The Van Don International Airport in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh is scheduled to receive the first flight in December this year, according to the investor – Sun Group. 

A corner of Quang Ninh province

The group said it will submit to the Prime Minister for approval the plan on the airport opening schedule in July.

Construction on the airport started in 2015 with total investment of 7.5 trillion VND (330 million USD). It is the first airport in the country built with capital mobilized by local authorities. 

Under Decision No. 497/QD-BGTVT dated March 15, 2018 by the Ministry of Transport, Van Don will be an international airport, serving both civil and military flights.

As of 2020, it will house a level-4E airport and a level-II military airport, and a 3.6km long runway, capable of receive Boeing 777/787/747-400, Airbus A350 and similar aircraft. 

The airport has an annual capacity of 2-2.5 million passengers by 2020, which will increase to 5 million by 2030. 

 Set to cover more than 326ha by 2020, the airport comprises support facilities, a two-module terminal and functional areas. A cargo terminal is expected to be built by 2030 with a capacity of at least 51,000 tonnes. 

Van Don airport is hoped to facilitate travelling to Quang Ninh, home to the World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay, along with 

It is also expected to boost local development, as Van Don district is designated to be one of the first three special administrative-economic units in Vietnam.

In 2017, Quang Ninh accommodated 9.87 million tourist arrivals, including 4.28 million foreigners, up 18 percent and 23 percent year on year, respectively.

The locality, which hosts the National Tourism Year 2018, hopes to welcome 12 million visitors this year, including five million foreigners, and earn 22 trillion VND (968 million USD).-VNA