Vinh International Airport in central Vietnam’s Nghe An Province is set to shut down for six months starting July 1, as an expansion project kicks off to meet soaring passenger demand and upgrade aging infrastructure.
The closure, which will last through Dec. 31, 2025, will allow for major upgrades to the airport’s terminal, runway, taxiways, and aircraft parking areas, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).
The multi-phase project, worth nearly VND1 trillion (U$40 million), is designed to modernize the facility and meet rising travel demand.
Under the expansion plan, the T1 passenger terminal will be enlarged to handle up to 3.5 million passengers per year by 2030, with an investment of VND68 billion. The aircraft parking apron will be upgraded at a cost of VND236 billion, increasing its capacity to nine Code C narrow-body aircraft. The largest portion of the budget, more than VND623 billion, will go toward extensive repairs on the 2,400-meter runway and two taxiways.
The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), which oversees the project, has committed to completing the upgrades by Dec. 30. Officials have stressed that construction will follow strict safety, environmental and labor regulations throughout the process.
During the temporary shutdown, travelers from Vietnam’s north-central region will be rerouted to nearby Tho Xuan Airport in Thanh Hoa or Dong Hoi Airport in Quang Binh.
Opened in 2003, Vinh Airport was originally designed to serve 2.75 million passengers annually and currently operates 21 to 26 flights a day. The facility briefly closed once before in July 2023 due to runway damage.