VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Transport is considering to use investment from the Airports Corporation of Viet Nam (ACV), or call for capital resources to build more runways and terminals at Tan Son Nhat Airport.

Funds are being raised to build new runways and terminals at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hung

“The construction is following a recent plan, approved by the Prime Minister, to expand and upgrade Tan Son Nhat International Airport by building another terminal south of the current one with total expected expenditure of VND18 trillion (US$790 million),” Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong informed at the quarterly press conference on March 30.

The plan is proposed by the French consultant company ADPI. Accordingly, a 200,000sq.m-wide passenger terminal capable of serving 20 million travellers will be constructed to the south of Tan Son Nhat International Airport. 

The northern area of the airport, including a golf resort and an area of 16ha managed by the Ministry of Defence, will also be used for supporting facilities including a cargo terminal, aircraft repair station and logistics starting in 2025.

Accordingly, the airport seeks to be able to serve 57 aircrafts taking off and landing per hour and welcoming 50 million passengers per year. 

Currently, the airport is serving around 35 million passengers per year, causing overcrowding. 

The PM asked the Ministry of Transport to coordinate with the ADPI to complete the expansion proposal, and soon start the construction of the new terminal as the airport now runs at 144 per cent, exceeding its capacity planned for 2020.

The PM expected that the expansion of the airport, which is serving both civil and military demands, will be exploited effectively along with Long Thanh International Airport, which will come into operation by 2025. 

Trafic congestion

At present, the airport faces serious traffic congestion.

“Another terminal with 20 million passengers built to the south of the airport will worsen the situation, despite the fact that in this area, roads are being expanded, but only in temporary term,” Nguyen Vinh Ninh, director of the HCM City Transport Department’s No 1 Urban Traffic Mangement Board, told the Nguoi Lao Dong (Labourers) newspaper.

Right now, Cong Hoa and Hoang Hoa Tham roads have already got bidders for extending them but they are waiting for land clearance.

Another solution for coping with traffic jams is to build a road parallel with Cong Hoa Street, which will mostly run through military land at an area of 6.65ha.

“The construction of a parallel road is very necessary to deal with the traffic situation at the airport and even from HCM City to Cambodia,” Dr Vo Kim Cuong, former deputy chief architect of HCM City, said.

“This is a long-term, stable, efficient solution for the development of HCM City and the aviation industry,” he added.

He also suggested that traffic management should change the traffic direction in order to reduce the number of vehicles travelling to Truong Son Street, the only road connected to the airport right now.

“Many ’transit’ vehicles travelling through Truong Son road have caused more traffic congestion in the region. Changing traffic direction would cost very little but help us cope with the situation,” he added.

Pro. Ass and Dr Pham Xuan Mai from the Polytechnique University revealed the fact that in the future, there will be 137,000 passengers travelling through the airport everyday and relevant authorities should think to open more gates from Cong Hoa Street.

“For long-term development, a fly-over road is possible,” he said.

Dr and Architect Ngo Viet Nam Son confirmed that “the Tan Son Nhat Airport is an urban airport, which serves the southern region, not only HCM City, but the master plan for HCM City is not proper.”

“Opening more gates to the airport is a must,” he added.

The municipal Transport Department agreed with the solution and informed that it had suggested that the Ministry of Transport open more gates in Thong Nhat, Tan Son and Quang Trung streets in Go Vap District, and Truong Chinh and Pham Van Bach streets in Tan Binh District.

Source: VNS