The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has proposed adding five airports—Gia Binh, Tho Chu, Van Phong, Mang Den, and Ninh Binh—to the national master plan, while simultaneously removing Bien Hoa and Hai Phong international airports from the civil aviation system.
According to the draft adjustment of the national airport system master plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, Vietnam is projected to have 33 airports by 2030, consisting of 17 international and 16 domestic airports. By 2050, the network is expected to expand to 36 airports, including 19 international and 17 domestic hubs.
The draft forecasts that by 2030, the airport system will serve approximately 236.3 million passengers and 3.75 million tons of cargo annually, with a total design capacity of about 262.1 million passengers.
A primary objective is for over 95% of the population to have access to an airport within a 100-kilometer radius by 2030. This accessibility rate is expected to rise to 97% by 2050, alongside the establishment of two regional-scale international aviation and transit hubs in the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan areas.
One of the most notable aspects of the proposal is the addition of five airports: Gia Binh (northern Bac Ninh province), Tho Chu (southern An Giang province), Van Phong (central Khanh Hoa province), Mang Den central Quang Ngai province), and Ninh Binh (northern Ninh Binh province). Among these, Gia Binh is designated to become a vital aviation hub for the Hanoi region, sharing the operational load with Noi Bai International Airport.
Additionally, Ninh Binh Airport is slated for research and addition in the post-2030 period. However, it will remain under continuous evaluation during the detailed planning process due to the high density of existing airports in the Red River Delta.
Regarding Mang Den and Van Phong, the CAAV intends to develop these sites to drive growth for key tourism and economic zones while meeting both domestic and international air transport demands.
The draft also proposes upgrades for several existing airports. Specifically, Quang Tri and Con Dao airports (in central Quang Tri province and Ho Chi Minh City, respectively) are recommended for an upgrade from 4C to 4E status, with Con Dao also transitioning from a domestic to an international airport. By 2050, Cao Bang Airport (in northern mountainous Cao Bang province) is also envisioned to be upgraded to 4E status to support international operations.
Conversely, CAAV recommended excluding Bien Hoa Airport and Hai Phong International Airport from the civil aviation system master plan.
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