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Airport guide

Buon Ma Thuot Airport

Buon Ma Thuot Airport is the primary aviation gateway to the provincial centre and the Central Highlands side of post-2025 Đắk Lắk. The operating domestic, joint civil–military airport uses IATA code BMV, is ICAO Code 4C and has a 3,000 m × 45 m runway. Its existing T1 was originally designed for about 1 million passengers per year, while the airport-specific plan approved in June 2026 targets about 3 million passengers per year by 2030 and about 7 million by 2050.

BMV
Overview

Understand the airport as a journey, a gateway and a regional transport system.

Buon Ma Thuot Airport anchors air access to the basalt plateau, coffee economy and highland tourism landscapes around Buôn Ma Thuột. ACV records a 3,000 m × 45 m runway, an approximately 7,175 m² passenger terminal, five aircraft parking positions and 24-hour service capability. Decision 974/QĐ-BXD, approved on 22 June 2026, establishes the current development framework: expand T1 and the apron toward a 3-million-passenger airport by 2030, then add a new T2, a second runway and capacity of about 7 million passengers per year in the 2050 vision. Planned infrastructure is kept separate from assets already operating.

Key things to understand

  • Primary aviation gateway for Buôn Ma Thuột and the Central Highlands side of Đắk Lắk.
  • Operating domestic, joint civil–military ICAO Code 4C airport.
  • IATA code BMV.
  • Existing runway 09/27 measures 3,000 m × 45 m.
  • Current passenger terminal is approximately 7,175 m².
  • Approved 2030 plan expands T1 toward approximately 3 million passengers/year.
  • 2050 vision adds a new T2, second runway and total capacity around 7 million passengers/year.
Why it matters

Read the airport as a system, not just a terminal

Strategic role

Buon Ma Thuot Airport connects Vietnam's leading coffee landscape and a major Central Highlands administrative centre with the national aviation network.

What makes it distinctive

It is the highland counterpart to Tuy Hòa Airport in a province that now stretches from basalt plateau to the East Sea.

What users often miss

The airport's 2030 and 2050 capacities are approved planning targets, not current operating capacities.

In one sentence

BMV is Đắk Lắk's main highland airport: one 3,000 m runway today, with T1 expansion planned by 2030 and a new T2 plus second runway envisioned for 2050.

Airport identity

What role does this airport actually play?

Role
Primary aviation gateway to Buôn Ma Thuột and the Central Highlands side of post-2025 Đắk Lắk.
Airport Type
Domestic, joint civil–military airport.
Iata
BMV
Icao Class
4C
Current Runway
Runway 09/27, 3,000 m × 45 m.
Current Terminal
Existing T1 passenger terminal, approximately 7,175 m²; originally designed for about 1 million passengers/year.
Current Apron
ACV's airport profile records five aircraft parking positions.
Planning Baseline
Decision 974/QĐ-BXD dated 22 June 2026 is the current airport-specific planning baseline.
Airport essentials

Navigate the terminals without guesswork

Terminals

T1

Terminal 1

Existing domestic passenger terminal

Use this terminal for
Current passenger arrivals and departures
Connection
Single-terminal passenger operation; onward travel is by road.
Capacity
Originally designed for approximately 1 million passengers/year; approved expansion targets about 3 million passengers/year by 2030.
Expanded area
Current terminal area approximately 7,175 m² according to ACV.
The 3-million-passenger figure is the approved 2030 expansion target, not the original design capacity.
T2

Terminal 2

Future passenger terminal

Use this terminal for
Planned additional passenger capacity in the 2050 vision
Connection
Future terminal arrangement should be confirmed when detailed investment and operating plans are approved.
Capacity
Approximately 4 million passengers/year in the 2050 planning vision.
T2 is planned infrastructure and must not be presented as operating.
Passenger journey

From check-in to the city — follow the flow

Arrival and departure flow

Departure
  • Confirm airline and flight
  • Check in and drop baggage
  • Pass aviation security
  • Proceed to departure gate
  • Board
Arrival
  • Disembark
  • Collect baggage
  • Exit terminal
  • Continue by road toward Buôn Ma Thuột or the wider highlands
Terminal Rule
Current passenger processing is concentrated in the existing T1.
Editorial Rule
Live airline procedures and boarding arrangements should be checked before travel.

