Vietnam raises airport number target to 36 by 2030 as aviation demand surges

Vietnam plans to expand its airport network to 36 airports by 2030, up from the previous target of 30, under a revised national aviation infrastructure plan aimed at catering for rising passenger demand and boosting regional connectivity.

The Ministry of Construction has approved adjustments to the national airport development plan for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.

Under the revised plan, Vietnam will have a total of 36 airports by 2030, including 19 international airports and 17 domestic airports. The government’s previous airport master plan, approved in 2021, targeted 30 airports by 2030 and 33 by 2050.

The international airport network will comprise Cao Bang (the northern province of Cao Bang), Van Don (the northern province of Quang Ninh), Cat Bi (the northern city of Hai Phong), Noi Bai (Hanoi), Gia Binh (the northern province of Bac Ninh), Ninh Binh (the northern province of Ninh Binh), Tho Xuan (the central province of Thanh Hoa), Vinh (the central province of Nghe An), Phu Bai (the central city of Hue), Danang (the central city of Danang), Chu Lai (the central province of Quang Ngai), Van Phong (the northern province of Quang Ninh), Cam Ranh (the central province of Khanh Hoa), Lien Khuong (the central province of Lam Dong), Long Thanh (the northern city of Dong Nai), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Can Tho (the southern city of Can Tho), Phu Quoc (the southern province of An Giang), and Con Dao (HCMC).

The updated plan adds five new international airports – Cao Bang (Cao Bang province), Gia Binh (Bac Ninh province), Ninh Binh (Ninh Binh province), Van Phong (Khanh Hoa province), and Con Dao (HCMC), compared with the master plan approved in 2021. Con Dao, previously designated as a domestic airport, will be upgraded to handle international flights.

The domestic airport network will include Lai Chau (the northern province of Lai Chau), Dien Bien (the northern province of Dien Bien), Sa Pa (the northern province of Lao Cai), Na San (the northern province of Son La), Bach Long Vi (the northern city of Hai Phong), Dong Hoi (the central province of Quang Tri), Quang Tri, Phu Cat (the central province of Gia Lai), Tuy Hoa (the central province of Dak Lak), Pleiku (Gia Lai), Buon Ma Thuot (Dak Lak), Mang Den (the central province of Quang Ngai), Phan Thiet (the central province of Lam Dong), Rach Gia (the southern province of An Giang), Ca Mau (the southern province of Ca Mau), Thanh Son (the northern province of Phu Tho), and Tho Chu (An Giang).

Compared with the previous plan, Bien Hoa and Con Dao have been removed from the domestic airport list, while Bach Long Vi, Mang Den, and Tho Chu have been added.

The ministry estimates that Vietnam’s airports will have a combined design capacity of more than 249 million passengers annually by 2030, requiring total investment of around VND577.57 trillion ($21.97 billion).

Looking further ahead, Vietnam plans to operate 37 airports by 2050, including 20 international airports following the addition of a second airport serving the Hanoi capital region. The number of domestic airports will remain unchanged at 17.

Under the 2050 plan, the country’s airport system is expected to have a total capacity of 533 million passengers annually, with investment needs estimated at VND586.5 trillion ($22.31 billion).

The revised plan also outlines the development of air logistics centers at airports handling cargo volumes of at least 250,000 tons per year and prioritizes aircraft maintenance and repair hubs at major international gateways including Van Don, Noi Bai, Gia Binh, Chu Lai, Tan Son Nhat, and Long Thanh.

Vietnam currently has 22 operational airports and is constructing four airports: Long Thanh, Gia Binh, Phan Thiet, and Quang Tri.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, passenger traffic at local airports reached 63.7 million, up 6% year-on-year, including 26.2 million foreign arrivals (up 15%) and 37.5 million domestic ones (up 0.3%). Air cargo traffic rose 13% to 923,000 tons during the period.