Hanoi (VNA) – The Airport Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) hita milestone last weekend as it welcomed the 100 millionth passenger arriving atits network of airport across the country this year.

Bui Ngoc Giang, the 100 millionth passenger and a Vietnamese national,arrived at Phu Quoc International Airport on Phu Quoc Island, the Mekong Deltaprovince of Kien Giang, last weekend after flying with Vietnam Airlines fromHanoi.

Giang was welcomed with flowers in a ceremony held by the ACV to alsocelebrate the completion of the expansion of the airport.

In 2016, the ACV began the expansion of Phu Quoc International Airport,which is among 22 airports the State-run firm operates nationwide. The projectcosted about one trillion VND (43 million USD).

The project expanded the area of the airport from about 24,300 sqm to morethan 36,000 sqm and increased the number of boarding gates from four to 12,including eight for domestic flights and four for international flights. Theairport is now also equipped with four new passenger boarding bridges.

The expansion allows the airport to raise its capacity from 2.65million passengers to 4 million passengers per year and provide higher qualityservices and facilities.

Phu Quoc International Airport was put into operation in 2012.Currently, about 80 flights take off or land at the airport a day. During hightravel season in summer and national holidays, the number can reach 100 as itconnects visitors with one of Vietnam’s most popular destination – Phu QuocIsland.

Dubbed as the “pearl island,” Phu Quoc is endowed with beautiful beaches with white and golden sand andcrystal-clear water, alongside pristine forests.

Since the island wasconnected to the national electrical grid and a visa waiver policy which givesforeigners a 30-day visa-free stay was adopted in 2014, foreigners have beenflocking to the island.

According to figuresfrom the local administration, last year the island received 1.96 millionvisitors, a 35 percent year-on-year increase, including more than 360,000foreign visitors, up 72 percent.

In the first quarterof this year the number of visitors hit 760,000, a 37 percent rise over thesame period last year. Foreign arrivals doubled to 286,000. –VNA