Vietnam airport operator seeks stronger air connectivity with China

The event gathered representatives from diplomatic missions, local authorities, airlines, airports, and travel firms from both countries.

The ACV delegation was led by ACV deputy general director Nguyen Cao Cuong and included executives from several airports such as Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, the underway Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai City, and Cat Bi International Airport in northern Hai Phong City, as well as representatives from ACV member units.

According to ACV, the program was designed to create a direct platform for airports, local authorities, airlines, and tour operators to discuss market demand and opportunities for launching new routes and increasing flight frequencies between Vietnam and China.

During the event, participants examined international tourism trends, travel demand between the two countries, and opportunities to introduce Chinese travelers to emerging destinations across Vietnam.

Representatives from Hue City and Quang Tri Province presented various tourism products, policies aimed at attracting international visitors, and the potential for developing group travel and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism segments.

Besides, ACV showcased the infrastructure capacity of Vietnam’s key airports, particularly those capable of handling additional international and charter flights.

The Long Thanh International Airport project was highlighted as a future aviation gateway with ambitions to serve as a regional transit hub.

ACV noted that charter flights could provide an effective way to test market demand before transitioning to scheduled services once passenger volumes become stable.

The model is expected to help localities diversify sources of international visitors while improving airport infrastructure utilization.

“China is one of Vietnam’s largest tourism source markets,” Cuong said.

“Strengthening air connectivity is expected to support tourism recovery, promote trade, and unlock new growth opportunities for localities whose airports still have significant unused capacity,” he stressed.

ACV plays a central role in Vietnam’s aviation infrastructure sector, managing and operating 22 airports nationwide, including major international gateways such as Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, and Da Nang.

The corporation is also the investor of the first phase of the Long Thanh International Airport project, which is designed to handle 25 million passengers and 1.2 million metric tons of cargo annually.

The airport is expected to begin commercial operations in the first half of 2026.