Lien Khuong Airport to close in March 2026 for runway upgrades
Under a national aviation plan, Lien Khuong is set to reach 4E classification by 2030, allowing it to serve wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350.
Lien Khuong Airport will close for six months starting March 2026 for runway and taxiway upgrades (Photo: VNA)
Lam Dong (VNS/VNA) — Lien Khuong Airport, the primary air gateway to Da Lat and the Central Highlands region, will temporarily close in March 2026 for a major runway and infrastructure upgrade, provincial authorities confirmed on July 17.
ꦬ The six-month closure, originally planned for November 2025, was delayed to avoid overlapping with key transport projects currently under construction in Lam dong province.
Local officials had raised concerns that the original timeline could disrupt tourism and economic activity during a peak development period.
The 1.045 trillion VND (40.2 million USD) upgrade will include extending the runway to 3,250m in length and 45m in width, constructing a turning pad, and upgrading taxiways, braking zones, drainage systems, and aviation lighting and signage.
Completion is expected before the start of the 2026 rainy season.
The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) said the airport is showing signs of deterioration and urgently needs renovation, especially as passenger numbers continue to rise.
Nearly one million travellers passed through the airport in the first half of the year.
Located 28km south of central Da Lat, the airport was originally built by the French in 1933 and later upgraded by the US in 1956.
It currently handles around 2.5 million passengers annually, primarily domestic tourists and international visitors from the Republic of Korea and Thailand.
Under a national aviation plan, Lien Khuong is set to reach 4E classification by 2030, allowing it to serve wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350.
The airport’s annual capacity is expected to increase to 5 million passengers and 20,000 tonnes of cargo. After 2030, the runway will be extended to 3,600m to support up to 7 million passengers per year.
The upgrade is part of a broader strategy to transform Lien Khuong into a regional aviation hub linking the Central Highlands with major domestic and international destinations./.
According to Xuan Truong’s proposal, the airport would be developed in Y Yen commune and funded by Ninh Binh’s local budget and private capital, without central Government funding.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has issued an urgent directive to aviation units nationwide, calling for strengthened flight safety measures during the summer peak travel period and in anticipation of adverse weather conditions such as thunderstorms.
Billed as one of Vietnam’s most challenging races, the 100km event is set to spark intense competition among top-tier runners. Among them is Peiquan You, a standout Chinese trail athlete and two-time champion of the Hong Kong 100, another World Trail Majors race.
Vietnam welcomes some 4-5 million Chinese visitors annually. In the first eight months of this year, Vietnam hosted more than 3.5 million Chinese. Vietnamese travellers, meanwhile, are increasingly drawn to China’s cultural and natural attractions.
On the evening of September 15 (local time), Algerian audiences enjoyed the Vietnamese film “Dao, Pho va Piano” (Peach Blossom, Pho and Piano). Vietnam was invited as the guest of honour at this year’s festival. In addition to the feature film, the country also introduced the documentary “Dien Bien: Land and People” and another featuring the 1954 Dien Bien Phu Victory for competition at the event.
Divided into three chapters with dozens of meticulously staged performances, the programme created a vibrant and emotionally rich atmosphere. The blend of tradition and modernity, powerful voices, and the solemn resonance of the symphony orchestra gave the show its distinctive hallmark.
The photo collection, which features typical landmarks and landscapes as well as the culture and lifestyle of Da Nang people, aims to introduce the image of Vietnam's central city to Korean friends.
Held on September 13-14, ManiFiesta – the annual festival of solidarity organised by the Workers' Party of Belgium – drew tens of thousands of participants from across Belgium and neighbouring countries. Alongside music, debates and cultural exchanges, Vietnam made a strong impression with a booth rich in national identity.
Vietnam’s top female badminton player Nguyen Thuy Linh, ranked 18th in the world, was unable to defend her title after losing 0-2 to Cai Yan Yan of China (world No. 107) in the women’s singles final of Yonex-Sunrise Vietnam Open 2025.
At Nhan Dan’s pavilion, visitors encountered a vivid chronicle of Vietnam’s milestones under the Communist Party of Vietnam and the late President Ho Chi Minh’s leadership, from the struggle for independence and reunification to modern development and global integration. Special publications marking Vietnam’s 80th National Day, coupled with performances by Vietnamese artists, intricate handicrafts, and fragrant dishes, had foreign visitors lining up in droves.
Vietnamese singer Duc Phuc will be among 23 artists from 23 countries participating in Intervision 2025, an international music competition often described as the “Eurovision of Eurasia", in Russia.
The event aims to promote solidarity among ethnic minorities, particularly the Cham people, in southern and south-central Vietnam, following the recent merger of provincial-level administrative units.
The animated feature Buffalo Kids, hitting Vietnamese theatres on September 12, is developed from the record-breaking short Strings (2024), which holds the Guinness World Record for the most awarded short film in history.
The national achievement exhibition, themed “80 Years of Independence – Freedom – Happiness,” is the largest of its kind held in Vietnam so far, bringing together 28 ministries and central agencies, 34 localities, 16 state-owned economic corporations, and 94 leading private enterprises.
Victory Vietnam by Swedish film director Bo Öhlén is a deeply moving and authentic documentary, officially premiered in April 2025 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification of Vietnam (April 30, 1975 – 2025).
The LION Championship 26 (LC26) will take place at Tay Ho Gymnasium in Hanoi on September 13, with the spotlight on the debut of World WBC Muay Thai Champion Truong Cao Minh Phat, who will square off against Irish fighter Aaron Clarke in the 61kg MMA Striking category.
The archives consist of administrative records, maps, and technical drawings from 1911–1955 left by French coal companies, along with images capturing coal mining, colonial architecture, miners’ lives, and the local community. These materials not only carry historical value but also offer vivid insights into Quang Ninh’s socio-economic landscape before 1955.
Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes are taking centre stage at the third photo exhibition “Vietnam Through the Lens of International Photographers”, which opened in Hue city on September 10.
The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) hosted a screening of the film Mua do (Red Rain) on September 9 for members of the consular corps and Lao and Cambodian students studying in the city, a part of activities marking the 80th anniversary of National Day (September 2, 1945 – 2025),
With this victory, Vietnam finished at the top of Group C with nine points, officially securing a place in the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Finals, scheduled for January 2026.
