Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved the investment policy for the Dien Bien airport expansion project in the namesake northern province to meet an annual capacity of 500,000 passengers.

Vietnam Prime Minister approves US$67.2-million Dien Bien airport project. Photo: dienbien.gov.vn

The expansion project, invested by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) with a total capital of VND1.55 trillion (US$67.2 million), will be executed in 34 months. As finished, the airport will be able to accept large airplanes including A320 and A321.

By 2030, the airport's capacity will be increased to two million passengers and 10,000 tons of cargo with a parking space for six aircraft, according to the plan built by the Ministry of Transport.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment to be responsible for project appraisal, issuing investment guidelines and supervising and evaluating investment activities.

The Dien Bien Airport, 500 kilometers west of Hanoi, currently is able to handle 300,000 passengers per year.

It was originally a military airport built in 1954. It began commercial operations in 1994. The airport was renovated in 2004 and can only accommodate small aircraft such as ATR72.