Vietnam mulls new int'l airport in Hai Phong

The transport ministry would look into building a new international airport in northern port city of Hai Phong, the government office stated Friday.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has instructed the Ministry of Transport to build Tien Lang International Airport in Tien Lang District as part of the national airport system development plan for the 2021-2030 period, with vision until 2050.

He has also agreed to an initiative to adjust planning for the city's current international airport, Cat Bi, with an expected capacity of 13 million visitors by 2030 and 16.6 million visitors by 2040.

According to the plan for airport system development presented by the transport ministry in November last year, Vietnam would have 28 airports by 2030 with a total capacity of 278 million visitors per year.

Six new airports would be built by 2030 in Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Son La, Quang Tri, Binh Thuan and Dong Nai provinces, according to the plan. Another domestic airport in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang would be built by 2050.

Vietnam currently has 22 airports, nine of which are international and the rest, domestic.