Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong city will be officially opened on May 12.

With VND3.6 trillion ($161.6 million) in investment the airport meets the international standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Capacity is 800 passengers per hour and 20,000 tonnes of cargo per year and the airport can cater to B777, B747, and A321 aircraft.

Besides connecting Hai Phong with Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Pleiku, and Buon Me Thuot, in the future other domestic destinations will be connected with the city, such as Can Tho, Quy Nhon, Tuy Hoa, Hue, Vinh and Dien Bien.

Cat Bi Airport will also connect with China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.

In the initial period Hai Phong will support and cover losses of carriers flying to the new airport.

It will also offer discounts on office rentals to airlines opening a representative office in the city.

Cat Bi Airport was originally built during French colonial times and has been upgraded on many occasions.

The largest investment came in 2013 and 2015, to increase its ability to cater to more types of aircraft and to build a new terminal that can welcome 1,000 passengers during peak periods.