Lien Khuong International Airport, the main gateway to Da Lat in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, is scheduled to resume operations on August 19 following a five-month closure for extensive repairs and infrastructure upgrades.
The airport, located in Lam Dong province and serving one of Vietnam’s most popular mountain destinations, suspended operations on March 4 to allow work to begin on a major modernization project overseen by the state-owned Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV).
With an investment of more than US$38 million, the project includes the complete rehabilitation of the runway, taxiways, safety strips and supporting technical infrastructure, as well as upgrades to equipment needed to ensure safe and efficient flight operations.
The improvements are designed to restore the structural integrity of the airfield and enhance operational reliability in all weather conditions. However, the project is also viewed as an important milestone in the longer-term ambition to transform Lien Khuong into the leading aviation hub of Vietnam’s Central Highlands.
The reopening comes as Da Lat continues to attract growing numbers of domestic and international visitors thanks to its cooler climate, pine forests and expanding tourism offerings. The city attracts on an annual basis more than 1,500,000 domestic travelers and about 300,000 foreign tourists. Better air connectivity is expected to support further growth in the region’s visitor economy.
Over two million passengers/year
Passenger demand has already been stretching the airport’s existing infrastructure. In the first half of 2025 alone, Lien Khuong handled more than 989,000 passengers, putting the airport on track to serve close to two million travelers for the full year. Annual traffic had previously approached three million passengers, exceeding its original design capacity.
The airport currently serves major domestic destinations including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Hue, Vinh and Can Tho. International services have expanded since Lien Khuong gained international status in 2010, with flights to Bangkok, Seoul-Incheon, Kuala Lumpur and several seasonal charter destinations in China. However, all international connections were suspended following COVID. Only Kuala Lumpur-Da Lat flights resumed in 2024.
According to ACV’s development plans, Lien Khuong Airport is set to undergo additional expansion over the coming years. By 2030, the airport is expected to meet international highest standards, enabling it to accommodate wide-body aircraft including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350.
Passenger handling capacity is projected to increase to around five million passengers annually by 2035, while cargo throughput is forecast to reach 20,000 metric tons a year. A new international passenger terminal (Terminal 2) and additional aircraft parking stands are also planned under Vietnam’s national airport development strategy.
Beyond 2030, plans call for the extension of the airport’s runway to 3,600 meters. Once completed, the expansion would raise annual capacity to approximately seven million passengers, positioning the facility among Vietnam’s key regional airports.
For Lam Dong province, the modernization of Lien Khuong Airport is expected to strengthen Da Lat’s position as a year-round tourism destination.
