Vietnam; drawing backpackers, sun-seekers and those seeking spectacular scenery, this south-east Asian nation is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the region.
In the south of the country lies Ho Chi Minh City, named after the former president and home to around just under nine million people in 2019. That makes it a very similar size to London.
The city is a bustling metropolis of food markets, financial services, history and culture, but despite its sprawling footprint, it only has one airport.
The only airport serving Ho Chi Minh City is Tan Son Nhat International Airport, but it can’t be expanded as it was built in the city itself during the Vietnam War.
According to the design capacity of the site, it can handle around 30 million passengers a year. However, in 2023 40 million people passed through it.
But Ho Chi Minh City is set to get a new airport. Construction on the Long Thanh International Airport 25 miles east of the city began in January 2021 and it is expected to be completed in September 2025.
According to local outlet Vietnam+, the project is the most expensive in the communist country’s history at £726 million.
Despite the news likely being welcomed by the country’s tourist board and businesses, the giant infrastructure project has wreaked havoc with the lives of thousands of residents.
According to VN Express, Dong Nai Province legislators forced 4,161 locals to move to make way for the almost 5000 hectare project.
Although they are being compensated, in January the National Assembly voted in favour of extending the relocation project until the end of this year.
The mega-airport will eventually be able to handle 100 million passengers a year, although when it opens the capacity will only be around a quarter of that.