Transfer strategy

City tripT1 → Buôn Ma Thuột

The airport is close to the provincial centre; road transfer is the normal onward mode.

Highland tripT1 → Lắk / waterfalls / Buôn Đôn

Pre-arrange road transport and allow for substantial regional driving times.

Coastal tripBMV vs TBB

For Tuy Hòa and the former Phú Yên coast, compare direct use of Tuy Hòa Airport rather than crossing the enlarged province by road.

Getting connected

Reach the city, the region and the wider air network

Surface access

City
ACV describes the airport as approximately 8 km southeast of central Buôn Ma Thuột.
Road
Road transport is the principal airport access mode.
Regional
National Highway 14 supports north–south Central Highlands movement; National Highway 26 links east toward Khánh Hòa.
Future Corridor
The Khánh Hòa–Buôn Ma Thuột Expressway is a strategic highlands-to-coast corridor but remains under construction/development in the current Province Profile.

Air connectivity

Market Role
Domestic gateway for the provincial administrative centre and the wider Central Highlands plateau.
Aircraft
Current and planned Code C operations include A320, A321 and equivalent aircraft.
Network Rule
Airlines, destinations and frequencies are time-sensitive and should be sourced from live airport or airline information.
Two Airport Province
Tuy Hòa Airport provides the complementary coastal gateway for post-2025 Đắk Lắk.
At the airport

Services, accessibility and practical preparation

Passenger services

Terminal
The existing terminal provides the core passenger-processing and commercial functions of a domestic airport.
Operating Hours
ACV's airport profile states 24-hour service capability.
Commercial
Retail, food, passenger assistance and other services can change by operator and operating period.
Editorial Rule
Do not hard-code tenants, opening hours or lounge eligibility without current verification.

Accessibility

Assistance
Passengers requiring wheelchair, boarding or other assistance should coordinate with their airline in advance.
Ground Transport
Pre-arrange suitable vehicles where mobility requirements are important.
Editorial Rule
Do not infer universal accessibility for every passenger journey without current verification.

Family travel

Advantages
  • Short road transfer to Buôn Ma Thuột
  • Single current passenger terminal
  • Direct access to highland attractions
Planning
  • Check live flight status
  • Allow holiday buffer
  • Arrange child seats where needed
  • Plan longer road transfers to Lắk, Buôn Đôn or national parks

Before you travel

  • Use BMV as the IATA code.
  • Treat Buon Ma Thuot Airport as an operating domestic, joint civil–military Code 4C airport.
  • Use 3,000 m × 45 m for the existing runway.
  • Keep the original T1 design capacity of about 1 million passengers/year separate from the approved 2030 expansion target of 3 million.
  • Treat the future T2, second runway and 7-million-passenger scale as 2050 planning.
  • For coastal Đắk Lắk, compare Tuy Hòa Airport.
Operating conditions

Plan for peaks, weather and disruption

Peak periods

Tourism
Coffee-season travel, festivals, holidays and Central Highlands tourism can increase demand.
Tet
Tet and major national holidays can produce strong domestic peaks.
Weather
Highland rain, thunderstorms and seasonal weather can affect flights and road transfers.
Planning Advice
  • Book early for major events
  • Check flight status
  • Allow road-time buffers in wet weather

Weather and disruption

Highland Climate
The airport sits on the Central Highlands plateau, where seasonal rain and thunderstorms can affect operations.
Road Travel
Heavy rain can slow regional road journeys and affect waterfall or national-park itineraries.
Rule
Check both aviation status and destination road/weather conditions.

