Construction of the Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam, is getting closer to reality after the State Assessment Council approved the planned development and agreed to submit the project proposal later this year to the national government for approval.
The Airport Corporation of Vietnam, which will develop the airport, needs about US$7.8 billion for the first phase of the project.
It is looking to get funding through a combination of development assistance loans from banks and public-private partnership arrangements.
Sitting on an area of more than 5,000 hectares, the proposed aviation hub is seen to take the pressure off Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport, which is already nearing its capacity.
Expanding Tan Son Nhat Airport, located in the heart of HCM City, is not possible due to scarcity of land. It is also seen to disrupt the city’s urban development plans.
Approved by the Prime Minister in June 2011, the Long Thanh Airport is expected to become a competitive international airport and a key entry point to Southeast Asia, according to a report by VietnamNet Bridge.
Under the infrastructure plan, the airport will be built in three phases at a total cost of $10 billion, with the first phase to begin next year. Once completed and operational by 2020, the initial phase will have an annual capacity of 25 million passengers.
Airport capacity will double after the second phase, which should be completed by 2030.
When fully finished by 2035, the project, located about 43 kilometers from HCM City, is envisioned to have an annual capacity of 100 million, and divert a major chunk of passenger traffic from Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
Photo: Luke Lai
