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Airport guide

Cat Bi International Airport

Cat Bi International Airport is Hai Phong's operating international airport and the city's main air gateway. It currently operates one 3,050 m × 45 m runway and Terminal T1, whose published original design capacity is 2 million passengers per year. Terminal T2 has been under construction since August 2025, is designed for 5 million passengers per year with provision to expand to 10 million, and official reporting in May 2026 cited a 2027 completion target. A dedicated cargo terminal is designed initially for 100,000 tonnes per year and expandable to 250,000 tonnes; the latest official status located said its main works were substantially complete by late February 2026 while finishing and equipment installation continued.

HPH · Hai Phong
Overview

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

Cat Bi International Airport lies about 8 km southeast of central Hai Phong and serves a metropolitan economy built around manufacturing, ports, logistics, business travel and coastal tourism. Airports Corporation of Vietnam describes Cat Bi as a joint civil-military ICAO Code 4E airport with one 3,050 m × 45 m runway capable of receiving aircraft including the Boeing 787-10 and Airbus A350-900. Terminal T1 has about 15,630 m² of floor area and an original design capacity of 2 million passengers per year. Terminal T2 broke ground on 19 August 2025 and is designed for 5 million passengers per year, expandable to 10 million; ACV described it as the future domestic passenger terminal. The cargo-terminal project is designed initially for 100,000 tonnes per year with expansion potential to 250,000 tonnes. Current facilities, projects under construction and long-term planning targets are kept separate throughout this dashboard.

Key things to understand

  • Cat Bi is Hai Phong's operating international airport and a joint civil-military ICAO Code 4E airport.
  • The operating runway is 3,050 m × 45 m; ACV states that it can receive aircraft including the Boeing 787-10 and Airbus A350-900.
  • Terminal T1 has about 15,630 m² of floor area and an original design capacity of 2 million passengers per year.
  • Terminal T2 broke ground on 19 August 2025 and is designed for 5 million passengers per year, expandable to 10 million.
  • ACV described T2 as the future domestic passenger terminal; final operating allocation should be checked again at commissioning.
  • Official reporting in May 2026 said T2 construction was progressing and cited a 2027 completion target.
  • The dedicated cargo terminal is designed initially for 100,000 tonnes per year and expandable to 250,000 tonnes.
  • The cargo terminal should not be described as operational until formal commissioning is verified.
  • Direct domestic links in September 2026 include Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Nha Trang/Cam Ranh.
  • Cat Bi's economic role combines passenger aviation with the needs of a major port, manufacturing and logistics city.
Why it matters

Read the airport as a system, not just a terminal

Strategic role

Cat Bi gives Hai Phong direct air access to major domestic and international markets while supporting a large port, manufacturing and logistics economy.

What makes it distinctive

Its role is unusually tied to an industrial port city: passenger aviation, future air cargo, business travel and maritime logistics all sit within the same regional economy.

What users often miss

The airport is simultaneously operating, expanding and planning for much larger future capacity. T1, T2, the cargo terminal and 2030/2050 targets describe different stages and should never be blended together.

In one sentence

Cat Bi is Hai Phong's operating international airport, with one current passenger terminal and major passenger and cargo expansion under development.

Airport identity

What role does this airport actually play?

Role
Primary international aviation gateway for Hai Phong.
Passenger Role
Provides direct air access for residents, visitors, business travelers and the wider northern coastal market.
Cargo Role
Developing air-freight capability for time-sensitive and high-value cargo; dedicated cargo-terminal commissioning must be verified before it is treated as operational.
Economic Role
Supports business travel, tourism, manufacturing and logistics in a major northern port economy.
Strategic Role
Adds aviation capacity to a wider transport system that also includes expressways, ports and industrial corridors.
Core Insight
Cat Bi is best understood as a metropolitan airport whose passenger role, future cargo capability and industrial setting reinforce one another.
Airport essentials

Navigate the terminals without guesswork

Terminals

T1

Terminal T1

Current operating passenger terminal

Use this terminal for
Current domestic and international passenger processing
Capacity
Original design capacity: about 2 million passengers/year
T1 remains the operating passenger terminal while T2 is under construction.
T2 · under construction

Terminal T2

Future domestic passenger terminal

Use this terminal for
Planned domestic passenger processing; final allocation should be reconfirmed at commissioning
Capacity
5 million passengers/year, expandable to 10 million
Construction began on 19 August 2025. Official reporting in May 2026 cited a 2027 completion target; do not present T2 as operational before formal commissioning.
Passenger journey

From check-in to the city — follow the flow

Arrival and departure flow

Current Departure
  • Confirm the airline, flight status and any international travel-document requirements.
  • Check in and drop baggage at Terminal T1.
  • Pass aviation security.
  • Complete immigration for international departures where applicable.
  • Proceed to the assigned gate.
Current Arrival
  • Disembark at Terminal T1.
  • Complete immigration for international arrivals where applicable.
  • Collect checked baggage.
  • Complete customs procedures where applicable.
  • Enter the public arrivals area and continue by ground transport.
Future Context
Passenger flows will change when T2 is commissioned and domestic operating functions are redistributed.
Editorial Rule
Do not describe T2 passenger flows or T1–T2 transfer procedures as current practice before formal commissioning.

