A highlight of the 2021–2025 phase is the intensified investment in airport infrastructure, especially the Long Thanh International AIrport (Dong Nai), considered Vietnam's most critical aviation project in decades.

Long Thanh Airport is being built to ICAO 4F standards, with a designed capacity of more than 100 million passengers per year, targeting the role of an international aviation hub for Southeast Asia. On December 19, 2025, the project’s main components were technically inaugurated and welcomed the first flights, creating an important foundation for commercial operations from 2026.

Meanwhile, Gia Binh International Airport (Bac Ninh) has emerged as a new planning model based on "dual-use" functions, harmonizing economic development with national defense and security.

Located in Northern Vietnam’s electronics industrial heartland, Gia Binh is designated as an aviation logistics hub for high-value goods like chips and electronic components, easing the pressure on Noi Bai International Airport. With a 4F rating, an expected capacity of 50 million passengers per year, and four runways, Gia Binh serves as a strategic link in restructuring the Capital region's aviation network.

According to Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh, the investment in Gia Binh Airport is a strategic move that contributes to the formation of an "airport cluster" model, expanding operational capacity and enhancing connectivity with neighboring airports.

Alongside new projects, the existing airport system has also been strongly upgraded. Tan Son Nhat’s T3 terminal was completed and put into operation in April 2025, raising the airport’s total capacity to about 50 million passengers per year.

In the north, Noi Bai International Airport continues to expand Terminal T2. After the expansion, the total terminal floor area increased to more than 200,000 sqm, with capacity rising from 10 million to 15 million passengers per year and a maximum service capability of around 18 million passengers per year.

In addition, many local airports such as Phu Quoc, Phu Bai, Vinh, Phan Thiet, Tuy Hoa, Pleiku and Buon Ma Thuot are also being promoted for investment under the plan through 2030, expanding flight networks and driving socio-economic growth for their respective regions.

Rapid fleet expansion and impressive market recovery

Alongside infrastructure milestones, the fleet size of Vietnamese airlines has grown robustly. By mid-2025, the total number of operating aircraft reached 254, a significant increase compared with the beginning of the term.

The 2021–2025 period also recorded an impressive recovery and growth in air transport. In 2025 alone, the industry transported 83.5 million passengers, a 10.7 percent increase year-on-year, the highest level to date.

Regarding the market structure, international passengers reached 46.6 million (up 12 percent), while cargo volume hit approximately 1.3 million tons (up 22 percent). The domestic market served 36.9 million passengers, an 8.4 percent increase, with a network of about 55 routes connecting Hanoi and HCMC to 20 airports nationwide.

Notably, Vietnamese airlines are currently operating 113 international routes, directly connecting with major aviation hubs in Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Europe and Oceania.

Experts attribute these results to effective management and administration. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has proactively coordinated operations, flight licensing, and supported airlines in leasing and augmenting their fleets, especially during peak periods, ensuring transport capacity and market stability.

Heading toward double-digit growth

According to Ho Minh Tan, Deputy Director of the CAAV, 2026 is forecasted to be a year where multiple new growth drivers converge for the aviation industry.

The GDP growth target of 10 percent or more, approved by the National Assembly, will provide a significant boost for travel, tourism, and logistics. Furthermore, the amended Civil Aviation Law, along with newly issued policies, will create a more favorable legal framework for market development.

Forecasts suggest that in 2026, Vietnam's aviation industry could reach approximately 95 million passengers and over 1.6 million tons of cargo, representing increases of 13.6 percent and 9.3 percent, respectively, compared to 2025.

CAAV stated that besides pushing infrastructure investment and accelerating capacity-enhancing projects, airlines will be supported in adding aircraft, increasing seat capacity on domestic and international routes, and diversifying leasing and purchasing methods. Simultaneously, domestic maintenance capabilities will be strengthened to reduce dependence on external resources.

In tandem, the authority will promote negotiations and the signing of new or amended international aviation agreements to expand markets and create conditions for the effective operation of Long Thanh International Airport.

Nguyen Le