Located in Vinh Hung Ward (formerly Vinh City) of Nghe An Province in central Vietnam, Vinh Airport was originally built for military use. From 1937 to 1994, the state invested more than VND20 billion (US$760,000) to build and upgrade its infrastructure. In January 1995, the airport began operating the Hanoi–Vinh–Da Nang route. The domestic terminal opened in 2015, while the international terminal came into service at the end of 2019.
Vinh International Airport plays a key role in connecting Vietnam's north central region with Laos, Thailand and Myanmar, supporting economic and tourism development in Nghe An. From July 1, the airport temporarily suspended operations to carry out three upgrade projects covering the terminal, apron, and runway, with total investment nearing VND1 trillion ($38 million).
Vinh Airport after the upgrade. Video by Duc Hung
Before renovation, the domestic terminal (T1) had a total floor area of 11,706 sq.m, with arrivals on the first floor and departures on the second. After the upgrade, the floor area increased to 13,200 sq.m, raising capacity to around 3–3.5 million passengers per year.
The business-class lounge at Vinh Airport has been upgraded into a more separate, quiet space, offering premium amenities for business-class passengers to relax or work before their flights. The lounge also serves attractively presented food and beverages.
The aircraft apron has been renovated and expanded from seven to nine parking positions for narrow-body aircraft (Code C), with total investment of VND236 billion.
Construction ran from May to December, with major works, such as demolishing old structures, installing anchor piles and laying crushed-stone base layers, now complete, ready to accommodate the narrow-body aircraft commonly in service today.
Vinh Airport's runway is 2,400 meters long and 45 meters wide and has been in operation since late 2003. In July 2023, the airport was forced to suspend operations for nearly 16 hours due to runway damage. In the current round of upgrades, the runway accounted for the largest investment, at more than VND623 billion.
So far, the runway and taxiway repair project has completed all major tasks. The lighting system has been installed and calibrated in sync; the ILS has been relocated, reinstalled and successfully tested; and new flight procedures have been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam. In recent days, workers have focused on environmental cleanup and finishing final items around the apron and runway.
On Dec. 15, Vinh International Airport coordinated with relevant agencies to conduct a test flight, VJ1225, to assess the entire operational chain and ensure safety and readiness for reopening on Dec. 19.
Nghe An authorities said the airport’s early return to operations would help restore connectivity, boost tourism, attract investment and reinforce its role as the aviation gateway of the north central region.
Previously, Vinh Airport handled 15–20 flights per day, rising to about 40 during peak periods, serving roughly 2 million passengers annually. After the upgrade, capacity is expected to reach 3.5 million passengers per year.
Under the 2021–2030 master plan, Vinh International Airport is slated to reach ICAO Code 4E, with capacity of around 8 million passengers and 25,000 tons of cargo annually. By 2050, capacity is projected to increase to 14 million passengers and 35,000 tons of cargo per year.
