Viet Nam is looking to spend VND400 trillion (US$17.65 billion) on upgrades to its airports from now until 2030, according to a proposal that the Ministry of Transport has submitted to the Government.

The country's top priorities included the Noi Bai International Airport in capital city Ha Noi, the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in the southern economic hub HCM City and the under-construction Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province (located some 40km to the east of HCM City).

In addition, 22 other airports across the country are to receive major upgrades while six new airports are to be built with an objective to bring Viet Nam's airport capacity to 278 million passengers a year, with 95 per cent of the population within a 100km radius of an airport.

The upgrades consist of advanced flight traffic management systems, maintenance hubs, logistics and pilot training centres.

The VND400 trillion budget accounted for almost a quarter of the entire industry's investment by 2030, which is made up of money from the State budget and other sources of funding.

By the end of 2030, the country is to operate a network of 28 airports with Ha Noi and HCM City as two main transport hubs. The list of airports to receive infrastructure upgrades by then included international terminals Van Don, Cat Bi, Noi Bai, Tho Xuan, Vinh, Phu Bai, Da Nang, Chu Lai, Cam Ranh, Lien Khuong, Long Thanh, Tan Son Nhat, Can Tho and Phu Quoc and domestic terminals Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Sa Pa, Na San, Dong Hoi, Quang Tri, Phu Cat, Tuy Hoa, Pleiku, Buon Ma Thuot, Phan Thiet, Rach Gia, Ca Mau and Con Dao.

After 2030, the Hai Phong International Airport is to replace the old Cat Bi Airport in accordance to Prime Minister's Directive 640/2011/QD-TTg.

Meanwhile, surveys and studies on large islands such as Ly Son and Phu Quy are to be continued to assess whether the country should construct additional airports on said islands.

In another report, the ministry said by 2050 the capital city Ha Noi may require another airport to support the existing Noi Bai International Airport.

The ministry highlighted the importance of a number of key projects including the constructions of the Long Thanh International Airport (25 million capacity a year once finished), T3 Terminal of the Tan Son Nhat International Airport ( to bring the airport's capacity to 20 million passengers a year once finished) and the expansion of T2 Terminal of the Noi Bai International Airport (15 million passengers a year).

A number of key policies related to the management of the country's airports are due to go under extensive reviews in an attempt to optimise their ability to generate income and maximise efficiency. Policymakers have said the country encourage the private sector to invest in airport infrastructure development and operation. — VNS