A new International Airport to Halong Bay in Vietnam

After two years of construction,Van Don International Airport was opened for business on 30 December 2018 becoming Vietnam's first privately built commercial gateway, Sun Group, the country's premier developer of tourism, leisure and entertainment-focused properties and projects.

                                                   Van Don International Airport

                                                 Check in counter at Van Don International Airport

Located in Quang Ninh province, 220 kilometres from the capital Hanoi, Van Don International Airport is developed by the Sun Group to serve the UNESCO world heritage site of Halong Bay. It is the most modern airport in Vietnam being equipped with the latest airport technologies in the main terminal, and a state-of-the-art runway. The airport will have positive influences on the passengers' experience here in the airport. It features a beautiful design inspired by Halong Bay.

Dutch consultancy and engineering firm, Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO), assisted with the construction of the gateway, which is estimated to have cost $310 million to build.

So far there are only Ho Chi Minh – Van Don flights being regularly operated by Vietnam Airline with a daily frequency of one flight by Airbus A321. Flights depart from Ho Chi Minh City at 14:00 and from Van Don at 4:45 pm with an estimated flight time of 2 hours 5 minutes.

According to the plan, Van Don Airport will operate routes in the central and southern regions such as Hue, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Da Lat, Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City as well as to markets in Japan, Korea and China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia.

                                              Passenger on Ho Chi Minh - Van Don flight - Photo: Hoang Ha

As a new gateway for both domestic and international travellers coming to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay, the airport is expected to handle up to 2.5 million passengers annually for the next two years and 5 million passengers by 2030.

On the same day as the airport's opening it also officially unveiled two other major infrastructural projects which, together with the airport, will play an immense role in creating new opportunities for international trade and economic cooperation:
-    The new four-lane, 60km-long Halong – Van Don highway will reduce travel time from Van Don Airport to Halong city to just under 50 minutes.
-    The Halong International Cruise Port, located in Bai Chay ward, Halong City, will be able to accommodate two cruise ships (up to 225,000 GRT each) and more than 8,000 passengers, including crew. With total investment of $43 million, Halong International Cruise Port is the very first cruise port dedicated exclusively to receiving international cruise ships.

                                                                      The 1st Halong international port

The opening of all three major infrastructure projects is expected to play a pivatol role in helping the province reach its full tourism potential and create new opportunities for international trade and economic co-operation.