The National Assembly of Vietnam, the country’s legislative body and highest government organization, has approved the construction of an ambitious VND336.7-trillion (US$16 billion) international airport in the southern province of Dong Nai.
Majority of the deputies of the National Assembly (NA) green-lit the Long Thanh International Airport recently, paving the way for the building of the 5,000-hectare air hub starting 2018, according to Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang.
The planned development is set to improve capacity in the region, which is going through robust traffic growth.
It will be undertaken in three phases. The first phase includes a runway, a passenger terminal, and supporting infrastructure. When completed in 2025, it will have a capacity of 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of freight a year.
The airport is seen to serve as an aviation hub for both the country and the Southeast Asian region. Once fully developed, the airport can move 100 million passengers and five million tonnes of freight a year by 2050.
The NA also called for detailed plans of the construction, including site clearance, compensation, employment, and resettlement and support of those to be displaced from their land.
The deputies also asked for due consideration of the impact of the project on the environment as well as for funding balance. The investment for the project is expected to come from various sources, such as the state budget, official development assistance, corporate capital, and public-private partnership.
The transport minister said it could take two or three years to undertake a feasibility study and make preparations for the construction of the airport.
Photo: TUBS
