The Trưng Trắc ship tests running on the Hàn River in Đà Nẵng. The ship will serve a new sea route for Đà Nẵng-Lý Sơn Islands. VNS Photo Lê Lâm

ĐÀ NẴNG — A new sea route between the central city of Đà Nẵng and the Lý Sơn islands, off the coast of Quảng Ngãi Province, has been officially launched.

It’s the first time a sea route uses a double hull ship in the region, which provides 600 seats for the 152km trip, promising safe and comfortable conditions for tourists.

The Phú Quốc Express joint-stock company, which operates the route, said the trip would offer more options for visitors to spend time exploring the islands after visiting destinations in Đà Nẵng, Hội An and Huế.

Tourists can book a sea tour from Đà Nẵng to Lý Sơn or bus travel from Đà Nẵng to Sa Kỳ Port in the mainland of Quảng Ngãi before joining a boat journey from Sa Kỳ to Lý Sơn islands.

A 600-seat ship is used for carrying passengers from Đà Nẵng to Lý Sơn Islands of Quảng Ngãi. It offers ticket prices from US$26 to $39 for a single trip. VNS Photo Lê Lâm

The first trip will depart from Đà Nẵng’s Hàn River port to Lý Sơn Islands in April with four journeys per week at the single ticket price of VNĐ590,000 (US$26) and VNĐ720,000 ($31.3). Passengers can buy VIP tickets at VNĐ900,000 ($39) for the two-hour and 30-minute journey.

The Trưng Trắc ship will leave Đà Nẵng Tuesday and Saturday mornings and return from the Lý Sơn Islands on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons.

There is a 20 per cent ticket discount for trips from April 9-30.

Lý Sơn Islands, 24km off the coast of Quảng Ngãi, has emerged as a top destination since 2014, and it hosts around 200,000 visitors per year.

Currently, a fleet of six vessels (a total of 1,200 seats) are operating from Sa Kỳ Port in Quảng Ngãi to Lý Sơn Islands.

In 2017, Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi and Đà Nẵng proposed a plan developing a sea linked tour from Đà Nẵng to Chàm Islands and Tam Hải Island of Quảng Nam and Lý Sơn Islands of Quảng Ngãi using speed boats.

The first people get on board for a trial run of the Đà Nẵng-Lý Sơn Express ship. The sea trip expects to carry more tourists from Đà Nẵng to Lý Sơn Islands. VNS Photo Lê Lâm

The Phú Quốc Express company is operating sea routes connecting Vũng Tàu, Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, Rạch Giá, Hà Tiên to islands of Côn Đảo, Phú Quốc, Nam Du with 300-seat and 600-seat ships.

The company was selected as a qualified logistics and transport supplier providing services for the US naval aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson on its visit to Đà Nẵng in 2017. — VNS