Lai Chau Airport planning enters appraisal phase

The Vietnamese Ministry of Construction has established an appraisal council to review the detailed planning for Lai Chau Airport for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision toward 2050. Deputy Minister Lê Anh Tuấn has been appointed as the Council Chairman. The council includes representatives from various ministries, including Defense, Public Security, Finance, and Agriculture and Rural Development, alongside local authorities from Lai Chau Province.

The proposed airport is planned for the Tan Uyen and Muong Khoa communes in Lai Chau Province. It is designed as a dual-use domestic airport for both civil and military purposes. Aiming for ICAO 4C standards, the facility is expected to handle approximately 300,000 passengers and 1,000 tons of cargo annually during the 2021–2030 phase. The infrastructure is intended to support aircraft such as the A320/A321 and B737.

By 2050, the airport's capacity is projected to increase to 1.5 million passengers and 4,000 tons of cargo per year. The project is viewed as essential for the socio-economic development and national security of Lai Chau Province and the northern mountainous region.