VietNamNet Bridge – The following business people are widely known in finance, construction, real estate and other fields,  but now they have turned to invest in aviation and are ready to pour hundreds of millions of US dollars into airport projects.

1. Nguyen Van Dong and Phan Thiet airport project

In the central province of Binh Thuan, Nguyen Van Dong, Chairman of the Rang Dong Group, is a well-known name. Dong’s projects have changed Binh Thuan into a tourist paradise and the "resort capital" of Vietnam.

Dong was recently mentioned by the national media for his investment of VND1 trillion (nearly $50 million) in Phan Thiet Airport project, the kind of project that only state and foreign firms can afford. In addition, the payback period is very long, up to 15-20 years.

Dong decided to invest in the project because in the future he believes Phan Thiet airport will boost the economy of Binh Thuan. On the other hand, this project will make impact on his tourism projects in Binh Thuan, such as Sealink City, Sea Links Golf.

Phan Thiet Airport is the first airport project under the form of BOT (built-operate-transfer) and it is expected to be completed and become operational in 2018.

2. Le Viet Nam and Quang Ninh airport

Overcoming all candidates of the Quang Ninh airport project under the form of BOT, Sun Group of Mr. Le Viet Nam has been selected by Quang Ninh province as the investor, with total capital of nearly VND7.5 trillion ($370 million).

Sun Group was established in 2007 and it is a big name in the field of construction investment, real estate and resorts with huge projects such as The French Village on Ba Na Hill ($70 million), The Sun Villas ($ 65 million), and Muong Hoa - Fansipan cable car system ($220 million).

Meanwhile, the boss of Sun Group, entrepreneur Le Viet Nam doesn’t appear in the press very much. Few people know that he was a successful businessman in the Eastern European market with the instant noodle brand of Mivina, and was former chairman of the Vietnam Business Association in Ukraine and the leader of the Future Generation, one of the largest groups of overseas Vietnamese.

With the decision to return to Vietnam, Nam has poured hundreds of million USD in tourism infrastructure in Da Nang, building a series of huge projects in this beautiful city.

Participating in the bidding for Quang Ninh airport project, Nam has shown a big change in his investment policy. This project will start this May.

3. Phu Quoc Airport and the competition between two tycoons

Pham Nhat Vuong

Do Quang Hien

Vingroup USD billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong has expressed the desire to have the right to exploit Phu Quoc airport, while the T & T Group of Mr. Do Quang Hien has also proposed to acquire the entire Phu Quoc airport or get the right to run the airport.

Do Quang Hien, Chairman and CEO of T & T Group, is a famous businessman thanks to his investments in football and Chinese motorcycles. Then people began to know him in his role as Chairman of the Saigon - Hanoi Bank (SHB) and Chairman of SHF, SHS and other companies.

Pham Nhat Vuong is widely known as the richest Vietnamese and the first and only USD billionaire in Vietnam with total assets of $ 1.7 billion, according to Forbes. He is now chairman of the powerful corporation Vingroup.

Vingroup has become a strong economic group in Vietnam with giant real estate projects including Times City, Royal City, Vinhomes Riverside and Vinhomes Nguyen Chi Thanh.

Vingroup is among the top 5 largest listed companies in Vietnam, with an estimated value of $3.4 billion.

The sale of Phu Quoc airport to private investors is still under debate. Both tycoons are waiting for "judgment" from the government on selling the exploitation rights of Phu Quoc airport to have capital for construction of Long Thanh International Airport.

Lan Phuong