From 16 August 2026, the airline Sun PhuQuoc Airways begins operating the direct Dong Hoi – Cam Ranh air route, connecting the heritage land of Quang Tri directly with the beach tourism capital of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa for the first time. Flight time is just 1 hour 20 minutes – replacing a road journey of more than 800 km that previously took a full day and night, or a connecting flight via Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi or Da Nang.
For anyone who has ever struggled to fit “Phong Nha and Nha Trang” into the same holiday, this is a significant change: two destinations that sat at opposite ends of central Vietnam now fit into a single afternoon of travel.
Flight schedule and frequency
Sun PhuQuoc Airways – the carrier belonging to Sun Group – operates the route with narrow-body Airbus A320/A321 aircraft, carrying around 200 passengers per flight.
- Frequency: 3 return flights per week, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
- Dong Hoi → Cam Ranh: scheduled departure 12:05, arrival 13:25.
- Cam Ranh → Dong Hoi: scheduled departure 14:05, arrival 15:30.
The midday to early-afternoon window is a practical choice for holidaymakers: you still have time for breakfast and an unhurried check-out at one end, and reach your hotel at the other before late afternoon – without losing a whole day to travel as red-eye flights tend to require.
At the same time, the airline is also launching the Dong Hoi – Hanoi route with one return flight per day – a sign that Dong Hoi Airport is being repositioned as a genuine aviation gateway to the heritage region, rather than a secondary destination.
Why does this route matter to both ends?
Before the direct route existed, Quang Tri and Khanh Hoa barely exchanged visitors at all. The road distance was simply too long, while connecting flights pushed total travel time to 6–8 hours at considerable cost. The result was that two strong tourism regions of central Vietnam – one built on caves and heritage, the other on beaches and resorts – developed almost separately.
The new route changes that equation in both directions:
- For Quang Tri: it opens access to the high-spending visitor base concentrated in Nha Trang – including international travellers flying directly into Cam Ranh from South Korea, China, Russia and other Northeast Asian markets. For them, an extra 1 hour 20 minutes in the air to reach a World Natural Heritage site is a highly attractive add-on to a beach holiday.
- For Khanh Hoa: it brings additional visitors from the North Central region and northern provinces transiting through Dong Hoi, and adds an inter-regional product to sell to international travellers who want to combine beaches and caves in a single trip to Vietnam.
In other words, this is not merely one more flight sector. It is about joining two previously disconnected tourism products into one seamless journey – something travel companies at both ends have been waiting for.
Where to go from Dong Hoi Airport
Dong Hoi Airport is around 6 km from the city centre and about 50 km – roughly an hour’s drive – from Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. From here travellers can reach:
- Phong Nha Cave – the famous water cave visited by boat along the Son River, suitable for all ages.
- Paradise Cave – a dry cave with vast stalactite formations and a convenient walkway.
- Chay River – Dark Cave – the active cluster: zip-lining, mud bathing and kayaking.
- Nhat Le and Bao Ninh beaches – right beside Dong Hoi city, convenient for travellers staying only one night.
- Quang Tri’s historic sites – destinations for remembrance and commemorative travel.
Where to go from Cam Ranh Airport
At the other end, Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR) lies about 35–40 km from central Nha Trang along one of the finest coastal roads in south-central Vietnam. From Cam Ranh, travellers can:
- Head straight to Nha Trang for the beach, take a speedboat out to Hon Mun and Hon Tam for snorkelling over coral, or visit the entertainment complexes around the bay.
- Stop at Po Nagar Cham Towers, Dam Market and the Stone Church – inner-city sights that suit a late afternoon after landing at 13:25.
- Extend the trip up to Da Lat (about 3.5–4 hours by road), out to Ninh Thuan – Vinh Hy, or south to Mui Ne – Phan Thiet.
A suggested Phong Nha – Nha Trang itinerary
Five days, four nights (flying Dong Hoi → Cam Ranh):
- Days 1–2: Dong Hoi – Phong Nha, visiting Phong Nha Cave and Paradise Cave, overnight around Phong Nha or central Dong Hoi.
- Day 3: morning at Nhat Le beach or the historic sites, midday flight Dong Hoi – Cam Ranh (12:05 – 13:25), afternoon check-in at Nha Trang and a stroll along Tran Phu beach.
- Day 4: Nha Trang island tour – snorkelling over coral and seafood on the islands.
- Day 5: shopping, a visit to Po Nagar Towers, then out to Cam Ranh Airport.
Because the route operates only on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, choose your departure day first and build the sightseeing around it – do it the other way round and you can easily end up waiting an extra day mid-trip. On the first flights of any new route, favouring hotels and services with a flexible cancellation policy is also the wiser choice.
Practical notes
- Times are scheduled times and may be adjusted according to the airline’s actual operating plan. Re-check your e-ticket before departure.
- Book airport transfers in advance: both Dong Hoi and Cam Ranh sit well away from accommodation areas, so booking ahead means a known price and no on-the-spot negotiation.
- Baggage: on short-haul A320/A321 services, consider buying checked baggage when booking rather than at the airport.
- International visitors: activate mobile connectivity before leaving the terminal so you can check maps and contact your driver.
Go365 travels with you
As an online travel platform operating across Vietnam and headquartered in Nha Trang, Go365 is ready to support travellers the moment the aircraft lands:
- Cam Ranh Airport – Nha Trang transfers with a range of vehicle types and clear pricing before you book.
- Tours and experience tickets in Nha Trang and nearby destinations such as Da Lat, Ninh Thuan and Mui Ne.
- Travel eSIM giving international visitors instant 4G/5G connectivity on arrival.
The arrival of the Dong Hoi – Cam Ranh route is a valuable piece of the central Vietnam tourism map for 2026. When caves and beaches are only 1 hour 20 minutes apart by air, itineraries once considered “too far to combine” become entirely feasible – and Go365 is always ready to make every trip of yours complete.
Source: Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ announced route operating plan, as compiled from Vietnamese press reports in July 2026.
Read more: Hue – Phong Nha tourist train from 28 August 2026: 8 carriages and 360-degree rotating seats.