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.
The six-month closure, originally planꦚned for November 2025, was delayed to avoid overlapping with key transport projects currently under construction in Lam dong prov💦ince.
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.
With this result, Vietnam now stood atop Group B, needing only a draw against Cambodia, who already drew Laos 1-1 on July 16, to progress to the semifinals.
In each of his cakes, Nguyen Huu Thien An, a 26-year-old pastry chef from Ho Chi Minh City, marries traditional culture with modern pastry artistry, ensuring it honours cultural values.
The O Du ethnic people's ceremony to welcome the first thunder of the year has been listed as national intangible cultural heritage, in the category of social customs and beliefs.
Trinh Linh Giang of Vietnam successfully took the continental men's singles title at the Panas Malaysia Open 2025, the first tournament of the PPA Tour Asia competition system. He earned 1,000 points to top the ranking table.
The World Nine-ball Championship 2025 is expected to attract more than 130 players from around the world, with total prize money of up to 1 million USD.
The ASEAN U23 Mandiri Cup 2025 is ongoing, and organisers have listed a number of players, including two from the Vietnamese team, as among those who could make a big impact at the tournament taking place in Bekasi, Indonesia from July 15 - 29.
The gala, now in its second year held in partnership with Guangxi media, has become a flagship annual event, blending dynamic musical performances with a platform for cross-cultural engagement.
Festival-goers will be treated to performances of Vietnamese water puppetry, enjoy authentic Vietnamese cuisine, and take part in creative cooking workshops. There will be a special art programme which features performances by artists from both countries, showcasing the sounds of traditional Vietnamese instruments.
Running from July 11 to 24, the event is part of activities marking the 32nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Israel (July 12, 1993 – 2025) and the 80th anniversary of the Vietnamese diplomatic sector (August 28, 1945 – 2025).
The show took place at the Grand Hall of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation. It was presented by the Le Ngoc Theatre with the support of Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia, as part of the Vietnam–Russia Friendship Symphony art programme.
The Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son – Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes, spanning Quang Ninh and Bac Ninh provinces and Hai Phong city, has been officially inscribed on UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage list.
On the evening of July 19, the ten most talented dance groups from Hanoi, Da Nang, and HCM City will show their passion through cover performances of Korean pop songs.
MMA tournaments have been organised regularly in many cities and provinces, but since the establishment of the Vietnam MMA Federation (VMMAF) in 2020, this is the first official national championship for clubs.
The Vietnam Open will be the final leg of the PPA Tour Asia 2025 series, following China’s Hong Kong Open from August 21 to 24 and the Sansan Fukuoka Open in Japan from August 26 to 31.
Popular singer Duc Phuc has been selected to represent Vietnam at Intervision 2025, a prestigious international music contest bringing together artists from more than 20 countries taking place this September in Moscow.
The tour, hosted by the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the sidelines of the meeting from July 15-18, allowed guests to explore the intricate pottery-making process, admire vivid ceramic displays, and try their hand at painting, immersing themselves in a craft that once defined Vietnamese craftsmanship.
Protecting and promoting World Heritage is not only the responsibility of a single sector or locality, but of the entire region, the nation, and the current and future generations.
Vietnam People’s Police Team II secured a convincing 4-0 victory over Cambodia in the final of the ASEAN Police Football Open 2025 held at Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi on July 15.
