Hanoi Unveils Long-Term Aviation Master Plan Centered on Second International Airport

Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Aviation is set to play a central role in shaping Hanoi’s future development as the Vietnamese capital advances an ambitious long-term master plan focused on a second international airport, new urban growth corridors, and the emergence of a modern “sky economy.”

Under the plan, the proposed second international airport will be located in Ung Hoa Commune and is expected to cover approximately 1,500 hectares. Designed to handle between 30 and 50 million passengers annually, the facility is scheduled for construction between 2031 and 2045.

The airport project forms a key component of Hanoi’s transition toward a multi-centred urban development model aimed at easing pressure on the city’s historic core while creating new opportunities for economic expansion in surrounding areas.

Officials and urban planning experts say the new airport will not only help accommodate rising air traffic demand and reduce congestion at Noi Bai International Airport, but will also serve as the cornerstone of a new southern economic zone. The zone will be connected to neighbouring provinces through an integrated network of highways, railways and logistics infrastructure.

The airport is envisioned as the central hub of a southern development corridor linking Hanoi with Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa and other provinces via the national railway system, the North-South Expressway and National Highway 1A.

The master plan reflects a broader strategic shift that positions aviation infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth rather than solely a transportation asset. City authorities aim to leverage the airport network to support logistics, innovation, science and technology industries, as well as the emerging low-altitude economy involving drones, autonomous aircraft and urban air mobility systems.

Under the long-term vision, the southern economic zone anchored by the new airport, the northern growth pole centred on Noi Bai International Airport, and the eastern growth pole linked to Gia Binh International Airport are expected to become three of Hanoi’s nine major economic growth engines.

Experts have stressed the importance of timely implementation and careful planning to maximise investment efficiency while preserving future development opportunities.

Tran Ngoc Chinh, President of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, said the airport network development strategy is closely aligned with Hanoi’s future urban and economic needs. He emphasized that determining the final location of the second airport as early as possible would help ensure consistency with sectoral planning and land-use management while reducing future land acquisition and compensation costs.

As part of the broader aviation expansion strategy, Noi Bai International Airport will be enlarged southward by approximately 1,500 hectares, increasing its annual passenger handling capacity to around 50 million.

The city also plans to convert the Gia Lam and Hoa Lac military airfields into dual-use facilities serving both civilian and defence purposes.

In addition, authorities have proposed the establishment of takeoff and landing sites for drones and air taxis in Hoa Lac, Soc Son and on suitable high-rise buildings across the city, creating an integrated low-altitude transport network connected to the wider urban transportation system.

Hoa Lac Airport, linked with Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park, is expected to become a national centre for low-altitude aerospace research, innovation and manufacturing, reinforcing Hanoi’s ambitions to become a leading hub for next-generation aviation technologies.