Where should Hanoi’s second airport be built?

Should be placed in the South?

The State Appraisal Council is submitting to the Prime Minister for approval a national airport-airport network planning scheme. In this project, there is a plan for the second airport in the Capital Region. The State Appraisal Council has approved the project and is currently submitting it to the Prime Minister.

Accordingly, the second airport in the Capital Region was initially identified in the Southeast of Hanoi, but there is no specific location. The planning of the second airport aims to have an open direction for research and construction, in order to reduce the load on Noi Bai airport after 2050.

According to the proposal, this position can avoid the mountains in the western region, less affect the approach of aircraft when returning to Noi Bai, and at the same time can study the direction of the take-off and landing routes parallel to the runway. – landing of Noi Bai airport.

The location of Hanoi’s second airport should be carefully studied. Illustrated photo.

According to architect Tran Ngoc Chinh, Chairman of Vietnam Urban Development Planning Association, the second airport in the region not only serves people in the southern districts of Hanoi but also Ninh Binh, Ha Nam, Thai Binh and Southern provinces. Dinh… Currently, this area does not have an airport, although the tourism industry is developing. Previously, the planning drafting board of the capital area proposed the location of a second airport in My Duc district, but it has not been approved by the Government to include in the planning.

Regarding the opinion that the district south of the capital has lowland terrain that is not favorable for airport construction, Mr. Chinh said that it is necessary to survey and evaluate more closely the planned area and need to be cleared, if the lowland can be dug. embankment and make good drainage system. To plan the airport, it is necessary to evaluate many criteria about the number of passengers, the connected transport system, the natural and social characteristics of the area, the wind direction, the airspace, not just the topography…

According to aviation expert, Dr. Nguyen Tung Bach, the location of Hanoi’s second airport should be located in an area bordering Ha Nam province, for example, Phu Xuyen district. Although this area has a low-lying terrain, it has a land fund of about 1,000 hectares to serve the construction of an airport with a capacity of 50 million passengers per year, and is not a flight path to Noi Bai.

Mr. Tung does not support the location of Ung Hoa district as previously proposed by Hanoi because the static in this area is the downlink of the plane to Noi Bai, so it will affect the operation of both airports in the future.

Regarding the existing military airports in Hanoi, according to Mr. Tung, there are not enough conditions for planning to become an international airport. Hoa Lac Airport does not have enough land for expansion; Mieu Mon airport has a large area but is close to limestone mountains, cloudy, not suitable for civil flights with high frequency.

Should Gia Lam Airport be expanded?

Dr. Tran Dinh Ba, of the Vietnam Economic Science Association, said that Hanoi urgently needs to have one more airport to handle problems such as overloading at Noi Bai airport, when encountering urgent problems, unexpected situations. unusual weather situations, accidents or even terrorism. Capitals in the world such as the United States, Russia, Great Britain, Germany, France, Japan, Thailand – Malaysia… all have at least 2 airports.

The frequent phenomenon of aviation overload at Noi Bai Airport shows the need for more airports. The problem is where is the construction site? Finding the expected location for the second airport for the Capital region is necessary, but it is necessary to research and survey to choose the optimal location, in accordance with Vietnam’s civil aviation law, and in accordance with the regulations of the civil aviation organization. international use.

There is an opinion that “the northern and southern areas of Hanoi are low-lying areas, it is not safe to place the second international airport here”, according to Dr. Tran Dinh Ba is incorrect because today’s construction technology can place any airport anywhere, including in the desert – swamp and at sea. Pudong International Airport (Shanghai – China) is located on the coastal swamp, Hong Kong also makes Cheplapkok Airport on an island.

Should military airports be expanded instead of new ones? Dr. Tran Dinh Ba said that he once suggested that Vietnam should exploit the existing military airports, expand them, and equip them with more modern equipment, which is the most effective and fastest way. The trend of dual-use airports in the world is very much, they exploit both civil and military to save and modernize the airport to operate for day – night and in war conditions – all airports are military to resist aggression.

Dr. Tran Dinh Ba said that in the war to protect the border, airports like Noi Bai – Da Nang – Tan Son Nhat used both civil and military to protect the Fatherland. Therefore, the second airport in Hanoi should reuse Gia Lam airport. It was the first international airport of the independent and reunified Vietnam in 1945. During the destructive war of 1964-1975, this special airport functioned both as a military airport to protect the capital’s airspace, It is also a civil airport for international trade. This airport is only 6 km from the center of Hanoi, can operate civil aircraft – medium transport such as A320, A321 is the most reasonable.

Dr. Tran Dinh Ba said that Gia Lam airport is being “forgotten” and wasting resources, while fully promoting its functions. In addition, it is possible to take advantage of Hoa Lac military airport, both saving investment capital and having a quick construction time. Hanoi also has Bach Mai airport from the French period – also a small airport but few people know about it.

“In the past, I have proposed to reduce the load for Tan Son Nhat airport by bringing in Bien Hoa airport – a military airport to operate, but was not listened to. As a result, Tan Son airport until now. I believe that the reuse of Gia Lam airport certainly brings economic and social value, while still ensuring national security and defense, is a good choice. for the policy of building the second airport in Hanoi”, Dr. Tran Dinh Ba said.

A representative of the Ministry of Transport said that in order to determine the construction location, many factors are needed such as airspace, ground, ground, population, natural and technical conditions, etc., according to leaders of the Ministry of Transport. , the proposal of the location to build a second airport for Hanoi needs to be considered based on many factors and specific scientific research, but it is not possible to say where to place it.

This position also said that the decision to put the airport in any position must be considered by many ministries and branches, in accordance with the planning of the route network and ensuring security and defense factors.