Nghe An authorities said on November 11 that they were working to establish international air routes linking Vinh with Shenzhen and Guangzhou in China, initially prioritising Shenzhen.
The proposal was discussed at a November 10 meeting between provincial officials, businesses and airline representatives to assess passenger demand and the feasibility of new international services.
Currently, many Chinese experts and workers in Nghe An travel by road to the Huu Nghi border crossing in Lang Son Province to return home, a journey involving considerable time and expense.
A direct flight between Vinh and Shenzhen would take approximately two hours.
Surveys of businesses and travel agencies have identified demand for around 127 seats per flight.
Based on these findings, the Nghe An Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has proposed launching a scheduled Vinh-Shenzhen service with one return flight per week, with the possibility of increasing frequency as demand grows.
Nghe An is seeking new international air routes from Vinh Airport to support tourism, trade and investment. (Photo: Duy Chuong)
Vinh International Airport is a major aviation hub serving Nghe An and the north-central region.
It has a 2,400-metre runway, nine aircraft parking stands and a passenger terminal capable of handling approximately 3-3.5 million passengers annually.
The airport resumed operations on December 19, 2025, following repairs and upgrades, creating opportunities to expand its route network.
Vinh has previously operated several international services.
Vietnam Airlines launched flights between Vinh and Vientiane, Laos, on January 12, 2014, initially operating four services per week.
Charter flights between Vinh and Bangkok, Thailand, were introduced in 2016 and operated again in 2019.
The airport also handled charter flights to Taiwan before temporarily closing for upgrades in 2025.
However, previous international routes failed to sustain regular long-term operations, largely because of unstable passenger demand and limited commercial viability.
Nghe An is therefore focusing on assessing actual travel demand, securing a stable passenger base and coordinating with airlines to ensure the proposed routes are commercially sustainable.
Vinh International Airport serves as a key aviation hub for Nghe An and north-central Vietnam. (Photo: Duy Chuong)
At the November 10 meeting, Nghe An Vice Chairman Hoang Phu Hien said new international air links would support businesses and investors, promote tourism and contribute to local economic development.
He called on airlines to consider suitable flight frequencies and reasonable, stable fares.
Businesses and investors were also asked to commit to minimum passenger numbers to help ensure the routes' viability.
Concerned agencies are urged to continue reviewing demand, finalising cooperation plans and addressing obstacles to launching the Vinh-Shenzhen service.
Expanded international air connections are expected to strengthen trade and tourism, attract investment and support economic growth across north-central Vietnam.