Pham Van Tai, a businessman, became the six millionth passenger on Vietnam Airlines' flight VNA108 from HCM City to Da Nang. — VNS Photo

Pham Van Tai, a businessman, became the six millionth passenger along with two others – Nguyen Van Tuan and Le Duy Hiep – on Vietnam Airlines' flight VNA108 from HCM City to Da Nang.

Tai was given a free return ticket from Viet Nam to any Asian destination by Viet Nam Airlines, while the other two persons received a return ticket each for domestic destinations.

"I'm so happy today to be the six millionth tourist to visit Da Nang. As a businessman, I travel with Vietnam Airlines very often from HCM City to Da Nang," Tai said.

Da Nang Airport, the third largest airport in Viet Nam after Ha Noi and HCM City, hosts 130 flights and 18,000 passenger arrivals daily.

The airport has hosted 6.7 million passengers, of which 1.4 million were foreigners, so far this year, a 34 per cent increase over the same period last year.

Viet Nam Airlines hosts the arrival of the 6th millionth passengers of the year via Da Nang International airport in a ceremony yesterday. — VNS Photo Cong Thanh

Last week, the transport ministry began the construction of a new terminal at Da Nang Airport in preparation for the 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) meeting in the city.

The new terminal is expected to handle four million to six million passengers each year, when it becomes operational in 2017, with a planned upgrade for handling 14 million passengers by 2020.

Da Nang Airport has been listed among the top 30 airports in Asia by The Guide to Sleeping in Airports website for its high quality wi-fi services, lounges, facilities and other services.

It was also listed among the world's top three in a Dragon Air survey of 96 airports being utilised by the firm. — VNS