Transfer strategy

Current passenger journeyT1

T1 is the only operating passenger terminal, so most passengers do not need an inter-terminal transfer.

Future T1–T2 transferNot yet applicable

Wait for the official T2 commissioning plan before publishing walking, shuttle, minimum-connection-time or terminal-change instructions.

Getting connected

Reach the city, the region and the wider air network

Surface access

City Centre
ACV places Terminal T1 about 8 km southeast of central Hai Phong, giving the airport relatively short urban transfers.
Hanoi Corridor
The Hanoi–Hai Phong Expressway provides the principal high-speed road corridor between Hai Phong and the capital region.
Port And Industrial Access
Urban and regional roads connect the airport with Hai Phong's port, logistics and manufacturing areas.
Cat Ba Context
Travel to Cat Ba requires a separate onward ground/sea access plan; the airport itself is not an island-transfer terminal.
Planning Rule
Use current navigation and local transport information because road works and airport construction can affect access.

Air connectivity

Domestic Role
Cat Bi links Hai Phong directly with major domestic markets and tourism gateways.
Verified Examples September2026
Current schedule data reviewed in September 2026 shows nonstop links including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Nha Trang/Cam Ranh.
International Role
Cat Bi also has international services, but destinations and frequencies should be treated as dynamic operating data.
Regional Role
The airport provides direct access to Hai Phong and the northern coastal economy without requiring passengers to route through Ha Noi.
Network Rule
Do not hard-code a complete route list or flight frequency in evergreen copy; verify schedules before travel.
At the airport

Services, accessibility and practical preparation

Passenger services

T1
T1 provides passenger check-in, aviation security, baggage processing, waiting and commercial functions.
International Processing
International passenger processing includes immigration and customs where applicable.
Commercial Services
Food, retail and other passenger amenities are available in the operating terminal; individual outlets can change.
Future T2
T2 is intended to add substantial passenger-processing capacity once commissioned.
Planning Note
Do not infer final T2 concessions, airline allocation or passenger-service layout before official opening.

Accessibility

Current Terminal
T1 provides standard passenger-circulation infrastructure for a modern airport terminal.
Assistance
Passengers needing mobility, boarding or special assistance should arrange support with their airline or airport service provider before travel.
Future Terminal
T2 will add newer facilities once commissioned.
Editorial Rule
Avoid claiming specific accessibility equipment or service standards unless independently verified.

Family travel

Advantages
  • Relatively short transfer to central Hai Phong
  • One current operating passenger terminal
  • Direct access to a major urban service environment
Planning
  • Confirm airline stroller and baggage rules.
  • Allow extra time during holidays and construction periods.
  • Plan onward transport separately for Cat Ba or other coastal destinations.

Before you travel

  • Check live flight status before leaving for the airport.
  • Use Terminal T1 unless official information confirms a different operating arrangement.
  • Do not assume T2 is open simply because construction is advanced.
  • Allow extra access time during construction or holiday peaks.
  • For international travel, verify passport, visa and immigration requirements.
  • Plan Cat Ba, port or industrial-zone transfers separately from the flight.
Operating conditions

Plan for peaks, weather and disruption

Peak periods

Holidays
Tet, national holidays and summer travel can concentrate passenger demand.
Business Demand
Hai Phong's industrial economy also produces regular weekday business travel.
Cat Ba Season
Summer tourism can increase demand associated with Cat Ba and the northern coast.
Construction Context
T2 construction can affect airport-side circulation even while T1 remains operational.
Planning Advice
  • Check live flight status.
  • Arrive earlier during major holiday peaks.
  • Allow additional access time when construction or severe weather affects local circulation.

Weather and disruption

Coastal Weather
Hai Phong is exposed to heavy rain, low cloud and seasonal tropical storms.
Typhoons
Typhoons can disrupt flights, road access, ports and Cat Ba onward connections at the same time.
Regional Network
Weather at another airport can affect Cat Bi flights even when local conditions are acceptable.
Passenger Rule
Use airline and official weather information during severe conditions.

