Vietnam airport to shut for year-long upgrade, bigger planes to land in 2026

The VND2.4 trillion ($94 million) project will extend the runway, upgrade taxiways and aprons and build new facilities to meet 4C standards, allowing the airport to welcome larger aircraft like Airbus A320s and A321s, according to the provincial People’s Committee. Passenger capacity is expected to rise to one million per year by 2030, and three million by 2050.

Land clearance, which affects over 600 families, has now been completed. Compensation costs amount to over VND577 billion.

Built during the French colonial period, Ca Mau Airport currently has a 1,500-meter runway and handles smaller aircraft such as the ATR72 and Embraer E190. Its current terminal serves about 200,000 passengers annually, mostly on the daily flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

The upgrade is expected to give a boost to tourism and business in the Mekong Delta, making it easier for travelers from across Vietnam, and potentially abroad, to reach the country’s southern tip.