Vietnam's Bamboo Airways banks on golf resorts for success

SUMMARY

As Vietnam's aviation sector booms and passenger numbers rise at double-digit rates, local upstart Bamboo Airways is embracing what it hopes will be a novel way of standing out in a crowded market: Golf. Competition among airlines in Vietnam has intensified since Bamboo launched in January. Malaysia's AirAsia Group recently cancelled its foray into the Vietnamese market, and increased traffic has placed strain on Vietnam's ageing infrastructure. But Bamboo chief executive Trinh Van Quyet is confident he can fend off budget carrier VietJet and state-owned Vietnam Airlines by using the airline to connect his golf resorts to cities in Vietnam and northeast Asia.