Security and processing

Classification
ICAO Code 4C.
Use
Joint civil–military airport.
Runway
Existing runway 09/27, 3,000 m × 45 m.
Approach2030
Approved plan specifies simple approach to runway end 27L and CAT I approach to 09R.
Aircraft
A320, A321 and equivalent aircraft under the approved planning framework.
Airport intelligence

Capacity, growth and the airport's next chapter

Recent capacity development

2030
Expand T1 to approximately 3 million passengers/year; cargo capacity about 10,000 tonnes/year; apron about 10 stands.
2050
Total passenger capacity about 7 million/year; new T2 about 4 million/year; cargo about 15,000 tonnes/year; apron about 27 stands.
Current Terminal
Existing T1 was originally designed for about 1 million passengers/year.
Runway2050
Plan a second 2,400 m × 45 m runway approximately 275 m north of the existing runway centreline.
Status Rule
Approved planning capacity is not current operating capacity.

Current operations

Status
Operating.
Iata
BMV.
Classification
Domestic, joint civil–military, ICAO Code 4C.
Runway
One 3,000 m × 45 m runway 09/27.
Terminal
Existing passenger terminal approximately 7,175 m².
Apron
ACV records five aircraft parking positions.
Service
ACV states 24-hour service capability.
Role
Primary aviation gateway for the Central Highlands side of Đắk Lắk.

Long-term airport planning

2030
Domestic Code 4C airport, approximately 3 million passengers/year and 10,000 tonnes cargo/year; retain the existing 3,000 m × 45 m runway; expand T1 and apron to about 10 stands.
2050
Approximately 7 million passengers/year and 15,000 tonnes cargo/year; add a 2,400 m × 45 m second runway, new T2 of about 4 million passengers/year and apron capacity around 27 stands.
Legal Basis
Decision 974/QĐ-BXD dated 22 June 2026 approving the Buon Ma Thuot Airport master plan for 2021–2030 with vision to 2050.
Land
Approved planning land requirement is approximately 511.92 ha.
Status Rule
The decision is an approved planning framework; individual projects require implementation and commissioning before being described as operating.
Cargo and investment

See the airport as part of its regional economic network

Cargo gateway

Current Role
Regional air-cargo role supporting the Central Highlands economy, including time-sensitive and higher-value goods.
2030 Planning Capacity
Approximately 10,000 tonnes/year.
2050 Planning Capacity
Approximately 15,000 tonnes/year.
Terminal Plan
Cargo terminal planned east of the passenger terminal; expansion is planned toward 2050.
Regional Fit
  • Coffee and processed agricultural products
  • Fruit and perishables
  • Express shipments
  • Time-sensitive business cargo

Regional investment impact

Administrative Centre
Provides air access to Buôn Ma Thuột, the principal administrative centre of the enlarged province.
Coffee Economy
Supports business travel and high-value logistics linked to Vietnam's leading coffee-producing landscape.
Tourism
Gateway to Buôn Ma Thuột, waterfalls, Lắk, Buôn Đôn and wider Central Highlands cultural landscapes.
East West Integration
Future expressway development can strengthen the airport's connection toward Khánh Hòa and the coast.
Two Gateway Province
Works with Tuy Hòa Airport as a complementary highland–coastal aviation system.
Economic reach

Industrial catchment

01

Buôn Ma Thuột

Provincial administration, services, coffee trade and tourism

Primary business and passenger catchment.
02

Coffee belt

Coffee farming, processing, trade and export value chains

Business travel and selected time-sensitive cargo.
03

Lắk–Chu Yang Sin

Tourism, agriculture and mountain landscapes

Visitor gateway for the southern highlands.
04

Buôn Đôn–Yok Don

Forest, culture and nature tourism

Road-fed tourism catchment west and northwest of Buôn Ma Thuột.

