After 2 years of building, Van Don International Airport opened on Sunday, December 30, in Quang Ninh province – home to Halong Bay, UNESCO World Heritage site, and located just 220 km from Vietnam's capital Hanoi.
It is the first international airport in the country to be developed by a private company, Sun Group, Vietnam's premier developer of tourism, entertainment, and leisure-focused projects.
With a total investment of VND 7.463 billion (USD 310 million), the airport was built with the assistance of Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO), one of the leading airport consultancy and engineering companies in the world.
As a new gateway for domestic and international tourists coming to Halong Bay, which is just 50 km away, the airport is expected to receive an estimated 2-2.5 million passengers per year for the next 2 years and 5 million per year by 2030.
On the same day, Sun Group unveiled 2 more new infrastructures projects in Quang Ninh province, namely, the Halong International Cruise Port and Halong-Van Don Highway. The new 4-lane, 60 km-long highway is due to reduce travel time from the airport to Halong city to under 50 minutes.
With a total investment of VND 1,032 billion (US$43M), Halong International Cruise Port is the first cruise port dedicated exclusively to accommodate international cruise ships.
Located in Halong City's Bai Chay ward, the port can receive 2 cruise liners (up to 225,000 GRT each) simultaneously and a total of 8,460 passengers and crew.
The cruise port terminal, designed by one of the world's most renowned architects, Bill Bensley, will be a new landmark for the port city and Quang Ninh Province.
The opening of all 3 major infrastructure projects will play a major role in tapping the full tourism potential of the province and create new opportunities for economic cooperation and international trade.