Can Tho Proposes Three New Airport Locations to Boost Mekong Delta Connectivity

Can Tho City is considering three potential locations for a new airport, aiming to enhance regional connectivity and leverage economic advantages within the Mekong Delta. This proposal is part of the draft master plan for the city up to 2050, with a vision extending to 2075, and public feedback is currently being solicited. The three proposed sites are: 1. The coastal area of Tran De: Located in the former Soc Trang province, this site offers direct connection to the Tran De seaport. It is envisioned to combine air and sea transport, supporting the development of a coastal economic zone and logistics hub. With integrated infrastructure, it could form a large-scale port-airport-road-rail complex. 2. South of the former Soc Trang city: Situated near the intersection of the planned Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang Expressway and the Ho Chi Minh City-Soc Trang Expressway. This location is advantageous for inter-regional road transport, port access, and coastal economic corridors. 3. Approximately 30 km south of the existing Can Tho Airport: Near the junction of the Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang Expressway, the Can Tho-Ca Mau Expressway, and a planned high-speed railway. This site is closer to the regional center and could facilitate the development of southern urban areas and serve as a hub for domestic passenger and cargo transit. In addition to the new airport studies, the plan suggests increasing the capacity of the existing Can Tho International Airport to 18-20 million passengers annually by 2050. The current airport has a capacity of 3-5 million passengers per year and has not had regular international flights since the COVID-19 pandemic. The national airport system plan currently targets 7 million passengers by 2030 and 12 million by 2050 for Can Tho Airport, making the city's proposal significantly more ambitious. Furthermore, the draft plan proposes the construction of a new administrative center for Can Tho, spanning approximately 20 hectares within a larger 70-100 hectare administrative urban area in the Nga Bay region. This location is deemed convenient for connecting various parts of the city post-consolidation. The Vietnamese government considers the development of the Mekong Delta a key national priority, actively investing in infrastructure. The construction of a new airport is seen as a crucial step to boost the region's logistics capabilities and accelerate economic growth.