Vietnam's northern coastal province of Quang Ninh will build an airport in the island district of Co To, according to the province's aviation plan approved by the prime minister for the period 2021-2030, vision to 2050.

A corner of Co To Island District, a tourism destination in the northern province of Quang Ninh. Photo: quangninh.gov.vn

The airport will cover an area of 130 hectares, including the apron, a military enclave, and a 1,800-meter runway.

The commissioning of the airport and the operation of flight routes to Co To Island is expected to boost the development of the local tourism industry and contribute to the northern province's rescue, security, and defense activities.

The island district is expected to become a high-quality tourism hub in Vietnam and part of Quang Ninh's sustainable development strategy.

According to the plan, the local authority will develop a seaplane and heliport in Ha Long, Cam Pha, Van Don, Co To, Dong Trieu, Uong Bi, and potential areas to diversify tourism products.

In the first two months of 2023, the province welcomed about 3.35 million visitors and earned more than VND6.5 trillion ($274.7 million) from tourism services, according to the provincial tourism department.

Vietnam is home to 22 civilian airports, 10 of which are international. Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City and Noi Bai in Hanoi are the largest.

According to the master plan, by 2050, Vietnam will have 31 airports, including 14 of them international and 17 domestic, making it one of the countries with the lowest airport density in the world.