HCMC – Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh have resumed operations after super typhoon Yagi made landfall and left a trail of destruction.
Noi Bai’s activities have returned to normal, with over 500 flights handled on September 8-9.
In response to Yagi, the third storm that hit the country this year, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam ordered Noi Bai to temporarily close on September 7. But the airport’s closure was extended twice, with the final decision suspending its operations from 10 a.m. to midnight on September 7.
By 11:49 p.m. on September 7, Noi Bai was back to service and at 12:05 a.m. on September 8, flight VJ959 from Fukuoka to Hanoi landed safely after a 14-hour delay due to the typhoon. From midnight to 5 a.m. on September 8, Noi Bai handled 109 flights, including 69 international and 40 domestic flights. Today, the airport is scheduled to serve 514 flights (107/120 domestic, 142/145 international).
Typhoon Yagi caused only minor damage at Noi Bai, such as some sections of fences being knocked down and trees uprooted. These damages were quickly addressed and confirmed not to impact flight operations or airport activities.
Yagi made landfall in Quang Ninh Province on September 7, with maximum winds reaching 150-160 km per hour (equivalent to levels 14-15), and gusts up to level 17.
To proactively respond to Yagi, Van Dong International Airport in Quang Ninh suspended operations from 4 a.m. on September 7.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, Van Don suspended operations from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. on September 7. However, the closure was extended until 8 p.m. on the same day.
Van Don suffered significant damage due to Yagi’s destructive force. Some glass roof panels of the passenger terminal were blown off, 80% of the trees in public areas were knocked down, and signs, ceilings, and roofs in several areas were damaged. There were no reported incidents involving personnel or equipment.
By 6:30 p.m. on September 7, all infrastructure had been restored, and Van Don was ready to receive flights. Throughout the night, staff continued to remove debris to prepare for the first flights on the morning of September 8.
Cat Bi Airport in Haiphong City, which was hit by Yagi, reopened at 8 p.m. on September 7.
Data from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam showed that typhoon Yagi affected around 240 domestic and 70 international flights. Vietnam Airlines reported that it had to delay or cancel more than 110 flights.
