cancel or change their route by road, affecting the experience and psychology of customers, especially during the peak summer tourist season.
"I originally booked a tour to Da Lat from Vinh in early July, but the airport was closed so the tour was canceled. In the end, I had to change to a tour to Quang Binh for convenience by car. I also regret it because I have been looking forward to the trip to Da Lat for a long time," said Ms. Ho Thi Thuy (Huong Son).
According to travel agencies in Ha Tinh, the number of tour cancellations or changes in schedules in July and August is increasing. Elderly travelers and families are especially concerned because long-distance travel is no longer as convenient as before.
Faced with the disadvantages caused by the temporary closure of Vinh airport, tourism businesses in Ha Tinh have quickly implemented many response solutions to minimize the impact on tourism activities. In particular, adjusting tour routes to strongly exploit intra-provincial destinations such as Thien Cam beach, Xuan Thanh, Ke Go eco-tourism area or Huong Tich pagoda is being prioritized by many units. These are tourism products that do not depend on air routes, suitable for short-term vacation needs, and reasonable costs.
“As soon as we received information about Vinh airport being temporarily closed, we reviewed all tour routes. For groups using air routes, the unit proactively advised customers to switch to Tho Xuan airport (Thanh Hoa) or Dong Hoi (Quang Binh). At the same time, intra-provincial tours were also promoted to serve short-term needs, not depending on airlines. Customers were initially confused, but most agreed because they were clearly advised and promptly supported,” said Mr. Nguyen Tien Trinh - Director of Thanh Sen Investment, Trading, Service and Tourism Joint Stock Company.
In parallel, travel agencies have coordinated with transport companies to organize shuttle buses to Tho Xuan Airport (Thanh Hoa) and Dong Hoi Airport (Quang Binh), making it more convenient for tourists to travel long distances. Some units have also promoted cooperation with high-quality train and sleeper bus companies to build road tourism programs, combining visits to many provinces in the region.
In addition, inter-regional tourism is being developed. Ha Tinh tourism units are coordinating with Nghe An and Quang Binh to build connecting tours and exploit the North Central route to retain visitors and increase their length of stay.
“The temporary closure of Vinh airport right at the peak of the summer tourist season has caused many difficulties for both tourists and travel agencies in Nghe An and Ha Tinh. Flights to southern provinces such as Nha Trang, Da Lat, Buon Ma Thuot, which attract a large number of visitors from the North Central region, have now been forced to change their itineraries. Some tours have had to change direction to destinations within the province and neighboring areas,” said Mr. Hoang Minh Manh - Director of Dai Viet Tourism Joint Stock Company.
The temporary closure of Vinh airport has caused considerable inconvenience, but it is also an opportunity for Ha Tinh tourism to adjust its development direction. Diversifying products, investing in road services and promoting regional connectivity can open up a more sustainable tourism model, less dependent on aviation.
After the upgrade is completed, Vinh airport is expected to be able to welcome 2.5 to 3 million passengers per year – becoming a strategic infrastructure to help regional tourism develop more strongly. However, in the immediate future, Ha Tinh tourism industry still needs to make efforts to adapt quickly, maintain the domestic market and ensure a convenient experience for tourists.
Source: https://baohatinh.vn/doanh-nghiep-du-lich-ha-tinh-dieu-chinh-chien-luoc-truoc-khi-san-bay-vinh-dong-cua-post290519.html
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