Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company (VNH North), a subsidiary of state-owned helicopter operator Vietnam Helicopter Corporation, has launched the first ever helicopter tourism flights in Ha Long Bay with the Bell 505.

Vietnam Helicopter Corporation and VNH North operate a fleet of helicopters providing utility and transport services across several industries such as oil and gas, tourism, air ambulance, SAR and VIP transportation. The company plans to offer point to point transfers from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, charter flights, wedding photography and aerial surveys with the B505.

“We are proud to be part of this historic milestone for Vietnam,” says Bell's Asia Pacific MD David Sale. “The Bell 505 is a great aircraft for tourism and is already flying tourists in Australia, Cambodia and Indonesia.”

VNH North has also opted into Bell's Customer Advantage Plan (CAP). CAP provides customers with comprehensive coverage solutions for their daily operations. The plans offer a fixed cost per flight hour service option that protects customers' budgets and their aircraft and increases aircraft availability at rates competitive to published direct maintenance costs.

With a speed of 125 kts and a useful load of 1,500 lbs, the Bell 505 is designed to be safe and easy to fly while providing significant value to the operator. Forward-facing seats and large windows give all passengers good visibility during flight while large doors make boarding and loading cargo easier.