A corner of Lien Khuong Airport
The rescheduling was agreed upon by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) and the Lam Dong provincial government during a meeting on July 16. The upgrade project is expected to take approximately six months and be completed before the 2026 rainy season.
The project involves extending the runway to 3,250 metres in length and 45 metres in width, constructing turnaround areas, upgrading taxiways E1 and E2, installing arrestor beds, enhancing drainage systems, and upgrading runway lights and aviation signage. The total cost is estimated to be over VND 1.045 trillion (approximately USD 41.1 million).
According to ACV, the airport is showing signs of deterioration and handled nearly 1 million passengers in the first half of this year. However, Lam Dong Chairman Ho Van Muoi requested a delay in the renovation timeline, noting that it would overlap with the ongoing construction of several major transport routes in the province, which could potentially affect tourism and the local economy.
Vu The Phiet, Chairman of ACV’s Board of Directors, agreed to postpone the closure until March 2026.
Located in Duc Trong District, approximately 28 kilometres from Dalat City, Lien Khuong Airport was constructed by the French in 1933 and subsequently upgraded by the United States in 1956. It currently serves approximately 2.5 million passengers annually, primarily domestic travellers and visitors from South Korea and Thailand.
Under Vietnam’s airport development plan, by 2030, the airport is expected to meet 4E standards, capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, and accommodate 5 million passengers and 20,000 tonnes of cargo per year. Post-2030, the runway will be extended to 3,600 metres, and capacity will increase to 7 million passengers annually.
The upgrade aims to transform Lien Khuong into a key aviation gateway linking the Central Highlands to major economic and tourism hubs in Vietnam and abroad.
