May 6 – Vietnam plans to establish ten international airports across the country through the expansion of existing facilities and the construction of new ones, according to a recent zoning plan released by government authorities in Ho Chi Minh City.
The plan, drawn up by Vietnam’s Ministry of Transportation, will include renovations and massive upgrades to Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport and Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport which will greatly increase their capacity for passengers and cargo.
By 2020, Noi Bai International Airport looks to be able to serve as many as 25 million passengers a year, up from its current annual level of seven million. The airport will also handle 260,000 tons of cargo and, with the addition of two new runways, will be able to facilitate the landing of large aircraft like the Boeing 747 and Airbus’ A380.
Come 2015, Tan Son Nhat International Airport will be capable of handling 23.5 million passengers a year as well as 600,000 tons of cargo. Improvements will also be made to the Cam Ranh, Chu Lai, Cat Bi, Danang, and Phu Bai international airports.
New international airports currently under construction include Phu Quoc, Long Thanh, and Can Tho. Long Thanh International Airport, located in Dong Nai Province, will be the largest in the country when completed. Covering 50 square kilometers, it will boast four runways and five terminals and will be able to handle 100 million passengers as well as five million tons of cargo annually.
