Vietnam urban planners eye new international airport in north
A Vietnamese urban planning agency has called for building one more international airport in Hanoi’s vicinity to cater to the burgeoning demand for air travel.
Nguyen The Ba, chairman of the Vietnam Association of Urban Development and Planning, said the airport would enhance economic development by making the northern economic region more accessible.
"Many foreign investors and enterprises have expressed interest in investing in northern Vietnam if it has a large international airport," he told a recent meeting in Hai Duong.
The association wanted the airport to be built in Hai Duong, which lies between Hanoi and the other major northern town, Hai Phong.
The location would be appropriate because of its closer proximity to major tourism, mining, and industrial centers in Quang Ninh province than the existing Noi Bai airport near Hanoi.
To meet future demand the new airport should have a capacity to handle 60-80 million passengers and 1.5-5 million tons of cargo per year, the association said.
The new airport is expected to require 3,000 to 4,000 hectares and cost US$4-5 billion.
Ba said it would take 10 to 20 years to turn the project into reality. Opening the new airport in 2015-20 would coincide with the growth in demand and development expected by that time, he said.
Vietnam News Agency - October 27, 2006.
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