Vietnam’s first privately-run airport to come online on December 30

According to Le Quang Hung, deputy minister of Construction and vice chairman of  the State Appraisal Council, the airport has been qualified to become operational.

A number of airlines have plans to launch air routes to and from the Van Don International Airport. Specifically, Vietnam Airlines will launch flights connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Quang Ninh province starting December 30. This is the key content of a strategic cooperation agreement between the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee and Vietnam Airlines.

The national flag carrier will operate one Ho Chi Minh City – Van Don return flight daily using Airbus A321 aircraft. Flights depart from Ho Chi Minh City at 2:00 pm and return from Van Don at 4.45 pm, with duration time of two hours and five minutes. Budget air carrier Vietjet Air also plans to open an air route to Quang Ninh province.

Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism Pham Ngoc Thuy said that the province has taken some steps to promote the Van Don International Airport. Accordingly, passengers on flights to the airport are offered free admission to Yen Tu relic site and Ha Long Bay Natural Heritage site.

Quang Ninh province also provides free buses from the airport to Van Don district, Cam Pha and Ha Long city. Besides, foreign and domestic airlines which have flights to this airport will be financed for communications and advertising fees on the mass media of Quang Ninh province.

Van Don International Airport covers 325 hectares and will take the investor 45 years to recoup the investment. It is the first airport in Vietnam built with private funding from Sun Group. Its construction started in March 2016.

Sun Group injected nearly VND7.5 trillion (US$322 million) into the airport project. The airport is expected to handle 2-2.5 million passengers by 2020, and up to 5 million by 2030.

Source: hanoitimes.vn