AirAsia introduces direct flights to Da Nang, Vietnam

KUALA LUMPUR – It’s time to discover another jewel of South East Asia – Da Nang, Vietnam. Get ready to explore ancient ruins; bask on sunny white sandy beaches; enjoy breathtaking views and many more fantastic experiences the city has to offer as AirAsia will be offering direct flights to Vietnam’s third largest city from 16 December 2011. The airline will begin servicing the new route with four (4) weekly flights departing from LCC Terminal, Kuala Lumpur to Da Nang International airport every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

This new service from Kuala Lumpur will be AirAsia’s third destination in Vietnam after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and is the airline’s seventh destination within Indochina which includes Siem Reap, Phnom Penh (Cambodia); Vientiane (Laos) and Yangon (Myanmar).

AirAsia Berhad Regional Head of Commercial, Kathleen Tan said, “We are delighted to add another great destination to our extensive network. Da Nang is one of the hidden gems of South East Asia and has so much to offer. From its pristine beaches to historical sites, there’s surely something for travellers to enjoy. Apart from tourism, the city also serves as a shorter meeting point for local SMEs to trade within the country as it is located in central Vietnam.”

With its old-world charm along with natural wonders, Da Nang has a plethora of exciting sites to offer travellers. For the history buffs, Da Nang is home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites namely the ancient town of H?i An, M? S?n Sanctuary and Imperial City, Hu?.

Beach lovers on the other hand can chill out along the city’s 30km long coastline and enjoy the clear green water on the beaches such as My Khe, Non Nuoc and Cua Dai. Nha Thrang, a coastal town near Da Nang also offers spectacular beaches and well worth a visit if you are an underwater enthusiast. This popular spot has attracted scuba divers from all over the world while Nha Thrang Bay has long been regarded as amongst the world’s most beautiful bay.

Those who want to enjoy nature at its best can visit the Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son) and explore the caves, tunnels, labyrinths and even Buddhist temples located at the cluster of five limestone hills named after the five elements of water, fire, metal, earth and wood. Then there is the Hai Van Pass, a two mile long mountain pass and is renowned for its scenic beauty. The pass was featured in BBC’s Top Gear where host Jeremy Clarkson mentioned it as “a deserted ribbon of perfection – one of the best coastal roads in the world.”

Da Nang also plays host to a number of international world class events such as the annual Fireworks Competition held every April while Nha Thrang was chosen as the site of the 2008 Miss Universe and Miss Earth 2010 pageants. It was also announced that the 2016 Asian Beach Games will be held in Nha Thrang.

In conjunction with the introduction of this new service, AirAsia will offer an all-in fare from RM69. Booking period for the offer is from 5 – 12 October 2011 for the travel period of 16 December 2011 – 27 October 2012. On top of that, AirAsia Citibank credit card holders will get an exclusive offer with an all-in fare starting from RM59.

The promo-fare is available online at airasia.com and is also available via mobile at mobile.airasia.com as well as via AirAsia apps for Blackberry, iPhone and Android phones. The apps are available for download at Blackberry App World, iTunes App Store and Android Marketplace by searching for the keyword AirAsia.

Da Nang also has a great choice of accommodation options for travellers. From budget backpackers’ lodges to 5 star hotels and international resorts, the city caters to all type of travellers. For ground arrangements guests can log on to airasiago.com. With more than 70,000 hotels worldwide and 5,000 tours and activities, guests are able to mix and match their preferred tour and activities to make their holiday more interesting and memorable. Through its partnership with Expedia, the travel portal has 130,000 hotel partners around the world.