On the afternoon of November 6, during its 51st session, the National Assembly Standing Committee reviewed the government’s investment proposal for the Gia Binh International Airport project.
Presenting on behalf of the government, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh noted that passenger traffic through Noi Bai International Airport has been growing faster than the national average and has now exceeded its designed capacity.
While expansion plans for Noi Bai have been developed, they face obstacles due to limited land availability, resettlement challenges, and the time required to complete the process.
The minister emphasized that investing in Gia Binh Airport is a strategic and breakthrough move. It aims to restructure the capital region’s aviation network under a “dual hub” model, which has been successfully adopted in several major cities around the world.
Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh presents the proposal. Photo: National Assembly
Gia Binh Airport will strategically support Noi Bai by leveraging spatial advantages, enhancing connectivity, and optimizing infrastructure. It is also expected to drive development in industries such as logistics, e-commerce, tourism, and services.
The project is of particular significance in terms of national defense and security, and it will also serve major international events, including the APEC Summit in 2027.
Minister Minh stated that Gia Binh Airport is planned to meet international standards as a new-generation, smart, green, and sustainable airport of global class.
The airport is designed to meet the 5-star international airport service standard, aiming to rank among the world’s top ten 5-star airports based on Skytrax criteria. It also seeks to be included in the Airports Council International’s list of airports with the best passenger experience.
The airport is envisioned as the northern region’s aviation gateway, a passenger and cargo transit hub, and a center for aircraft maintenance and repair for the Asia-Pacific region.
It will be developed as a category 4F airport under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, with an initial capacity of 30 million passengers and 1.6 million tons of cargo annually by 2030. By 2050, the airport is projected to handle 50 million passengers and 2.5 million tons of cargo per year.
The total estimated investment for the project is approximately 196.378 trillion VND (around USD 7.8 billion), with Phase 1 accounting for about 141.236 trillion VND (USD 5.6 billion) and Phase 2 about 55.142 trillion VND (USD 2.2 billion). Funding will come from the private investor's own capital and legally raised funds. The project’s operational lifespan is set for 70 years, from 2025 to 2095.
The proposed site spans approximately 1,884.93 hectares, including 124.8 ha of security land, 327.1 ha of public land, 169.62 ha of residential land, 922.25 ha of double-crop rice fields, 9.16 ha of religious land, and 20.58 ha allocated for cemeteries and cremation facilities.
An estimated 7,100 households and 118 organizations will be affected, with around 5,800 households requiring relocation. Approximately 18,800 graves will need to be relocated.
The Minister also noted that the site includes around 25 historical and cultural relics that may need to be relocated. Current cultural heritage laws only provide for the relocation or modification of artifacts within a relic but do not cover the relocation of entire structures.
The government has requested the National Assembly to authorize the People’s Committee of Bac Ninh Province to carry out such relocations as part of the compensation, support, and resettlement process. The relocation will follow a plan proposed by the province, ensuring maximum preservation and promotion of the relics’ cultural value.
Request to clarify feasibility of securing USD 6.6 billion in loans
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Committee Phan Van Mai presents the review. Photo: National Assembly
Presenting the appraisal report, Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Committee, stated that the Standing Committee agrees with the need for the project.
However, some members requested clarification on the technical feasibility and compatibility of the proposed “multi-airport hub” model for the capital region, ensuring safety, efficiency, and operational coherence.
Regarding project timelines, the Committee called for an assessment of whether the airport can be completed in time to serve the APEC 2027 Summit, given current obstacles with compensation, resettlement, infrastructure relocation, and geological conditions.
On environmental matters, Mr. Mai emphasized the need to supplement the environmental impact assessment, especially concerning hydrology, flooding, and water flow changes. A detailed plan for environmental management, emission monitoring, noise, and wastewater should be developed.
On investment costs and capital, the Committee requested a clearer basis for calculating the investment unit cost, along with comparisons to similar airport projects in the region, adjusted for local price levels to select the most suitable and optimized investment plan.
The Committee also asked the government to clarify how it plans to arrange approximately 167 trillion VND (USD 6.6 billion) in loans, including a cost impact analysis for interest if the compensation and resettlement process is delayed.
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