Sun Group starts work on Phan Thiet airport project in central Vietnam

Vietnamese private conglomerate Sun Group on Monday broke ground on the civil aviation component of Phan Thiet Airport in Lam Dong, marking an infrastructure boost for the central province.

Third airport developed by Sun Group

Located in Mui Ne ward, the project has a total investment of more than VND3.9 trillion ($147.96 million) and covers nearly 75 hectares. It is designed to meet 4E airport standards, capable of accommodating modern wide-body aircraft, with a phase-one capacity of around 2 million passengers per year.

A key highlight is the 18,000-square-meter passenger terminal, inspired by indigenous Champa cultural motifs.

The apron will include six aircraft stands, able to serve both Code E wide-body and Code C narrow-body aircraft, connected seamlessly via taxiways to the terminal.

A 45-meter air traffic control tower will be equipped with AWOS weather observation systems and modern navigation technology, ensuring safe flight operations under all conditions.

Supporting infrastructure, including power, water supply, internal transport and security systems, will be built in line with international standards, forming a fully integrated and efficiently operated airport complex.

The airport is designed to handle regular domestic flights and is also capable of accommodating irregular international services, opening prospects for direct international arrivals to Mui Ne-Phan Thiet in the near future.

Once operational, it is expected to significantly shorten travel times from major hubs such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Danang, as well as from key tourist destinations including Phu Quoc, thereby enabling the area to welcome millions of domestic and international visitors annually.

This marks the third airport project developed by Sun Group. Its affiliates have previously invested in and operated Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh. They are also expanding Phu Quoc International Airport in the southern province of An Giang for APEC 2027. The group owns the luxury airline Sun Air and the commercial carrier Sun PhuQuoc Airways.

According to a Sun Group leader, Phan Thiet airport is not merely an infrastructure project but a foundational component of a broader tourism-resort-aviation ecosystem that the group plans to develop in Lam Dong in the coming years.

The project is expected to help shape new development space, drive growth in services and logistics, enhance the region’s investment appeal, and improve connectivity for local residents.

Sun Group committed to mobilizing maximum resources to complete and put the project into operation by 2027, he said.

Strategic project for Lam Dong

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Ho Van Muoi, Chairman of the Lam Dong People’s Committee, said the civil aviation component of Phan Thiet airport is not merely a transport project but a strategic development with a key role in linking Lam Dong with major domestic and international economic centers, while generating spillover effects for the Central Highlands, the south-central coast and the Southern Key Economic Zone.

Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh emphasized the project’s significance as Vietnam’s first civil airport funded by private capital while utilizing dual-use infrastructure - runways and taxiways built by the military - to serve both national defense and socio-economic development.

According to the minister, between 2026 and 2030, the state budget will allocate more than VND1,500 trillion ($56.9 billion) to infrastructure, with transport as the top priority to catalyze private investment.

Phan Thiet civil airport is a prime example of this approach, reflecting a policy of developing synchronized, modern infrastructure in tandem with attracting private investment in line with the Politburo's Resolution No. 68 on private economic sector development, he said.

During implementation, he stressed that Lam Dong authorities and the investor must strictly comply with national technical standards and international aviation requirements, ensuring progress, quality and labor safety, with no compromise under any circumstances.

He also underscored the need to maintain dual-use operational capability, ensuring military readiness in all situations and called for close coordination between the investor, military units and aviation authorities.

The minister further urged Lam Dong to plan urban, real estate and logistics development around the airport to maximize its advantages and support local socio-economic growth.

On July 1, 2025, the new Lam Dong province was set up following the merger of the former Lam Dong, Binh Thuan and Dak Nong provinces. It is now home to Lien Khuong airport. The province borders Dak Lak, Dong Nai, Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, Cambodia, and the East Sea.

In 2025, tourist arrivals to Lam Dong reached 20.76 million, up 18.1% year-on-year, according to the local tourism watchdog. Tourism earnings hit VND56.8 trillion ($2.17 billion), up 24.52%.