Security and processing

International Capability
Cat Bi has operated as an international airport since 2016.
Civil Military
The airport is jointly used for civil and military aviation.
Runway
The operating runway is 3,050 m × 45 m.
Aircraft Capability
ACV's published profile includes the Boeing 787-10, Airbus A350-900 and equivalent-or-smaller aircraft.
Editorial Rule
Aircraft capability does not mean every listed aircraft type operates scheduled services at Cat Bi.
Airport intelligence

Capacity, growth and the airport's next chapter

Recent capacity development

Current Passenger Terminal
T1: original design capacity about 2 million passengers/year.
Current Runway
One operating runway, 3,050 m × 45 m.
T2
Under construction; 5 million passengers/year design capacity with provision for expansion to 10 million.
Cargo Terminal
Designed initially for 100,000 tonnes/year and expandable to 250,000 tonnes/year; formal operating status must be verified before it is presented as commissioned.
Long Term Direction
Planning includes substantially greater passenger, cargo, apron and airfield capacity.
Status Rule
Keep operating infrastructure, construction-stage projects and long-term planning targets clearly separated.

Current operations

Status
Operating international airport.
Airport Class
ICAO Code 4E, joint civil-military use.
Runway
One operating 3,050 m × 45 m runway.
Passenger Terminal
Terminal T1.
T2 Status
Under construction; official reporting in May 2026 cited a 2027 completion target.
Cargo Status
Latest official status located: main works substantially complete by late February 2026, with finishing and equipment installation continuing. Formal commissioning not verified.
Air Traffic Services
A new Cat Bi APP/TWR operating arrangement entered service on 3 September 2026.

Long-term airport planning

Airport Plan
Decision 864/QD-BGTVT dated 10 July 2024 approved Cat Bi International Airport planning for 2021–2030 with vision to 2050.
City Target2030
Hai Phong planning cites approximately 13 million passengers and 250,000 tonnes of cargo per year by 2030.
City Target2050
The longer-term planning direction cites approximately 18 million passengers and 500,000 tonnes of cargo per year by 2050.
Long Term Infrastructure
Planning includes a second runway, larger apron capacity and substantial airport land expansion.
Interpretation
These are planning targets, not current operating capacity or traffic.
Cargo and investment

See the airport as part of its regional economic network

Cargo gateway

Current Context
Hai Phong's manufacturing and port economy gives Cat Bi a strong strategic case for high-value and time-sensitive air freight.
New Cargo Terminal
Dedicated facility designed initially for 100,000 tonnes/year.
Expansion Potential
Supporting infrastructure allows expansion toward 250,000 tonnes/year.
Status
The latest official report located said main works were substantially complete by late February 2026 while finishing and equipment installation continued.
Strong Use Cases
  • Electronics and high-value manufacturing
  • Automotive and industrial components
  • Express logistics
  • Time-sensitive exports
  • E-commerce and selected high-value perishables
Regional Context
Air freight complements Hai Phong's much larger maritime freight system; it does not replace it.

Regional investment impact

Manufacturing
Improves air access for executives, specialists and time-sensitive supply chains serving major manufacturing clusters.
Ports
Adds an aviation layer to a regional logistics system dominated by deep-water and conventional ports.
Business Travel
Can materially shorten door-to-door travel for business in Hai Phong when a suitable direct flight is available.
Tourism
Supports city, Do Son and Cat Ba tourism alongside its business and industrial role.
Urban Growth
Airport expansion reinforces Hai Phong's position as a northern metropolitan, manufacturing and logistics centre.
Investment Caution
Planned airport capacity should not be used as a proxy for present passenger traffic or cargo demand.
Economic reach

Industrial catchment

01

Hai Phong industrial parks

Electronics, manufacturing and supporting industries

Fast business access and potential for high-value, time-sensitive freight.
02

Lach Huyen and port logistics

Deep-water shipping, logistics and export-import services

Creates potential air-sea combinations for urgent or high-value cargo.
03

Hai Phong urban core

Administration, commerce, services and tourism

Relatively short ground transfer from the airport.
04

Western Hai Phong industrial belt

Manufacturing, agriculture and inland supply chains

Extends the airport's business catchment westward across the enlarged municipality.

