The province of Lao Cai is close to having its own airport, as several ministries have backed a plan whose construction could begin as soon as next quarter.

If approved, the VND8.5 trillion (US$381.7 million) airport plan would cover 261 hectares and include a terminal as well as space for two Airbus A320s or similar aircraft, reports Thanh Nien.

The facility would aim to handle 560,000 passengers and 600 tons of cargo per year in its initial phase, receiving flights from Saigon, Da Nang, Hai Phong and Nghe An province. Officials would later triple its capacity by 2030.

Currently, the proposal is awaiting approval from national-level government officials. Lao Cai provincial authorities are seeking to partner with Sun Group – the same firm behind several of Vietnam's cable cars – for the airport's infrastructure management. While private developers who cooperate with the government often receive land for additional projects in exchange, Sun Group instead wishes to operate the terminal for an allotted period of time.

According to the Airports Corporation of Vietnam, the country currently has 22 airports, however only Saigon's Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport are profitable.

[Rendering via Cafe F]