Airport operator Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) suspended operations at midnight on March 4 to repair and upgrade the runway, with reopening scheduled for August 25.
Authorities estimate the closure could affect nearly one million travellers heading to Dalat, potentially impacting tourism and the wider economy of Lam Dong Province.
Tourism businesses say the suspension of flights is likely to affect high-end travellers and corporate groups the most.
Le Tang Trong Nghia, director of Vietravel Dalat, said the disruption had already affected four- and five-star visitors and MICE groups, who typically prefer flying to the highland city.
“When flights are suspended, many of these visitors no longer choose Dalat because they are reluctant to travel by other means,” Nghia said, noting that some travellers from Hanoi and Haiphong had shifted to other destinations.
Nguyen Dinh Quan Quy, director of Greenhills Services and Trading Co., estimated visitor numbers could fall by about 40 per cent, as the airport closure coincides with the summer travel season.
To limit the impact, travel companies have begun introducing promotional programmes and alternative transport options.
Vietravel Dalat said it had started subsidising bus tickets for travellers from Ho Chi Minh City and Phan Thiet and plans to open a branch in Phan Thiet to attract tourists from southern provinces. The company is also developing more local tour packages to offset lost arrivals.
Tourism operators are also offering discounted travel experiences and entertainment packages while expanding cooperation with transport providers to promote road travel options.
Dinh Tuan Anh, a representative of the TTC World Love Valley tourist area, said the airport closure had disrupted a growing segment of young travellers who preferred quick weekend flights to the highlands.
The company is working with transport operators and travel agencies in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Dong Nai to develop new travel routes, including combined itineraries linking Cam Ranh international airport, Phan Thiet and Dalat.
Local authorities say the disruption presents both challenges and opportunities for the tourism sector.
Lam Dong aims to welcome 25.75 million visitors in 2026, including 1.58 million international arrivals, generating about VND 71.5 trillion (around USD 2.8 billion) in tourism revenue.
Vice chairman of the Lam Dong People’s Committee Dinh Van Tuan said the airport closure could temporarily affect tourism but may also encourage the province to diversify tourism products and promotion strategies.
Officials plan to focus more on road-based travel routes, longer visitor stays and nature-based tourism experiences, reflecting growing demand for green and wellness tourism.
Lien Khuong became the first international airport in the Central Highlands in June 2024. Designed to handle five million passengers a year, it served more than 12 million passengers between 2020 and 2025, at times exceeding its capacity.
ACV said the runway and taxiway system required repairs after nearly two decades of continuous operation. The upgrade project is estimated to cost about VND 1.03 trillion (around USD 39 million).
