PRIME MINISTER ATTENDS GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE EXPANSION PROJECT OF NOI BAI AIRPORT'S T2 TERMINAL

On the afternoon of May 19, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the bidding package on the construction, supply and installation of equipment for the expansion of the Hanoi-based Noi Bai International Airport’s T2 terminal. The event commemorated the 134th anniversary birthday of President Ho Chi Minh with leaders from central ministries and departments also in attendance.

According to the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), Noi Bai International Airport is one of the three largest international airports in the country, the main gateway to the Capital, welcoming numerous international delegations, heads of state and tourists. The airport is considered a crucial trade hub, an integral part of the national airport network, and a key project for national security.

The T2 international passenger terminal, spanning four floors and covering approximately 139,000sqm, has a total investment of nearly VND 18,000 billion from an ODA loan. Since fully operating in 2018, the terminal has been over capacity, with passenger traffic in 2019 reaching 11.4 million, surpassing its initial design capacity of 10 million passengers in 2020.

To meet the projected capacity and quality of passenger services outlined in Decision No. 2499/QD-BGTVT, dated August 27, 2009, by the Ministry of Transport, on Project approval phase 1, Passenger Terminal T2 is designed to accommodate 10 million passengers annually, and potentially to be 15 million passengers per year.

ACV has reported to the Commission for Management of State Capital at Enterprises, the Ministry of Transport and the Hanoi People's Committee on the project's progress. All necessary steps for construction have been completed, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

“The Expansion Project of Noi Bai Airport's T2 Terminal” is being studied and constructed within an area of approximately 412, (including existing and expanded areas), which aims to raise its annual capacity from 10 million to 15 million passengers. The project consists of two main parts:

Part 1: Expanding the terminal and auxiliary works, including the West wing, East wing, and central area; the work includes structural, architectural, electromechanical, and installation tasks, and addition of passenger boarding bridge. Part 2: Renovating and repurposing the existing terminal from floors 1 to 4 to enhance the operational capacity of the airport.

The total investment for the project is VND 4,996 billion, with the main construction and installation package valued at VND 4,600 billion fully funded by ACV. The expansion is going to add 61,100 sqm of area, renovate and repurpose 18,730 sqm, increasing the total floor area of the passenger terminal to 200,100 sqm. It also

includes increasing the number of check-in islands from 2 to 6, the number of baggage conveyors from 2 to 8, traditional check-in counters from 24 to 34, and check-in kiosks from 24 to 34; adding early check-in and transit baggage storage systems; adding passenger boarding bridges from 15 to 29, along with other auxiliary works, etc.

According to the contract, the project is scheduled to be completed within 660 days (by February 2026). However, ACV is committed to deploy all resources on the bid package to ensure safety, quality, and aim to surpass the progress timeline by December 31, 2025. This would allow the project to be registered for inauguration and operational in time for the 14th Party Congress celebration.

In addition to the expedited construction of Long Thanh International Airport and T3 Passenger Terminal at Tan Son Nhat International Airport by the joint venture of contractors, the expansion of T2 Passenger Terminal at Noi Bai International Airport will alleviate overload situation at major domestic airports, enhance service quality, and meet the growing transportation demands of the aviation industry, as well as contribute to the development of a more modern and synchronous transportation and logistics infrastructure.

ACV Chairman Lai Xuan Thanh delivered a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony

During the event, representing the Viet Bac Contractor Joint Venture (Vinaconex Corporation, Hanoi Construction Corporation, Xuan Mai Investment and Construction JSC), the unit chosen to construct this package, Chairman of Vinaconex’s Board of Directors Dao Ngoc Thanh outlined the project's complexity and the high level of skills required. The package involves constructing, installing while integrating with the existing system of Terminal T2 and ensuring it remains fully operational. The contractor shall have a well-planned management and operation plan strategy to minimize conflicts and disruptions to the terminal's operations. Therefore, the Joint Venture is committed to deploying its resources and expertise to overcome challenges, complete the project on time, and ensure quality, security, and safety for all workers involved

Thủ tướng Phạm Minh Chính phát biểu ý kiến tại lễ khởi công.

In his remarks, PM Pham Minh Chinh expressed great pleasure in being present to witness the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion project of Noi Bai Airport's T2 Terminal in the historic month of May, the whole country celebrated the 70th anniversary of the globally resonant Dien Bien Phu victory, and the 134th birthday anniversary of the great President Ho Chi Minh.

