Van Don Int’l Airport to receive first flight in December

With total investment of VND7.5 trillion (US$330 million), the 326-hectare airport is designed to have annual capacity of between two and 2.5 million passengers by 2020.

 It is the first airport in the country built with capital mobilized by local authorities. 

The airport is expected to increase its annual capacity to five million passengers, and have a cargo terminal with capacity of at least 51,000 tons by 2030.

Van Don airport is hoped to facilitate travelling to Quang Ninh, home to the World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay.

It is also expected to boost local development, as Van Don district is designated to be one of the first three special administrative-economic units in Viet Nam.

Under Decision No. 497/QD-BGTVT dated March 15, 2018 by the Ministry of Transport, Van Don is designed to be an international airport, serving both civil and military flights.

As of 2020, it will house a level-4E airport and a level-II military airport, and a 3.6km long runway, capable of receive Boeing 777/787/747-400, Airbus A350 and similar aircraft. 

Last year, Quang Ninh received nearly 9.9 million visitors, including roughly 4.3 million foreigners, posting respective year-on-year surges of 18% and 23%, the provincial authorities said, adding that it hopes to host 12 million visitors, including five million foreigners, this year.

According to Viet Nam’s Transport Ministry, the country's aviation industry served 20.3 million passengers in the first five months of this year, up 14% on-year, and transported 112,000 tons of cargoes, up 10.9%.

 By Vien Nhu