Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam will have a total of30 airports by 2030 including 14 serving international flights, according to a draftplan that the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has submitted to theMinistry of Transport recently. The international airports are Van Don, Cat Bi, Noi Bai,Tho Xuan, Vinh, Phu Bai, Da Nang, Chu Lai, Cam Ranh, Lien Khuong, Long Thanh,Tan Son Nhat, Can Tho, and Phu Quoc. The 14 airports serving only domestic flights are LaiChau, Dien Bien, Sa Pa, Na San, Dong Hoi, Quang Tri, Phu Cat, Tuy Hoa, Pleiku,Buon Ma Thuot, Phan Thiet, Rach Gia, Ca Mau, and Con Dao. Two military airports – Thanh Son and Bien Hoa – will beconverted to use for both military and civil purposes.

The draft plan still keeps the Hai Phong InternationalAirport project which was approved in the Prime Minister’s DecisionNo 640/QD-TTg dated April 28, 2011.

By 2050, Vietnam expects to have 33 airports including 14international airports - Van Don, Hai Phong, Noi Bai, Tho Xuan, Vinh, Phu Bai,Da Nang, Chu Lai, Cam Ranh, Lien Khuong, Long Thanh, Tan Son Nhat, Can Tho andPhu Quoc. There will also be 19 domestic airports, including Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Sa Pa, Cao Bang, NaSan, Cat Bi, Dong Hoi, Quang Tri, Phu Cat, Tuy Hoa, Pleiku, Buon Ma Thuot, PhanThiet, Rach Gia, Ca Mau, Con Dao, Bien Hoa, Thanh Son and the second airport inthe southeast, south region of Hanoi.

CAAV will continue to study, survey, and evaluate the possibility of converting some existing military airports into dual-use facilities including Yen Bai airport in Yen Bai province, and Gia Lam airport inHanoi. The conversion will be reported to the Prime Minister for considerationwhen all necessary conditions are met.

ꦏ In particular, this draft plan reflects CAAV’s opennessto the new civil airports.

The agency proposes to continue studying, surveying andevaluating the possibility of building airports in provinces that are located inkey positions in defense and security and with potential for tourismdevelopment but have no military airport. These include Ha Giang,Tuyen Quang, Ha Tinh, Kon Tum, Quang Ngai, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa,Dak Nong and Tay Ninh.

The Transport Engineering Design Incorporated (TEDI) – consultant for the national airport developmentplanning - proposes that the capacity of Long Thanh airport by 2030 is 25 millionpassengers per year. The capacity of Long Thanh Airport would then increase to 100 million passengers by 2050. The Tan SonNhat airport is to have a maximum capacity of 50 million passengers yearly.

🅘 Bien Hoa airport is expected to handle 5 millionpassengers yearly by 2030, and up to 10 million passengers by 2050./.