Three landmark transportation projects opened in Quang Ninh province

In the morning of December 30, 2018, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc went to Van Don in the first Vietnam Airlines commercial flight to attend the opening ceremony of three important projects in Quang Ninh province, namely Van Don International Airport, Ha Long International Cruise Port and Ha Long - Van Don Expressway.

The Prime Minister stated that these three investment projects mobilised large-scale capital successfully beyond expectation under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The Prime Minister highly appreciated the initiative of Quang Ninh provincial leaders in socialising investment for infrastructure development, especially for important projects like airports.

The Prime Minister reminded Quang Ninh leaders of stimulating investors to develop projects that benefited both the country and investors. These projects would surely motivate local tourism growth.

Chairman of Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Long stated that Van Don International Airport, capable of receiving 7,000 visitors a day, along with Ha Long - Van Don Expressway connected to Hai Phong – Hanoi expressway and Ha Long International Cruise Port would attract international luxury travellers, opening new directions for tourism in Quang Ninh.

"These three projects will make a breakthrough to the local economy. This is a historic milestone which returned the efforts of calling all resources for the local economy that Quang Ninh has made lately," the Chairman emphasised.

Van Don International Airport is located in Doan Ket commune, Van Don district, Quang Ninh province. It has a total investment of nearly $323 million. This is the first international airport invested by a private Vietnamese corporation, completed after over two years of construction. Van Don International Airport can accommodate all the most modern aircraft in the world.

Van Don International Airport terminal design is inspired by the natural beauty of the World Natural Heritage – Ha Long Bay. Its operation will bring an international quality airport for Vietnam, opening up trade and development opportunities for Quang Ninh.

Ha Long International Cruise Port has the total capital of about $44.6 million. It is capable of receiving ships with a capacity of up to 8,460 people, serving two parking cruises at the same time. It is the first specialised port for international cruises of Vietnam as currently, all the ports in Vietnam have to receive both passenger ships and cargo ships.

To connect the airport and seaport, also on December 30, the Ha Long - Van Don Expressway with the total investment of about $512.3 million officially came into operation. It shortens the travelling time from Ha Long to Van Don from 90 minutes to about 50 minutes.

Along with Ha Long - Hai Phong Expressway operated in early September 2018, Ha Long - Van Don expressway created a high-speed road line from Hanoi to Van Don, shortening the travelling time from five hours to about two hours and a half, hence strengthening the connection between Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh and helping boost the socio-economic growth of Quang Ninh province.

The inauguration of key traffic projects invested by Sun Group of Quang Ninh province marked not only a historic milestone for the socio-economic development of the province but also a turning point in solving the problem of mobilising private resources for transport infrastructure development in the region.