Can Tho International Airport
Can Tho International Airport Sân bay Quốc tế Cần Thơ
Cảng hàng không Quốc Tế Cần Thơ | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Operator | Southern Airports Authority | ||||||||||
| Serves | Can Tho and Mekong Delta | ||||||||||
| Location | Can Tho, Vietnam | ||||||||||
| Hub for | Vietnam Airlines | ||||||||||
| Focus city for | Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, Sun PhuQuoc Airways, VASCO | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 3 m / 9 ft | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 10°05′07″N 105°42′43″E / 10.08528°N 105.71194°E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  VCA/VVCT Location of airport in Vietnam | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2018) | |||||||||||
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Can Tho International Airport[1] (IATA: VCA, ICAO: VVCT) — formerly Trà Nóc Airport — is an international airport located in Can Tho in Mekong Delta region of Vietnam.
The airport was inaugurated on January 1, 2011 and received US$150 million to build on 20,750 square metres (223,400 sq ft)(5.13 acres) of land. It aimed to be able to process up to 5 million passengers a year. It serves air travel in the region, boosting Mekong Delta's economy, improving defence, security and international integration.[2]
History
Trà Nóc Airport was originally constructed during the Vietnam War in 1965 by United States Air Force (USAF) civil engineering units as a military airfield, which became Binh Thuy Air Base. It was used by the USAF as well as being the Headquarters of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (VNAF) 4th Air Division until 1975.
On 19 April 1969 the VAL-4 Light Attack Squadron began combat operations, flying air support for the Mobile Riverine Force in the Mekong Delta of South Vietnam. The missions included normal patrol, overhead air cover, scramble alert and gunfire/artillery spotting. On 31 March 1972 the squadron conducted its last combat mission prior to its disestablishment on 10 April 1972.[3]
After 1975, the facility was initially unused, then later operated as a small regional airport for Can Tho. It was expanded and upgraded to international status, with completion due in 2008.
Upgrading of Trà Nóc airport
The expansion work of Trà Nóc airport started on 4 January 2006. The project was implemented in two phases, finishing on January 1, 2011.[4]
Current status
The airport is operating at loss, serving only 20% of its designed capacity.[5]
In 2017 the 917th Mixed Air Transport Regiment (a.k.a. Đồng Tháp Squadron) of 370th Air Force Division in the Vietnam People's Air Force was moved to Cần Thơ from Tan Son Nhut Air Base.[6]
Airlines and destinations
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Bamboo Airways | Con Dao,[7] Hanoi, Phu Quoc[8] |
| VietJet Air | Da Nang,[9] Hai Phong, Ha Long,[10] Hanoi,[11] Vinh[12] |
| Vietnam Airlines | Con Dao, Da Nang, Hanoi,[13] Phu Quoc[14] |
| VASCO | Con Dao |
The airport does not currently provide direct flights to Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport, passengers will have to either take a bus, or private car to get to Tan Son Nhat International Airport. It is located 163 km (101 mi) north east of Can Tho International Airport.
See also
References
- ^ "Can Tho airport starts operation with Hanoi route". 2009-01-04. Archived from the original on 2009-01-17. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
- ^ Vietnam opens new international airport Archived 2012-10-22 at the Wayback Machine, channelnewsasia.com, 2 January 2011
- ^ Book by Kit Lavell, Flying Black Ponies, Val-4 Squadron Cruise book.
- ^ "Tra Noc Airport (Can Tho) - Latest information and flight schedule update 2025". Vietnam Airlines. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
- ^ VnExpress. "Vietnam warned it is planning one airport too many - VnExpress International". VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam.
- ^ "Chuyển hoạt động bay quân sự ra khỏi 3 sân bay lớn". VNExpress. VNExpress. 24 September 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "CHÍNH THỨC MỞ BÁN CÁC ĐƯỜNG BAY CẦN THƠ/ĐÀ NẴNG/VINH – CÔN ĐẢO". Bamboo Airways (in Vietnamese). 30 October 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ^ Bich, Quyen (12 January 2021). "Mở hai đường bay mới nối Cần Thơ với Côn Đảo, Phú Quốc" (in Vietnamese). Sai Gon Giai Phong. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ "Da Nang, Viet Nam DAD". OAG Flight Guide Worldwide. 27 (2). Luton, United Kingdom: OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited: 356–356. August 2025. ISSN 1466-8718. OCLC 41608313.
- ^ "VietJet Air Adds Can Tho – Van Don Service From late-April 2023". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "Hanoi, Viet Nam HAN". OAG Flight Guide Worldwide. 27 (2). Luton, United Kingdom: OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited: 522–524. August 2025. ISSN 1466-8718. OCLC 41608313.
- ^ "VietJet Air expands Can Tho network from late-April 2019".
- ^ "Hanoi, Viet Nam HAN". OAG Flight Guide Worldwide. 27 (2). Luton, United Kingdom: OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited: 522–524. August 2025. ISSN 1466-8718. OCLC 41608313.
- ^ "Vietnam Airlines Resumes Phu Quoc – Cantho Service in NW24". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 10 October 2024.