“Serving Central Vietnam and its largest city, Da Nang International Airport holds tales beyond just departures and arrivals.” This airport is more than a modern transportation hub. It’s a place with a vibrant past and a promising future.
Da Nang International Airport began as Tourane Airport. The French colonial government built it in the 1940s. Its location was ideal with unobstructed approaches to its north-south runways. During World War II the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force used it as a military air base. After the war, the French Air Force utilized the airport during the French Indochina War. The French laid a NATO-standard 7800-foot asphalt runway.
In 1955, the newly established Republic of Vietnam Air Force inherited a small fleet of aircraft from the French. Tourane Airfield transitioned to civilian use. In 1957, the VNAF re-established a presence at the renamed Da Nang Airport.
From 1951 to 1975 Air Vietnam operated civilian flights within Southeast Asia. During the Vietnam War the facility transformed into Da Nang Air Base a major United States military base. It expanded significantly to 2350 acres with two 10000-foot asphalt runways.
Interestingly the airport became a Vietnam-US joint project to clean dioxin pollution. This project completed in 2018. High dioxin concentrations remained in the soil and sediment decades after Agent Orange.
Da Nang International Airport boasts two 10000-foot paved runways. They can accommodate large aircraft like Boeing 747s and Airbus A320s. Traffic volume averages 100 to 150 flights every 24 hours.
In December 2011 a new terminal opened. This 20000 square meter terminal cost 84 million US dollars. It had a capacity of 4 million passengers per year. In May 2017, a new international terminal 2 opened. It covers 48000 square meters costing 154 million US dollars. It can handle 6 million passengers per year.
Da Nang International Airport is among the three busiest in Vietnam. These include Noi Bai International Airport and Tan Son Nhat International Airport. In 2024, it was ranked 94th in the list of World’s Top 100 Airports by Skytrax. The international terminal is rated a 5-star airport.
In 2024, Da Nang International Airport hosted 13.4 million passengers. 6.2 million were international arrivals. The airport landed 32400 tonnes of cargo. It earned 1.6 trillion VND.
Looking ahead, Da Nang International Airport plans more infrastructure upgrades. The construction of a new cargo terminal will begin in the third quarter of 2025. It will have a capacity of 100000 tonnes per year. The airport also aims to improve service quality at Terminal 1 reaching four-star standard in 2025.
“So as you pass through Da Nang International Airport remember you are walking through a place of transformation. From colonial airfield to a modern international gateway it has a story etched in its runways.”