The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has suggested adding Thanh Son and Bien Hoa airports in the southern provinces of Ninh Thuan and Dong Nai to the national aviation master plan for 2021-2030, with vision until 2050.
Thanh Son, a military airport in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan, is set to serve 1.5 million passengers by 2030 and three million by 2050.
Ninh Thuan, a renewable energy hub, does not have a civil airport, so people have to travel via Cam Ranh Airport in the nearby province of Khanh Hoa.
The Bien Hoa airbase in Dong Nai province is aiming to serve 10 million passengers a year, easing the workload on the under-construction Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai and the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Dong Nai is a manufacturing hub in southern Vietnam.
The CAAV has proposed conditions to convert the military airports of Thanh Son and Bien Hoa into dual-use operations when it can find investors.
In December, the CAAV added Thanh Son and Bien Hoa military airbases to the draft airport planning for 2030, with vision until 2050.
The authority also proposed putting other military airports into dual-use, including Yen Bai in Yen Bai province and Gia Lam in Hanoi. However, research results must be reported to the Prime Minister for consideration.
For localities that currently do not have airports, the CAAV said it will continue assessing planning capabilities in a number of provinces with strategic defense and security positions and potential for tourism development.
They include Ha Giang (Bac Quang district), Tuyen Quang (Ham Yen district), Ha Tinh (Cam Xuyen district), Kon Tum (Mang Den town, Kon Plong district), Quang Ngai (Ly Son island), Binh Thuan (Phu Quy island), Khanh Hoa (Van Phong Economic Zone, Van Ninh district), Dak Nong (Dak Glong district), and Tay Ninh (Duong Minh Chau district).
Vietnam is currently operating 22 out of its 23 planned airports. Under the plan, the number of airports in Vietnam will rise to 30 by 2030 and to 33 by 2050.