The fact that the People's Committee of Lam Dong province has officially approved Sun Group as the investor for the Phan Thiet civilian airport project with a total capital of over 3,800 billion VND not only resolves the 10-year stagnation of this project but also continues to demonstrate the aspiration to "conquer the sky" of a domestic "leading crane".
Perspective of the Phan Thiet Civil Airport project.
Phan Thiet Airport is expected to become a launchpad for Lam Dong tourism development, helping Mui Ne connect directly domestically and internationally. At the same time, the project is seen as a regional economic driver, attracting large-scale investment capital into resort services, commerce, and real estate.
Pioneering at strategic tourism locations
Phan Thiet is not the first place Sun Group has demonstrated its proactive approach. Looking back to 2018, Van Don International Airport was born as a historic impetus, laying the foundation for private economy participation in national aviation infrastructure. More than construction records or international awards, this airport is a link in Quang Ninh's infrastructure system.
Van Don International Airport.
Although a newcomer, it is the collaborative mindset with world-leading design and operation consulting units that helps Sun Group’s projects escape the rigid mold of traditional airports, instead becoming architectural masterpieces and spaces optimized for passenger experience and aesthetics. This will continue to be demonstrated at the expansion project of Phu Quoc International Airport with a capacity of 20 million passengers per year.
Sun Group’s continuous approval from localities and the Ministry of Construction to receive planning dossiers at Con Dao Airport or to be selected as the planning sponsor for Rach Gia Airport demonstrates the trust in the group’s experience and strategic vision. Alongside this, Sun Group is also researching investment proposals for Van Phong International Airport (Khanh Hoa). These are areas with specific characteristics, requiring a different vision in balancing infrastructure development and ecological conservation, ensuring operational efficiency, a difficult task that Sun Group has been entrusted with.
From “smart” management to a comprehensive ecosystem
If building a new airport shows potential, then efficiently operating an airport is the most accurate measure of management capacity. In early 2026, when Sun Group officially takes over the management and operation of Phu Quoc International Airport, public opinion raised many questions about its ability to take over an already stable infrastructure. The answer came immediately afterwards: during the peak season of Tet Nguyen Dan 2026, Phu Quoc Airport continuously set records for flight volume and passenger numbers, yet remained smooth and uninterrupted. The synchronized coordination and sharp operational capabilities under the management of private operators have turned operational pressure into proof of the superiority of the new model, creating a solid foundation towards APEC 2027.
The Phu Quoc International Airport Expansion Project is an important infrastructure serving APEC 2027 and the future of the pearl island.
The biggest differentiator that makes Sun Group confident in its 'full-scale entry' into the aviation sector is the synergistic strength of a synchronized ecosystem from infrastructure to services. Few investors in Vietnam own a complete value chain like Sun Group: from owning theme parks and world-class resorts to airports and their own airlines. The launch of Sun Air in 2022 and especially Sun PhuQuoc Airways (SPA) in 2025 demonstrates a bold strategic vision.
When Sun Group participates in the operating chain, they not only solve the 'destination image' problem but also proactively create 'customer flows'. The connection between airports invested by the group and airlines within the ecosystem helps enhance connectivity for Vietnam's tourist destinations.
The launch of Sun PhuQuoc Airways demonstrates Sun Group's strategic vision.
Public-private partnerships meet capital needs of nearly 500,000 trillion VND
According to the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, the capital demand for the development of the airport system by 2030 is about 499,619 trillion VND, to be mobilized from domestic and foreign budgets. With the addition of Mang Den Airport and Van Phong Airport, the period until 2030 will see the country having 33 airports, with a total capacity of 297 million passengers.
The planning picture and the figure of nearly 500,000 trillion VND in capital investment demand present challenges, but also opportunities for ambitious private corporations like Sun Group. According to experts, private sector participation in airport investment and operation brings many benefits to all parties, including the State, businesses, and service users.
Architect Tran Ngoc Chinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, who attended the inauguration ceremony of the 'air - water - road' trio of major transport works of Quang Ninh province at the end of 2018, commented:
"The private sector has undertaken very difficult projects, completed quickly, efficiently, and with high aesthetic value.
"Investing in new airports often takes many years. New aviation infrastructure investment projects in our country since 1975 have been very limited. The brightest spot among them is Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh. The implementation time of only 24 months is also a record, requiring significant investment and determination, especially in a complex terrain, full of hills, mountains, and swamps," Mr. Chinh said.
The handover event for the operation of Phu Quoc International Airport is clear evidence of an effective public-private partnership model.
Deputy Minister of Construction Le Anh Tuan stated that the handover event for the operation of Phu Quoc International Airport from January 1, 2026, is clear evidence of an effective public-private partnership model, where the State, State-owned Enterprises, and Private Enterprises share a common vision: For modern, safe, and world-class Vietnamese aviation infrastructure.
“The transfer of operating rights for a bustling international airport is an unprecedented and extremely complex task, requiring absolute precision to ensure national security and the continuity of trade flows,” assessed the Deputy Minister of Construction.
With its strong financial potential, practical operational experience, and its trademark 'lightning-fast' construction speed, Sun Group is proving that the private economy is the key to solving the national infrastructure challenge, contributing to elevating Vietnam to become a new regional air transit hub.
