The first helicopter tours in HCM City started on April 29. (Photo: vnexpess.net)
HCM City (VNA) – The first helicopter tours tookoff over Ho Chi Minh City on April 29, carrying 30 passengers.
The flights were organised by TST Tourist and the municipalDepartment of Tourism in coordination with Military Hospital 175 and theSouthern Vietnam Helicopter Company (VNH South). One took off from Tan Son Nhatairport and the other from the 8th storey of the hospital.
At a ceremony held for the first group of passengers, LeTruong Hien Hoa, Vice Director of the municipal Tourism Department, said thetours form part of the “Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City” programme developed toattract domestic and foreign tourists.
The operation of the helicopter service sees the departmentworking to connect leading travel firms in the country to build tours suitablefor visitors and organise promotions. Military Hospital 175, meanwhile,provides helipads and ensures medical safety for passengers. VNH South isresponsible for the schedule, flight safety and flight regulations inaccordance with Ministry of Defence regulations.
Some of the first passengers of the helicopter service in HCM City (Photo: VNA)
The tours include short flights (30-45 minutes) over thecentre of HCM City and Can Gio district; and mid-range flights (60 minutes)from HCM City to the Endless Field Tourism Area in the Mekong Delta province ofLong An. Prices range from 4 to 5 million VND (174 – 272 USD).
Saigontourist, Vietravel, Fiditour – Vietluxtour and TST Touristare offering the service. They reportedthat for the upcoming April 30-May Day holidays, 200 people have booked tours.
This year, National Reunification Day (April 30) and the MayDay (May 1) fall on Saturday and Sunday, so people will have two more days offon Monday (May 2) and Tuesday (May 3)./.
Last weekend, NovaWorld Phan Thiet impressed the market with the launch of a project tour by helicopter that takes only 40 minutes to fly from Ho Chi Minh City.
A pilot flight for a new helicopter tour known as "Ho Chi Minh City From Above" in conjunction with emergency services was launched by the municipal Department of Tourism in coordination with Military Hospital 175 and the Southern Vietnam Helicopter Company (VNH South) on April 12.
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The first helicopter tours in HCM City started on April 29. (Photo: vnexpess.net) 
Some of the first passengers of the helicopter service in HCM City (Photo: VNA) 
