VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam’s leading estate developer Sun Group has inaugurated three major transport infrastructure projects in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh, including the Van Don International Airport, the Ha Long International Cruise Port and the Ha Long - Van Don Highway, at a total cost of VND20 trillion ($862 million). The launching ceremony, held at the Van Don International Airport on December 30 was attended and presided over by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc said: “On behalf of the government, I highly appreciate the spirit of ‘dare to dream; dare to do’ shown by Quang Ninh provincial leaders for investment mobilization to develop the province’s infrastructure.”

The PM congratulated the provincial leaders for shifting away from the economic structure from non-sustainable infrastructures to “green” ones and also developing many kinds of manufacturing and services to make Quang Ninh the fourth leading province in terms of contributing to the national budget.

The PM highly appreciated the “dare to dream; dare to do”-spirit and the responsibility of the Sun Group shown toward the mother country and the community by investing in high-quality and important structures all across the country.

The Van Don International Airport, the Ha Long International Cruise Port and the Ha Long - Van Don Expressway are large-scale and modern constructions invested in PPP format with investment capital mobilized from the private sector — a milestone for Quang Ninh province's economic development strategy.

Situated in Doan Ket Commune, Van Don District of Quang Ninh Province, the Van Don International Airport was built at the cost of VND7,463 billion, of which VND734 billion came from the provincial budget for land and mine clearance while Sun Group contributed VND6,729 billion. This is the first international airport in Vietnam to be developed by a private Vietnamese corporation.

Completed after more than two years of construction, the airport was designed in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) 4E standards and is a level-II military airport. It comes equipped with six aircraft parking stands, four jet bridges, and is capable of receiving large aircrafts including Boeing 787, 777 and Airbus A350, A320. By 2020, the airport will have a capacity of 2.5 million passengers per year and 10,000 tones of cargos per year.

The Sun Group has also ensured that the Van Don International Airport features the very latest in modern equipment, designed by the world's leading brands in airport design, promising passengers a world-class experience. For example, the system of LED airfield ground lighting, originating from Belgium, meets CAT II standard, ensuring the power supply meets ICAO standard in the event of just a one second of power failure.

“It is the most modern airport in Vietnam, which will have positive influences on the passengers’ experience here,” said Mrs. RomyBerntsen, a project manager and expert from NACO (Netherlands Airport Consultants) which oversaw the development of the airport. NACO has been operating in the area of airport development for 65 years, delivering solutions to more than 550 airports in more than 100 countries.

The aesthetic design of the Van Don International Airport Terminal is inspired by the awe-inspiring natural beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage Site – Ha Long Bay, 50km from the airport. The design of the terminal building is imbued with the vibrant colors and natural beauty of Ha Long and Vietnam — it's bright red, orange roof makes it appear like a traditional junk sailing across the emerald seas.

Inside the terminal, the interior also celebrates the natural beauty of Ha Long Bay with a striking visual decor. When passengers in the airport terminal, they will already feel as though they are already voyaging on the bay with a stunning, modern design created by a team from Singapore who sought to make the indoor airport space a stunning tribute to the heavenly landscapes of Halong.

The opening of the Van Don International Airport adds another international quality airport to Vietnam's aviation network. This is the second newly built airport in Vietnam since 1975 (after Phu Quoc airport).

The project will also revive the commercial port of Van Don, enhance regional tourism and trade, and establish Quang Ninh as a centre of international tourism and a key national tourism destination in accordance with Quang Ninh Tourism Development Master Plan to 2020 (vision to 2030).

On the same day, the Sun Group also officially opened the Ha Long International Cruise Port in Bai Chay, Ha Long, Quang Ninh with a total investment capital of VND1,032 billion. The port is designed with two docks accommodating ships of up to 225,000 GRT (serving both ships at the same time) with total capacity of 8,460 passengers (including passengers and crew).

This is the first specialized international port of Vietnam, erasing the big "bottleneck" of the cruise ship industry. In fact, the seaport system currently carries a dual role: receiving both passenger cruises and freight ships, therefore failing to attract domestic and international passenger cruises.

The three-storey passenger terminal covers a total of 13,500sqm, and was designed by Bill Bensley, one of the globe’s most acclaimed architects. The terminal features the quintessence of both Vietnamese and European culture and architecture, taking inspiration from the ancient town of Hoi An in central Vietnam in its facade, while its sophisticated interior décor brings to mind an ocean cruiser from the 13th century with wooden poles and steel and wooden ceilings. The terminal wall features a unique design with 27 photo frames depicting nautical charts and old ships.

The arrival of the first port which exclusively welcomes international cruise ships marks a milestone and a new turning-point for the tourism industry in Quang Ninh, creating a new space for international cooperation and tourism development.

In order to connect the new airport and seaport, on December 30, Sun Group also launched the first phase of the Ha Long - Van Don Highway, developed with a total investment of VND11,857 billion. The Ha Long - Van Don is an A class highway with a top speed of 100kmph, two emergent stop lanes and four lanes, shortening the travel time from Ha Long to Van Don from 90 minutes to about 50 minutes.

Along with the Ha Long - Hai Phong Expressway, which officially came into operation on September, the Ha Long - Van Don Highway will reduce the travel time from Hanoi to Van Don, from five hours to two and a half hours, strengthening the ‘economic triangle’ of Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh, and boosting the socioeconomic development of Quang Ninh.

The opening of these three major transport projects, all at once, by the Sun Group is not only an important historical milestone, but also a turning-point for the infrastructure development of Quang Ninh province. This is also a strong motivation for Quang Ninh to continue attracting and mobilizing other large investment resources, further promoting the sustainable development of the province.

Thanh Van