HCMC – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh today (August 25) approved the use of dual-purpose facilities at Phan Thiet Airport, removing a legal obstacle that stalled the civilian component of the project for more than 10 years, reported the Vietnam News Agency.
Construction of the airport began in 2015. The military section, funded by the Ministry of National Defense, has been completed and is operational.
The civilian section, originally planned as a 4C-class airport with a 2,400-meter runway and an annual capacity of 500,000 passengers, was later upgraded to 4E standards. The revised plan features a 3,050-meter runway and a capacity of two million passengers by 2030 and more than three million by 2050.
The delay mainly stemmed from the absence of regulations on the shared use of infrastructure such as the runway, taxiways, and support facilities. The new approval allows the civilian section to use these assets, reducing costs and shortening construction time.
Local authorities said the airport will improve regional connectivity, especially for Lam Dong, the country’s largest province by area, which faces limited road infrastructure.
Businesses expect the project to support tourism, attract investment, create jobs, and boost the local economy.
Earlier this month, Sun Airport JSC proposed investing in the civilian section of the airport, shifting from the build-operate-transfer model to an investment structure under the Investment Law, while sharing some military facilities to enhance efficiency.