He underscored the importance of developing synchronous, modern infrastructure as one of three strategic breakthroughs prioritized by the Party and State. As the country enters a new phase of development, it focuses on advancing industrialization and modernization amidst the rapid growth of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In recent years, substantial resources from the government and private investors, especially socialized capital have been allocated to transportation infrastructure projects. Key transportation projects, such as Long Thanh Airport and T3 Terminal at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, have commenced; Dien Bien and Phu Bai Airports have been inaugurated, that all contributes to the nation's socio-economic development. Efforts are also underway to research, construct and expand airports like Ca Mau Airport and Thanh Son Airport (Ninh Thuan province), fostering new opportunities for tourism and cultural development, etc

PM Pham Minh Chinh listened to the report on the expansion project of Passenger Terminal T2 at Noi Bai International Airport.

Facing the demands of national development and integration, many of our airports, particularly Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai International Airports, have become overloaded both in the air and on the ground. Solutions and investment plans ensuring operational quality and flight safety now and in the future are essential. Noi Bai International Airport, the second busiest for passenger traffic and the largest for cargo in the country, is crucial for the development of Hanoi Capital and the entire country.

PM Chinh stated that according to the Master Plan on National Airport Development in the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050, Noi Bai airport would have the annual passenger capacity to 60 million by 2030 and 100 million by 2050, the second airport in the Capital region would be researched for investment as well. The international passenger terminal T2 at Noi Bai International Airport, with a capacity of 10 million passengers per year, was put into operation in 2015. However, by 2018, it had become overloaded, exceeding its initial design capacity of 10 million passengers by 2020. Therefore, the expansion of Terminal T2 is necessary to address the current overload.

The Prime Minister acknowledged and praised the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Hanoi’s authorities, the Commission for Management of State Capital at Enterprises, relevant ministries and agencies, and particularly ACV for proactively coordinating to remove roadblocks to the project, especially those regarding land and investment procedures.

Currently, ACV is also implementing other airport projects, including Long Thanh International Airport and T3 Terminal at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, while focusing on securing funding (nearly VND5 trillion from its legal capital sources) for the expansion of Noi Bai International Airport’s T2 Terminal and completing the technical design, bidding, and commencing construction in compliance with all legal requirements.

Prime Minister gave gifts to encourage engineers and workers involved in project construction

On behalf of the Government, PM Chinh commended ACV and the Commission for Management of State Capital at Enterprises for their exceptional efforts in adopting innovative approaches and techniques, successfully completing many key airport projects in the past two years.

Once completed, the expansion project would boost its capacity to serve up to 30 million passengers annually, with the potential to serve 40 million passengers per year. That contributes to improving the quality of passenger services and national competitiveness. This complex project demands high-quality standards and coordinated construction efforts to ensure safe and efficient operations at the existing terminal.

The Prime Minister stated that the groundbreaking ceremony is an important event showcasing the Investor's best efforts and the collaboration between the government, ministries, and local authorities. However, he noted those are only the beginning steps, considerable work remains to complete the project on time, with a focus on safety, quality, and overcoming challenges. As a result, he requested the Ministry of Transport, ACV, and the Commission for Management of State Capital at Enterprises to closely supervise the investor and the Project Management Board in developing comprehensive plans, ensuring timely and efficient construction, regulatory compliance, and environmental protection. Supervision consulting units shall fulfill their duties, enhance supervision and inspection, ensure timely completion and quality without budget overruns.

Contractors shall implement with utmost responsibility, strictly adhere to construction laws, mobilize sufficient machinery, equipment, human resources, and ensure quality, progress, and environmental sanitation and safety. The use of substandard materials or deviation from requirements and proposed designs is strictly prohibited, etc.

The investor and supervision consultant shall be responsible for any mistakes made by the construction contractor that impact the project's quality and progress. The focus is on applying the latest science and technology to construction, working swiftly regardless of weather conditions, or holidays, making time use, and prioritizing timely completion without delays.

PM Pham Minh Chinh visited the Noi Bai Aviation Security Center

Contractors shall fulfill their commitments with high-quality, regulation-compliant products handed over on time, without wastage or negativity. The construction process shall be conducted scientifically and safely to prevent any incidents. Hanoi’s authorities continues to closely supervise relevant departments and Soc Son district’s authorities supports investors, construction contractors, and units in facilitating the project. The Prime Minister has set a deadline for the project's completion by December 31, 2025.

ACV, under the guidance of the Commission for Management of State Capital at Enterprises and the Ministry of Transport, shall develop the overall planning of Noi Bai airport with innovative and strategic thinking, following smart and eco-friendly airport trends.

In line with this, the Prime Minister announced the commencement of the Passenger Terminal T2 Expansion Project at Noi Bai International Airport. During the ceremony, he and other leaders participated in the groundbreaking ceremony and presented gifts to motivate the team of engineers and workers involved in the project.

*Previously, PM Chinh also visited the Operations Control Center and Security Center at Noi Bai International Airport.