The project will not only help ease congestion at Noi Bai International Airport and promote socio-economic development in the capital region, but will also serve as strategic infrastructure for major diplomatic events, notably the APEC Summit in 2027.
A project of international scale
According to a report from Masterise Group, the project investor, the Gia Binh International Airport carries a total investment of approximately 196.378 trillion VND (7.5 billion USD) and is designed to meet 4F standards under the classification of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
The airport aims to handle around 30 million passengers and 1.6 million tonnes of cargo annually by 2030. Looking ahead to 2050, this capacity is expected to increase to 50 million passengers and 2.5 million tonnes of cargo per year.
The airport is located across the communes of Gia Binh, Luong Tai, Nhan Thang and Lam Thao in Bac Ninh Province. Construction officially commenced on August 19, 2025.
Encouraging progress on site
To date, construction progress has been encouraging, demonstrating both the strong political commitment of local authorities and the considerable efforts of the investor.
In terms of site clearance, authorities have handed over 1,259.45 hectares out of a total of 1,884.93 hectares, equivalent to 66.82% of the required land area. Notably, advance compensation payments have largely been completed for all agricultural land.
At the same time, the relocation of 4,761 graves to facilitate construction for the APEC-related phase has been expedited. To date, the investor has advanced a total of 4.087 trillion VND for compensation and resettlement.
At the construction site, work on key components is being accelerated. The VIP area package has completed 100% of pile driving and topsoil removal, and is currently focused on foundation blinding concrete. In the airfield area, ground improvement for soft ground conditions has reached 24% of the planned volume.
Financially, cumulative disbursement since the start of the project has reached 2.6902 trillion VND, including 1.3147 trillion VND disbursed in the first two months of 2026 alone.
In parallel, the project to build air traffic control facilities, implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) with a total investment of about 2.253 trillion VND, has also made significant progress. The investor has completed the feasibility study report and submitted it to the Ministry of Public Security for appraisal.
On site, ground levelling for the air traffic control (ATC) tower area has reached 87%, while bored piles and tower foundations have been completed. Construction of the tower structure has now reached an elevation of 6.8 metres.
Overcoming challenges to meet key milestones
Despite these encouraging achievements, the project still faces several challenges that require timely intervention from relevant authorities. The most significant bottleneck lies in land clearance involving around 1,260 households in Phase 1.1. The site must be handed over before April 30, 2026 to avoid delaying key components scheduled for completion by the end of this year.
In addition, adjusting the contract for the aviation operations project and accelerating the appraisal of supporting projects, such as access roads and resettlement areas, are also urgent tasks. The investor has proposed that relevant authorities approve compensation and resettlement plans before June 30, 2026 and complete land allocation and leasing procedures for the entire project in 2026.
To maximise the project’s effectiveness, the investor also called for the Ha Noi-Gia Binh Expressway to be completed before March 2027. At the same time, further studies are needed to incorporate multimodal transport connections, including high-speed rail, urban rail and an inland waterway port, with a view to establishing the Gia Binh Free Trade Zone and developing a modern airport city model.
With strong direction from the Party, State and Government, along with effective coordination among ministries, agencies and local authorities, Gia Binh International Airport is expected to be completed on schedule.
The project will not only unlock new development opportunities for the Northern Key Economic Region but also cement Viet Nam’s standing in international aviation.
