New direct flights will connect Hai Phong, northern Vietnam's gateway, to Ho Chi Minh City in the south and the island resort of Phu Quoc. Upstart Sun PhuQuoc Airways launches both routes on July 25. Each runs one round trip a day, and more than 5,000 bookings were already in before launch. For expatriates working in the north near Hanoi, and for anyone traveling south for business or leisure, it means one less transfer to deal with. Here's a practical look at what changes and how to use it.
Two Routes from Hai Phong Launch on the Same Day
Two routes are launching: "Hai Phong–Ho Chi Minh City" and "Hai Phong–Phu Quoc." They operate out of Hai Phong's Cat Bi International Airport, which becomes Sun PhuQuoc Airways' seventh domestic airport. Each route runs one round trip a day. The airline says discounted fares and service perks are on offer at launch and that bookings are coming in strongly.
This airline is an emerging carrier that has expanded its network from a base in Phu Quoc. By adding Cat Bi International Airport as its seventh domestic hub, it has taken a further step toward directly linking the north with the south and its island resorts. How much direct service to Phu Quoc has grown isthe move by an emerging airline out of Phu Quoc to add aircraftSeen together with this, the trend is easy to grasp. Each time a new hub is added, cities that once required a connection get linked directly. These two routes sit on that same line.
What We Know About This Launch
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Operating carrier | Sun PhuQuoc Airways (Sun PhuQuoc Airways) |
| Launch date | July 25 |
| Line | Hai Phong–Ho Chi Minh City / Hai Phong–Phu Quoc |
| Frequency | One round trip per day on each route |
| Departure airport | Hai Phong Cat Bi International Airport (the airline's seventh domestic base) |
| Pre-launch bookings | Over 5,000 bookings |
The aircraft type, flight time, and specific fares were not disclosed at the time of the launch announcement. For bookings and schedules, check the latest information on each carrier's sales page.
The ones who get "closer" are northern users
Hai Phong is a port city about two hours by car from Hanoi. Until now, heading to Phu Quoc from the north generally meant going out to Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport or connecting via Ho Chi Minh City. With direct flights from Hai Phong added, people living east and northeast of Hanoi, and business travelers from companies with factories or bases in the area, gain the option of flying from their local airport instead of going all the way to Noi Bai.
Following an administrative reorganization, Phu Quoc now belongs to An Giang Province. On top of its fame as a beach resort, it is drawing attention as a filming location for TV and streaming productions, andThe island in the spotlight as a Korean-drama settingits popularity as a destination is being lifted by demand from the north as well. The direct flights are a move to capture that demand.
Where it helps — when and for whom
One round trip a day is a bit thin for frequent business trips. Because the outbound and return time slots are fixed, it can be unsuited to packing a schedule into a day trip or an overnight. On the other hand, for a stay of several days over a weekend or a trip where you can match your plans to the flight times, a direct, connection-free flight can sharply cut travel time and the risk of missing a connection.
Vietnam's domestic flights keep adding services over the summer, widening the very range of routes and frequencies on offer. Discount fares often appear right after a route launches, soBooking tips for the summer, when domestic flights are being added in forceWith that locked in, it's easier to grab the early launch promotions for a new route. In the startup period, before seats have filled up, flights with good conditions on both price and timing may still be available.
Hai Phong's aim
The new route also dovetails with Hai Phong’s own tourism strategy. The city has set targets of 16.3 million visitors in 2026 and 25 million in 2030. Thickening the domestic network to increase the flow of people is essential to chasing those figures. The trend of a northern industrial city strengthening its role as an air hub will affect residents’ lives on both the business-travel and logistics fronts.
The push to expand capacity for air demand in the north is not limited to Hai Phong alone. Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport suffers chronic congestion, so it means a great deal for nearby airports to share domestic routes. Cat Bi International Airport adding departure and arrival cities also works to disperse passengers who had concentrated at Noi Bai. If air links in the north grow thicker overall, seats become easier to get even in peak season, translating into a real benefit for residents and business travelers.
Summary
The two routes, Hai Phong–Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong–Phu Quoc, launch July 25 with one round trip each per day. Practically, start by comparing departure and arrival times and the early discount fares against whether the flight 'saves you the trip out to Noi Bai.' The very fact that direct flights from the north are now an option is the takeaway for residents and business travelers. Fares and schedules settle after launch, so lock in a well-suited flight early.
