One of Vietnam’s most beloved tourist destinations, UNESCO World Heritage Site Halong Bay, now has its own airport.
Van Don International Airport began operations on December 30, making it much easier for tourists to get to the area. Until now, Halong Bay was only reachable by bus from the capital Hanoi – a journey that takes several hours.
The airport received US$310 million in investments for its construction.
“It is the most modern airport in Vietnam,” said Romy Berntsen, project manager and architect from NACO, the airport’s Dutch consultancy and engineering company.
The airport is expected to receive around 2.5 million passengers every year – and by 2030, that number is even expected to increase to five million passengers annually.
Halong Bay is one of Vietnam’s most naturally beautiful sites, with its clear blue water, rainforests and several small islands dotted around the bay.
However, as in many nations across south-east Asia, Vietnam is facing a massive influx in tourists from around the world.
Although this is great news for the tourism industry and everyone who relies on this as a source of income, mass tourism is causing a lot of problems as well, such as pollution of the surrounding environment and the sea.
Nevertheless, if the long bus ride to Halong Bay has been stopping you from seeing it so far, maybe you can take advantage of the new airport. – dpa
