Signs point to Vietnam going ahead with controversial airport project

August 18, 2014 | 16:00

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The proposal for the $8 billion Long Thanh International Airport (LTIA) project is likely to be submitted to the National Assembly for approval in October, as suggested by the unanimity of government agencies on its necessity for economic growth.

“If the project is not implemented soon, Vietnam will lag behind in air transportation, tourism and investment attraction,” said Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh, who is also chairman of the state council tasked with appraising the project, at a meeting of the council held at the end of last week.

For the first time, leaders of Ho Chi Minh City announced their approval of the project. “Ho Chi Minh City will have to spend at least $4 billion upgrading its transport infrastructure if Tan Son Nhat airport raises its capacity from the current 20 million to 25 million passengers,” said Vice Chairman of the city’s people’s committee Nguyen Huu Tin.

As Tan Son Nhat is at the heart of the city, this alternative means many changes to the city’s planning, Tin added.

Meanwhile, a representative from the Ministry of Defense said the other alternative to the LTIA project, changing the Bien Hoa military airport into a civil airport, is not feasible.

Minister Vinh asked the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the main investor in the project, to soon finish an ongoing report on the project.

The Long Thanh International Airport, to be built on an estimated 5,000-hectare site, has raised concern over its high cost.

If approved, the first phase would have an annual capacity of 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of freight. By the time it is fully completed (estimated by 2035), the LTIA would have an annual capacity of 100 million passengers and 5 million tonnes of freight, which would make it Vietnam’s biggest airport.

By By Khanh Tran

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