Nguyen Hong Hai, vice chairman of the Lam Dong People’s Committee, inspected the project site and held talks with investors and contractors over material supply difficulties.
State-run Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) said the VND 1 trillion (USD 38.5 million) project began on March 4 and is scheduled for completion by Aug. 15, when the airport is expected to resume operations.
ACV said asphalt surface removal on the runway was 98 per cent complete, while runway base works and cable installations had been fully completed. However, progress on cement concrete paving and drainage construction remained slow.
The company said shortages of yellow sand and cement had disrupted construction, with stockpiled sand reaching only 29.5 per cent of required volume and cement supplies at 18.6 per cent as of May 14.
ACV said sand supplies in Lam Dong and neighbouring provinces were limited, while high transport costs and strong demand from other projects had added pressure to the market.
Provincial authorities instructed agencies to work closely with investors and contractors to resolve material shortages and ensure construction stays on schedule.
Lien Khuong became the first international airport in Vietnam’s Central Highlands in June 2024. Designed as a 4E-category airport, it has planned capacity of about 5 million passengers annually.
The airport handled nearly 77,800 flights, more than 12 million passengers and 32,700 tonnes of cargo during 2020-2025, at one point exceeding its designed annual passenger capacity.
ACV said the runway and taxiway systems had deteriorated after nearly 20 years of continuous operation, making repairs necessary.
