Vietnam, Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering sign deal on aircraft maintenance hub at northern airport

Vietnam’s Sun Group, VinaCapital Holdings, and Quang Ninh province have signed an MoU with Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering (HAECO) to study the development of a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Van Don International Airport, the country’s first privately built airport.

The agreement was inked on the sidelines of the Vietnam-UK Economic Conference on Thursday, witnessed by Party General Secretary To Lam.

Under the MoU, the parties will explore cooperation in MRO services with a focus on digitalization, automation, technology transfer, and workforce training. They also plan to partner with educational institutions to promote STEM education, green technical skills, and research in AI, IoT, and sustainable materials to support aviation decarbonization.

Vietnam’s rapidly expanding aviation sector has driven strong fleet growth, but heavy aircraft maintenance capacity remains limited. Most Vietnamese airlines still send aircraft abroad, mainly to Singapore, Malaysia, or China, for major overhauls, leading to higher costs and longer turnaround times.

Located in Quang Ninh province, Van Don International Airport was developed by Sun Group in less than two years and meets ICAO 4E standards, capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777, B747, and Airbus A350. The airport recently launched its first charter flight to Shenzhen, China, and plans to expand international routes across Asia by 2026.

The proposed MRO complex aligns with Sun Group’s broader aviation ambitions. The conglomerate recently launched Sun Phu Quoc Airways – Vietnam’s first “resort airline” – offering services connecting Phu Quoc island with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other domestic destinations.