Flight VN9501 carrying 169 passengers left Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, and flew to Nha Trang, Vietnam, on April 26, marking the second direct flight linking the autonomous region with the Vietnamese tourist resort, reports Baotou Evening News.

The flight, operated by Vietnam’s largest carrier Vietnam Airlines will be using an Airbus A321, and is scheduled to fly three times a fortnight.

The five-hour flight leaves Nah Trang at 14:00, and arrives at Baotou Airport at 18:45. The return flight takes off at 19:50, and reaches Nah Trang at 0:30.

Nah Trang, a coastal city in Vietnam, is a renowned tourist destination due to its beaches and scuba diving. Nha Trang Bay is widely considered as being among the world's most beautiful bays. Another highlight of the city is its seafood which is considered the cheapest yet most delicious in Southeast Asia.

Baotou residents previously had to fly via cities such as Hohhot, Beijing and Chengdu before transferring onto a direct flight to Nah Trang, taking several hours longer and costing more.

The largest city in Inner Mongolia aims to boost ties with other regions with international routes recently launched including direct flights to Ulan Bator, capital city of Mongolia, Bangkok in Thailand, and Hong Kong.

Baotou residents are expected to benefit further as Baotou Airport plans to launch further direct flights linking foreign cities such as Da Nang in Vietnam, Siem Reap in Cambodia and Irkutsk, Russia.

Crew members mark the launch of a direct flight linking Baotou with Nah Trang, Vietnam, April 26. [Photo/caacnews.com.cn]