Investor checklist

  • Separate T1's current operating capacity from T2 capacity under construction.
  • Track the actual commissioning date and operating allocation of T2.
  • Verify cargo-terminal commissioning before assuming full design capacity is available.
  • Treat 2030 and 2050 passenger/cargo figures as planning targets rather than current traffic.
  • Assess airport access together with expressway, port and industrial-zone logistics.
  • Use current airline schedules when evaluating business connectivity.
  • Track implementation of future runway and apron projects separately from existing infrastructure.
Business and investment

Use the airport as a regional decision-making lens

Business travel

Strengths
  • Close to central Hai Phong
  • Direct air access to important domestic markets
  • International-airport status
  • Strong connection to an industrial and port economy
Limitations
  • T1's original design capacity is much smaller than long-term planning targets
  • T2 remains under construction
  • Route choice is narrower than at Vietnam's largest hub airports
Decision Rule
For business in Hai Phong and nearby industrial areas, Cat Bi can offer materially shorter door-to-door travel than routing through Ha Noi when a suitable flight is available.

Air vs road vs rail vs sea

Air
Best for long-distance passenger trips and high-value, time-sensitive cargo.
Road
The Hanoi–Hai Phong Expressway and urban roads are essential for regional access and last-mile distribution.
Sea
Hai Phong's port system dominates high-volume international freight.
Rail
The Hanoi–Hai Phong railway provides an alternative land connection but serves a different speed and capacity profile from aviation.
Decision Rule
Cat Bi should be evaluated as one part of Hai Phong's multimodal transport system rather than in isolation.
Know before you assume

Common airport misconceptions

Airport evolution

How the gateway has changed

Cat Bi begins operating as an international airport

The airport began receiving international flights under its international-airport designation.

Terminal T1 enters official operation

The passenger terminal entered official operation with a published original design capacity of about 2 million passengers per year.

2021–2030 airport master plan is approved

Decision 864/QD-BGTVT approved Cat Bi International Airport planning for 2021–2030 with vision to 2050.

Dedicated cargo terminal breaks ground

Construction began on a cargo terminal designed initially for 100,000 tonnes per year and expandable to 250,000 tonnes.

Terminal T2 breaks ground

ACV launched construction of T2, designed for 5 million passengers per year with provision for expansion to 10 million.

Cargo finishing and T2 construction continue

Official reporting said the cargo terminal's main works were substantially complete by late February while T2 construction continued through May; reporting in May cited a 2027 T2 completion target.

New Cat Bi APP/TWR enters operation

Cat Bi transitioned to a new Approach Control / Tower operating arrangement.

Planning targets a much larger airport

Hai Phong planning cites about 13 million passengers and 250,000 tonnes of cargo annually; these are planning figures, not current operating capacity.

Long-term capacity rises further

Planning cites about 18 million passengers and 500,000 tonnes of cargo annually alongside larger airfield and apron infrastructure.

Connections

Explore Vietnam's aviation network

Tan Son Nhat International AirportThe metropolis's principal operating airport and one of Vietnam's busiest aviation gateways, serving the historic urban core and wider southern region.Da Nang International AirportA major international airport embedded in the urban core.Cam Ranh International AirportCam Ranh International Airport is a curated infrastructure identity in Khánh Hòa’s Great Bays – Islands – Cham Heritage – Dry Coast – Highlands discovery system.
Understand aviation

Airport terms worth knowing

A compact reference for the terminology used throughout this dashboard.

HPH

IATA airport code for Cat Bi International Airport.

ICAO Code 4E

The airport reference classification stated in ACV's operating profile for Cat Bi.

T1

Cat Bi's current operating passenger terminal.

T2

Passenger terminal under construction, designed for 5 million passengers per year and expandable to 10 million.

APP/TWR

Approach Control / Aerodrome Control Tower services used to manage arriving, departing and local airport traffic.

Design capacity

The passenger or cargo throughput a facility is designed to handle; it is not the same as actual annual traffic.

Sources

Where this airport guide comes from

Airports Corporation of Vietnam

Introduction to Cat Bi International Airport

Airport classification, runway, terminal and operating profile.

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Airports Corporation of Vietnam

Groundbreaking for Passenger Terminal T2 - Cat Bi International Airport

T2 construction start, role and design capacity.

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Hai Phong City Portal

Progress of T2 passenger terminal project

T2 construction progress.

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Hai Phong City Portal

T2 Cat Bi construction targets completion in 2027

Latest completion target located.

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Ministry of Construction of Vietnam

Cat Bi cargo terminal substantially completes main works

Cargo-terminal construction status and design capacity.

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Ministry of Construction of Vietnam

Decision 864/QD-BGTVT approving Cat Bi International Airport planning

Airport master planning framework.

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Ministry of Construction of Vietnam

Cat Bi APP/TWR officially enters operation

September 2026 air-traffic-services update.

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Vietnam Airlines

Cat Bi Airport travel guide

Current Hai Phong links with Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.

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FlightConnections

Hai Phong to Nha Trang direct flight schedule

September 2026 verification of the nonstop HPH–CXR connection.

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