20-7- 2023 (HANOI) Vietnam is set to have two major hubs for international air transit by 2050, with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City being the two regional centers, according to the national airport master plan announced by the Ministry of Transport. The plan envisions 30 airports in Vietnam by 2030 and 33 by 2050, with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City being the two major hubs. By 2050, Hải Phòng International Airport will replace Cát Bi International Airport, and three new domestic airports will be developed, including Cao Bằng, Cát Bi, and Nam Hà Nội.
The Ministry of Transport stated that 95% of the population will be within 100km of an airport by 2030 and 97% by 2050, higher than the current global average of 75% and equivalent to other countries in the region. The ministry also said that the plan was highly open, allowing other potential local airports to be added when eligible.
The proposed list includes 12 new airports: Hà Giang in Bắc Quang District, Yên Bái in Yên Bái City, Tuyên Quang in Na Hang District, Gia Lâm in Hà Nội, Bắc Ninh in Gia Bình District, Hà Tĩnh in Cẩm Xuyên District, Kon Tum in Kon Plông District, Quảng Ngãi in Lý Sơn District, Bình Thuận in Phú Quý District, Khánh Hòa in Vạn Ninh District, Đăk Nông in Đăk Glong District, and Tây Ninh in Dương Minh Châu District.
Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam (CAAV) Đinh Việt Thắng said that many localities want airport access to promote socio-economic development. However, ensuring efficient investment and operations is the most important factor in planning.
The transport ministry worked with the Ministry of National Defence and localities to review each airport and come up with a set of criteria to evaluate the demand and efficiency. If localities have strong demand for an airport for socio-economic development, the transport ministry will report to the Government to adjust the plan. A project on raising capital for investing in airports is being completed to be proposed to the Prime Minister.
The planning aims to handle around 276 million passengers by 2030, accounting for a 1.5 to 2% share of the global market, and handle 4.1 million tonnes of cargo, or 0.05 to 0.1% of the global cargo transportation market.
Vietnam has huge demand and potential for air transport development, and the airport planning will attract investment into this sector and pave the way for private investors to participate in developing aviation infrastructure. It is estimated that Vietnam will need around VNĐ420 trillion (US$17.8 billion) for airport development by 2023, which will be raised from the State budget and other sources.
In the latest proposal for the project on raising capital for airport development, the CAAV suggested a public-private partnership (PPP), in which the Government can decide its capital contribution to each project. To date, five master plans of the transportation sector, including roads, railway networks, seaports, airports, and inland waterways have been approved, which will form the base of attractive projects for investors.
During the 2021-2030 period, there will be 14 international airports and 16 domestic airports.