Investor checklist

  • Use buon-ma-thuot-airport for id, slug and Province Profile entityRef.
  • Use dak-lak as provinceSlug.
  • Use BMV as IATA code.
  • Treat the airport as domestic, joint civil–military and Code 4C.
  • Use 3,000 m × 45 m for the existing runway.
  • Keep existing T1 infrastructure separate from its approved 3-million-passenger 2030 expansion.
  • Treat T2, the second runway and 7-million-passenger scale as 2050 planning.
  • Do not present the Khánh Hòa–Buôn Ma Thuột Expressway as fully operating until verified.
Business and investment

Use the airport as a regional decision-making lens

Business travel

Strengths
  • Close to Buôn Ma Thuột
  • Primary highland gateway
  • 3,000 m Code 4C runway
  • 24-hour service capability stated by ACV
  • Approved capacity expansion
Limitations
  • Domestic network
  • Single current passenger terminal
  • Long road distances across the enlarged province
  • Future T2 and second runway not operating
Decision Rule
Use BMV for Buôn Ma Thuột and the highlands; compare TBB for Tuy Hòa and coastal destinations.

Air vs road vs rail vs sea

Air
Fastest long-distance access to Buôn Ma Thuột from major Vietnamese aviation markets when suitable flights operate.
Road
Essential for regional distribution across the Central Highlands and toward the coast.
Expressway
The Khánh Hòa–Buôn Ma Thuột Expressway is strategically important but should remain marked under construction/development until verified open.
Coastal Air
Tuy Hòa Airport is the alternative aviation gateway for the province's eastern coastal side.
Decision Rule
Choose the airport and mode based on the final destination rather than treating post-merger Đắk Lắk as a compact geography.
Know before you assume

Common airport misconceptions

Airport evolution

How the gateway has changed

Runway and airfield upgraded

ACV records runway, taxiway, apron and lighting upgrades enabling A320/A321-class operations day and night.

New passenger terminal project begins

Construction starts on a new passenger terminal designed for approximately 1 million passengers/year.

New terminal enters operation

The passenger terminal is inaugurated and placed into service.

Airport becomes one of two gateways in enlarged Đắk Lắk

The merger with former Phú Yên gives the province both Buôn Ma Thuột and Tuy Hòa airports.

New master plan approved

Decision 974/QĐ-BXD approves the 2021–2030 airport plan with vision to 2050.

T1 expansion and 3-million-passenger scale

The approved plan expands T1, apron and cargo infrastructure while retaining the existing runway.

T2, second runway and 7-million-passenger scale

Long-term planning adds T2, a second runway and substantially larger apron and cargo capacity.

Connections

Explore Vietnam's aviation network

The World Coffee MuseumA distinctive museum complex in Buôn Ma Thuột exploring coffee objects, stories and global culture.
National Highway 14The highway connects Buôn Ma Thuột with other major Central Highlands centres.
National Highway 26NH26 has long linked Buôn Ma Thuột eastward toward Khánh Hòa.
Khanh Hoa–Buon Ma Thuot ExpresswayA major expressway project intended to improve Buôn Ma Thuột's access toward the South Central Coast.
Tuy Hoa AirportThe former Phú Yên airport gives the merged province a second commercial aviation gateway.
Coffee and Agro-ProcessingCoffee remains a cornerstone of Đắk Lắk's economy, with opportunities in quality, processing, branding and circular agriculture.
Understand aviation

Airport terms worth knowing

A compact reference for the terminology used throughout this dashboard.

BMV

IATA airport code for Buon Ma Thuot Airport.

Code 4C

ICAO aerodrome reference classification used for the airport's current and approved planning framework.

T1

Existing passenger terminal at Buon Ma Thuot Airport.

T2

Future passenger terminal planned in the 2050 vision.

CAT I

Category I instrument approach capability referenced for runway-end planning.

Sources

Where this airport guide comes from

Ministry of Construction

Decision 974/QĐ-BXD approving Buon Ma Thuot Airport master plan

Primary legal planning baseline.

Source ↗
Ministry of Construction

Approval of Buon Ma Thuot Airport planning for 2021–2030, vision 2050

Official summary of capacity, runway, apron and development plan.

Source ↗
Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam

Buon Ma Thuot Airport master plan approved

Official aviation-sector planning details.

Source ↗
Airports Corporation of Vietnam

Buon Ma Thuot Airport introduction

Current/basic airport infrastructure and terminal history.

Source ↗