Noi Bai International Airport set for major expansion under 2030 master plan
The new master plan for the largest airport in northern Vietnam will be key in shaping the region’s international gateway as air travel, logistics and regional connectivity continue to grow over the next 10 to 20 years.
THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport is set for a major expansion, as the Ministry of Construction has approved the preparation of its master plan for 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050, paving the way for upgrades to meet soaring passenger demand.
The planning area will cover about 1,500 hectares.
Noi Bai Airport from above. Photo: ACV
The move aims to maximize existing infrastructure, accommodate rising air transport demand and ensure flexibility in phased investment while aligning with national defense and safety requirements.
It also seeks to optimize the use of land designated for civil aviation activities.
The master plan aims to organize the Noi Bai International Airport’s space to support long-term development in line with air transport demand and local socio-economic growth, including proposals for suitable investment phases.
Key tasks include surveys, data collection and assessment of current infrastructure capacity, along with forecasts of future air transport demand.
The study will propose planning options for both airside and landside areas and related facilities to enhance capacity.
It will define the airport’s development role and scale, basic land use, and technical infrastructure requirements, while identifying environmental protection measures and estimating total investment needs.
The plan is expected to shape the future of northern Vietnam’s main international gateway as demand for air travel, logistics and regional connectivity continues to rise in the next two decades.
Located in Noi Bai Commune, Hanoi, the Noi Bai Airport operates two runways and two terminals, T1 for domestic and T2 for international flights, with a designed capacity of 25 million passengers per year.
In the first nine months of 2025, the airport served over 25.3 million passengers, nearly 80% of its annual target and handled 155,000 flights and 729,000 tons of cargo, showing strong growth compared to 2024.
The post-pandemic surge in air travel has pushed the airport’s infrastructure to near capacity, making expansion essential for sustainable development.
