Na San Airport

The construction of Na San Airport will be implemented under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

The assignment of DPM Thanh is issued as earlier this month, Son La People’s Committee asked the government to upgrade the old airport.

According to the province’s proposal, the upgraded airport will cover an area of 249 hectares, extending 78.5ha compared to the current area.

The construction will be divided into two phases with the total investment capital of $130.43 million. The first phase needs approximately $111.3 million, $13.04 million of which will be used for land clearance and compensation. The remaining capital is expected to be mobilised from businesses.

It will take one year for the preparation and another two for the construction before Na San can start operation in 2026.

According to the chairman of Son La People’s Committee, Hoang Quoc Khanh, Him Lam Thu Do JSC plans to upgrade the airport under the build-operate-transfer model.

Na San Airport was constructed in 1950 by the French. It lies 187km from Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport and 110km from Dien Bien Phu Airport in the northwest. It was considered important in ensuring national security and economic development of Son La and the northwest region.

During 1978-2004, a number of the airport's components were upgraded in order to ensure safe flights. In 2004, the operation of the airport was suspended as the airport was found to be too rundown.