Airport in Vietnam’s Lam Dong, home to Da Lat, to close for nearly 6 months for upgrade

Following the announcement, Vietnam Airlines confirmed on Wednesday that it will halt all flights to and from Da Lat and adjust its network to maintain regional connectivity during this period.

The national flag carrier will increase services on nearby routes such as Ho Chi Minh City-Buon Ma Thuot, Ho Chi Minh City-Pleiku, and Da Nang-Buon Ma Thuot, providing alternative transit options for passengers heading to Lam Dong.

For travelers who have already purchased tickets for flights to or from Lien Khuong Airport between March 4 and August 25, Vietnam Airlines said it will allow one free change of travel date or itinerary. Refunds are also available until August 31.

Other domestic airlines, including Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, and international carriers from South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia, will also suspend or reroute flights.

During the closure, visitors can fly into Cam Ranh Airport in neighboring Khanh Hoa Province and continue by road to Da Lat.

Travelers departing from Ho Chi Minh City may also use National Highway 20 via Bao Loc or take the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway connected to the Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet Expressway, then turn at Dai Ninh interchange to National Highway 28B.

The closure is expected to shift tourist traffic from air to road, increasing pressure on the Central Highlands’ transport infrastructure during the summer peak season.

Lien Khuong became the first international airport in the Central Highlands in June 2024, classified as a 4E airport with a design capacity of five million passengers per year.

Its last major upgrade was between 2003 and 2007, when facilities were improved to accommodate Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft.