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Airport guide

Con Dao Airport

Con Dao Airport is the operating air gateway to the Côn Đảo Special Zone of Ho Chi Minh City. ACV's current airport profile lists IATA code VCS, joint civil-military use, ICAO Code 3C, one 1,830 m × 30 m runway, four aircraft parking positions, a passenger terminal of about 3,792 m² and published capacity of about 400,000 passengers per year. The approved 2021 airport-specific plan provides a Code 4C development framework with a widened 1,830 m × 45 m runway, eight Code C stands and a new terminal for about 2 million passengers per year. National planning was updated again in 2026: a May 2026 planning table lists Côn Đảo as Code 4C with an indicative 3-million-passenger 2030 capacity, while the July 2026 national airport-system adjustment places Côn Đảo in Vietnam's international-airport network. These planning layers do not mean the current airport has already been rebuilt as an international-scale facility.

VCS
Overview

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

Con Dao Airport sits on the northern–northeastern side of Côn Sơn Island, about 14 km from the traditional Côn Đảo town centre. Its runway lies in a constrained coastal setting, with high terrain alongside the airport and sea at both runway ends. That geography makes aviation crucial to island access while also limiting straightforward expansion. The current facility remains a compact Code 3C airport. Future development must therefore be read in layers: today's operating airport, the approved 2021 Code 4C airport-specific plan, the revised 2026 national planning parameters, and the newer international-airport designation in the national airport network. Proposed 4E concepts discussed during 2026 planning review should not be presented as completed or fully approved operating infrastructure.

Key things to understand

  • Con Dao Airport is the main operating air gateway to the Côn Đảo Special Zone.
  • ACV lists VCS as a joint civil-military ICAO Code 3C airport.
  • The operating runway is 1,830 m × 30 m and the apron has four aircraft parking positions.
  • The passenger terminal has about 3,792 m² of usable floor area and published capacity of about 400,000 passengers per year.
  • The airport operates in a physically constrained setting between high terrain and the sea.
  • The approved 2021 airport-specific plan targets Code 4C, a 1,830 m × 45 m runway, eight Code C stands and a new terminal for about 2 million passengers per year.
  • A May 2026 national planning table lists Côn Đảo as Code 4C with indicative capacity of 3 million passengers per year by 2030.
  • The July 2026 national airport-system adjustment includes Côn Đảo among Vietnam's international airports.
  • International-airport planning status does not by itself prove that scheduled international passenger services are operating.
  • Current September 2026 airline sales data confirms direct links with Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho.
Why it matters

Read the airport as a system, not just a terminal

Strategic role

Côn Đảo is an offshore special zone where aviation is essential to fast passenger access, public services, emergency movement, tourism and island supply resilience.

What makes it distinctive

Few Vietnamese airports combine such a compact coastal airfield, high terrain, major historical-memory tourism and strict national-park and marine constraints.

What users often miss

Several planning layers coexist: today's Code 3C airport, the approved 2021 Code 4C airport-specific plan, newer 2026 national capacity parameters, international-airport network status and a separately discussed 4E option.

In one sentence

VCS is Côn Đảo's small operating island airport today, while national and city planning is preparing for a much larger future gateway.

Airport identity

What role does this airport actually play?

Role
Primary operating air gateway to the Côn Đảo Special Zone.
Passenger Role
Provides the fastest regular passenger link between Côn Đảo and mainland Vietnam.
Cargo Role
Supports time-sensitive island supplies; cargo remains a secondary role at the current small airport.
Economic Role
Supports tourism, public services, administration and the island supply economy.
Strategic Role
Critical transport infrastructure for an offshore special zone where road access to the mainland is impossible.
Core Insight
Con Dao Airport should be understood as a small but essential island airport whose present infrastructure is much more limited than its future planning ambitions.
Airport essentials

Navigate the terminals without guesswork

Terminals

Current terminal

Existing passenger terminal

Current operating passenger terminal

Use this terminal for
Domestic passenger processing under the current operating configuration
Capacity
Published capacity: about 400,000 passengers/year
ACV lists about 3,792 m² of usable floor area, six check-in counters, two boarding gates and two baggage conveyors.
Future development

Planned passenger terminal

Planned replacement / expansion terminal

Use this terminal for
Future passenger processing under the approved development framework
Capacity
About 2 million passengers/year under the 2021 airport-specific plan
The 2021 plan locates a new two-level terminal southeast of the existing terminal. Do not present it as operating until officially commissioned.
Passenger journey

From check-in to the city — follow the flow

Arrival and departure flow

Current Departure
  • Confirm the flight and airline before travelling to the airport.
  • Check in and drop baggage in the existing passenger terminal.
  • Pass aviation security.
  • Proceed to the assigned gate.
  • Board the aircraft.
Current Arrival
  • Disembark.
  • Enter the passenger terminal.
  • Collect checked baggage.
  • Exit to the public arrivals area.
  • Continue by road to accommodation, memorial sites or other destinations on Côn Sơn.
Check In Timing
ACV's January 2026 guidance states that check-in counters open 120 minutes before scheduled departure, close 40 minutes before departure, and boarding gates close 15 minutes before departure.
Editorial Rule
Do not invent future-terminal passenger flows before the new facility is commissioned.

Transfer strategy

Current passenger journeySingle operating terminal

Con Dao is primarily an origin-and-destination island airport rather than an inter-terminal transfer hub.

Island onward transferRoad transport

After arrival, passengers continue by road across Côn Sơn to accommodation, memorial, beach and nature destinations.

Getting connected

Reach the city, the region and the wider air network

Surface access

Location
Northern–northeastern Côn Sơn Island.
Distance
About 14 km from the traditional Côn Đảo town centre according to ACV.
Road
Road transport links the airport with the island's main settlement, accommodation, memorial areas and access points for nature destinations.
Sea Alternative
Passenger ferries provide a separate mainland–island option, subject to route, operator and marine conditions.
Constraint
High terrain, coastal exposure and protected-island geography make airport expansion more complex than at a typical mainland site.

Air connectivity

Current Role
Main aviation link between Côn Đảo and mainland Vietnam.
Verified Direct Links September2026
Current Vietnam Airlines sales data confirms direct services linking Côn Đảo with Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho.
International Planning
The July 2026 national airport-system adjustment places Côn Đảo in the international-airport network.
Operational Rule
International-airport planning status does not prove that scheduled international passenger services are already operating.
Route Rule
Airlines, routes and frequencies are time-sensitive and should be checked before travel.
At the airport

Services, accessibility and practical preparation

Passenger services

Documented
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Free drinking water
  • Medical service
  • Children's play area
  • Food services
  • Retail services
Lost And Found
ACV publishes lost-and-found and passenger-assistance contact channels for Con Dao Airport.
Current Scale
Services reflect a compact island terminal rather than a large hub-airport environment.
Editorial Rule
Specific tenants, opening hours and temporary service availability should be verified before travel.

Accessibility

Assistance
Passengers requiring mobility, boarding or special assistance should coordinate with their airline in advance.
Ground Transport
Arrange suitable island ground transport before arrival where necessary.
Editorial Rule
Do not claim specific accessibility certifications or equipment unless independently verified.

Family travel

Advantages
  • Compact single-terminal environment
  • Children's play area listed by ACV
  • Direct access to Côn Sơn Island
Planning
  • Book early during holiday and pilgrimage periods.
  • Check airline baggage and stroller rules.
  • Arrange child seats or suitable ground transport in advance.
  • Maintain flexibility during severe island weather.

Before you travel

  • Use VCS as the IATA code.
  • Check the live flight status before travelling to the airport.
  • Treat the current airport as Code 3C unless an official operational upgrade is confirmed.
  • Use 1,830 m × 30 m for the current operating runway.
  • Keep future 2-million and 3-million passenger planning figures separate from current published terminal capacity.
  • Do not infer scheduled international flights from the airport's planning classification.
  • Monitor weather and ferry conditions when comparing air and sea access.
Operating conditions

Plan for peaks, weather and disruption

Peak periods

Tourism And Memorial Travel
Holiday, pilgrimage and memorial travel can concentrate demand.
Tet
Tet and national holidays can create strong booking peaks.
Nature Travel
Seasonal nature and marine experiences can influence visitor demand but remain subject to conservation rules.
Planning Advice
  • Book early during peak periods.
  • Check flight status before departure.
  • Maintain weather flexibility.

Weather and disruption

Island Climate
Marine weather, thunderstorms, strong winds and seasonal sea conditions can affect both flights and ferries.
Coastal Runway
The runway occupies a constrained coastal site with high terrain nearby and sea exposure at both ends.
Network Effect
Disruption at mainland airports can also affect Côn Đảo services.
Passenger Rule
Use airline, airport and marine-weather information during adverse conditions.

Security and processing

Current Classification
ACV describes the airport as joint civil-military, ICAO Code 3C and military Grade II.
Runway
1,830 m × 30 m.
Current Apron
Four aircraft parking positions.
Operating Hours
12/24-hour service according to ACV's published profile.
Planning Rule
Do not describe planned Code 4C or proposed larger-scale infrastructure as already operational.
Airport intelligence

Capacity, growth and the airport's next chapter

Recent capacity development

Current Passenger Capacity
Published current terminal capacity: about 400,000 passengers/year.
Current Airfield
Code 3C operating configuration with a 1,830 m × 30 m runway and four aircraft stands.
Airport Specific2021 Plan
Code 4C; runway widened to 1,830 m × 45 m; eight Code C stands; new terminal for about 2 million passengers/year; about 4,400 tonnes of cargo/year.
National Planning May2026
A May 2026 national planning table lists Côn Đảo as Code 4C with indicative capacity of 3 million passengers/year by 2030 and about 181.75 ha of planned land.
National Network July2026
The July 2026 national airport-system adjustment includes Côn Đảo among Vietnam's international airports.
4 EProposal Context
A June 2026 planning review discussed a proposal to upgrade Côn Đảo from 4C to 4E, but the proposal required further detailed study; do not present 4E as current operating status.
Status Rule
Keep current operations, the approved 2021 airport-specific plan, 2026 national planning parameters and 4E proposals separate.

Current operations

Status
Operating.
Iata
VCS.
Classification
Current ACV profile: ICAO Code 3C, joint civil-military.
Runway
1,830 m × 30 m.
Terminal
About 3,792 m² usable floor area.
Capacity
Published capacity about 400,000 passengers/year.
Apron
Four aircraft parking positions.
Service Hours
12/24 hours according to ACV.

Long-term airport planning

Airport Specific2021 Plan
Approved domestic joint civil-military Code 4C framework to 2030 with about 2 million passengers/year and 4,400 tonnes of cargo/year.
National Planning May2026
The national planning table issued in May 2026 lists Code 4C and an indicative 3-million-passenger 2030 capacity.
International Network July2026
Decision 1140/QĐ-BXD dated 1 July 2026 places Côn Đảo in Vietnam's international-airport network.
4 EPlanning Review
A June 2026 review discussed upgrading Côn Đảo from 4C to 4E, but stated that the expansion option required further detailed study.
Interpretation
The international-network designation and 4E proposal should not be confused with completed infrastructure or confirmed scheduled international operations.
Cargo and investment

See the airport as part of its regional economic network

Cargo gateway

Current Role
Small island air-cargo role focused on urgent and time-sensitive supplies.
Airport Specific2021 Plan
About 4,400 tonnes/year under the approved 2021 plan.
Planned Facility
The 2021 plan reserves land west of the passenger terminal for a cargo facility when required.
Regional Fit
Most suitable for urgent supplies, medical items, small high-value goods and other time-sensitive island logistics.
Caution
Planned cargo capacity should not be treated as current throughput.

Regional investment impact

Tourism
Provides essential fast access for Côn Đảo tourism and memorial travel.
Special Zone
Functions as critical transport infrastructure for an offshore special zone of Ho Chi Minh City.
Public Services
Supports administration, healthcare, emergency movement and supply resilience.
Conservation Constraint
Airport growth must be reconciled with national-park, coastal and marine environmental constraints.
International Potential
International-airport planning could broaden future access, but actual services depend on infrastructure, regulation, environmental review and market demand.
Economic reach

Industrial catchment

01

Côn Sơn urban and service area

Administration, hospitality, local commerce and public services

Primary resident and visitor passenger catchment.
02

Historical and memorial tourism

Prison, cemetery and national-memory travel

A major source of visitor demand.
03

National-park and marine tourism

Protected forests, reefs, islands and nature experiences

High-value visitor demand that must remain compatible with conservation limits.
04

Island supply economy

Food, medical, technical and other essential supplies

Time-sensitive logistics and resilience role.

Investor checklist

  • Use con-dao-airport for standalone id, slug and Province Profile entityRef.
  • Use ho-chi-minh-city as provinceSlug.
  • Use VCS as the IATA code.
  • Use Code 3C, runway 1,830 m × 30 m, four stands, about 3,792 m² terminal area and about 400,000 passengers/year for the current published baseline.
  • Treat the approved 2021 Code 4C / 2-million-passenger plan as future development rather than current capacity.
  • Treat the May 2026 Code 4C / 3-million-passenger national parameter as a newer planning layer, not operating capacity.
  • Treat July 2026 international-airport network status as a planning/network designation rather than proof of current international service.
  • Do not present the discussed 4E option as completed or fully implemented infrastructure.
Business and investment

Use the airport as a regional decision-making lens

Business travel

Strengths
  • Fastest regular connection with the mainland
  • Direct access to Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho
  • Essential infrastructure for an offshore special zone
Limitations
  • Small current terminal and airfield
  • Weather-sensitive island operations
  • Limited route network compared with major hub airports
  • Future expansion faces terrain and environmental constraints
Decision Rule
Air is normally the fastest way to reach Côn Đảo; compare ferries when schedule, origin, baggage or weather make sea travel practical.

Air vs road vs rail vs sea

Air
Fastest regular mainland connection and the most important mode for time-sensitive travel.
Sea
Passenger ferries provide an alternative from selected mainland ports but depend on operator schedules and marine conditions.
Road
Road transport is used only for movement within Côn Sơn after arrival.
Decision Rule
Compare total journey time, weather reliability, baggage needs and departure point when choosing between air and sea.
Know before you assume

Common airport misconceptions

Airport evolution

How the gateway has changed

Airport origins

ACV states that the airport was originally built during the French colonial period.

Airfield upgraded and commercial operations resume

ACV records runway, apron and terminal upgrades in 2003, followed by renewed commercial operations in early 2004.

Current passenger-terminal era develops

The airport's modern passenger facilities were developed during the mid-2000s operating period.

Code 4C development plan approved

The airport-specific plan set a Code 4C framework with a widened runway, eight Code C stands, a new terminal for about 2 million passengers per year and 4,400 tonnes of cargo per year.

Côn Đảo becomes part of Ho Chi Minh City

Under the post-reorganisation administrative structure, Côn Đảo became a special zone of Ho Chi Minh City.

National planning parameters are updated

A national planning table lists Côn Đảo as Code 4C with indicative 2030 capacity of 3 million passengers per year.

Larger 4E option is reviewed

A national planning review discussed upgrading Côn Đảo from Code 4C to 4E, while stating that detailed study would still be required.

Côn Đảo enters the international-airport network

Decision 1140/QĐ-BXD places Côn Đảo among the international airports in Vietnam's adjusted national airport-system plan.

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.Can Tho International AirportThe city's airport is a key regional aviation asset serving passenger and cargo potential.
Understand aviation

Airport terms worth knowing

A compact reference for the terminology used throughout this dashboard.

VCS

IATA airport code for Con Dao Airport.

ICAO Code 3C

The classification stated in ACV's current operating profile for Con Dao Airport.

ICAO Code 4C

The development classification used in the approved airport-specific plan and 2026 national planning table.

ICAO Code 4E

A larger future airport option discussed during 2026 planning review; it is not the current operating configuration.

International-airport network

The national planning category in which Côn Đảo was included in July 2026; it does not by itself prove scheduled international service.

Design capacity

The throughput a future or existing 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

General introduction — Con Dao Airport

Current operating infrastructure, location, classification, runway, apron, terminal, capacity and service hours.

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Airports Corporation of Vietnam

Passenger check-in guidance at Con Dao Airport

Current check-in and boarding timing.

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Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam

Approved adjustment of Con Dao Airport plan to 2030

Approved 2021 Code 4C / 2-million-passenger / 4,400-tonne development framework.

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Ministry of Construction

Decision 657/QĐ-BXD national airport planning table

May 2026 national planning parameter: Con Dao Code 4C, indicative 3-million-passenger 2030 capacity and planned land area.

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Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam

Review of the national airport-system plan

June 2026 discussion of a possible 4C-to-4E upgrade and need for further detailed study.

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Ministry of Construction

Adjusted national airport-system plan

July 2026 inclusion of Con Dao in Vietnam's international-airport network.

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Vietnam Airlines

Flights from Con Dao

September 2026 verification of direct links with Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho.

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