Work on Phan Thiet joint-use airport is scheduled at the end of March, Deputy Minister of National Defence Tran Don has said. 

The Ministry of National Defence and local officials announce the Phan Thiet airport project in Phan Thiet city. Photo: Duc Trong

Located in the south-central province of Binh Thuan, where is more than a four-hour drive east of Ho Chi Minh City, the 543ha airport will be used for both military aviation and civil aviation.

The civilian part of the airport will be built under the build-operate-transfer format by Hanoi-based Rang Dong Joint-stock Company, with the total investment of about VND 3.8 trillion (nearly US$165 million).

Meanwhile, the items serving the military aviation will be invested by the Air Force under the Ministry of National Defence, with an estimated fund of VND 8 trillion (US$347 million).

Under the government’s agreement, the airport will be upgraded from 4C to 4E in the classification of International Civil Aviation Organization, which is able to accommodate wide body jets.

The construction is expected to be completed in 20 months and operational in 2022, Lieutenant General Tran Don added.

Vietnam currently has 22 airports, including eight in the northern and north-central regions.