The newest offering in Quang Ninh, VDIA opened the wonder of Ha Long Bay up to the world. It serves as the new gateway for both domestic and international travellers to the core of Northern key economic region in Vietnam. The airport will receive an estimated 2.5 million passengers annually for the next two years and five million per year by 2030. In Phase 1 development, the Passenger Terminal Building is programmed to handle 2.5 million passengers per annum with 2 level processing and 4 aircraft contact stands.

VDIA will be unique in terms of function and efficiency. It is expandable and internally flexible. The team from CPGairport spent time on the ground to discover Van Don’s unique qualities, including its magnificent limestone outcrops and the traditional construction of the sailboats that dot Ha Long Bay. These inspired the architecture of the terminal. It has a distinctive jaunty sail-like roof at the airside, while at the kerbside are struts and ties projecting from the pier-like feature columns of the generously glazed canopy.

The landside forecourt of Van Don International Airport is an inviting light-filled space under a vast canopy propped up by rugged stone columns recalling the limestone outcrops of Ha Long Bay. Its suspended timber trellis cast interesting patterns on the stone floor, Koi pool, landscaped planters and timber deck seats.

Innovative Technology Used

Supporting the long-span roof is an ingenious structural design executed by CPGairport’s team of engineers. They devised an innovative solution for the roofs to be sturdy enough to withstand seismic and strong wind loads.

They carefully modelled a structural system comprising a series of tapered I-beams with specially designed struts and connections to enhance structural stability and stiffness for the kerbside canopy. These are also sufficiently strong and achieved a tighter congruency between surface and structure, thereby imparting a lightness to the steel and glass composition.

Awards

World Travel Awards Asia & Oceania – “Asia’s Leading New Airport 2019”