Opportunities to expand the tourism market from Phan Thiet airport.

From a land awakened more than 30 years after the solar eclipse on the beach, Phan Thiet is now facing a new phase of development as its transportation infrastructure (highways, civil airport) is invested in, potentially impacting tourism linkages in the South Central and Central Highlands regions.

Mui Ne beach boasts a long, smooth, and gently sloping sandy shore.

An important seaside tourist destination in the region.

Mui Ne - Phan Thiet has been identified as a crucial growth hub for coastal tourism, complementing the strengths of ecotourism and highland resort tourism in Da Lat and its surrounding areas, in the context of Lam Dong province's restructuring of its development space after the merger. Coastal tourism is no longer confined to the traditional coastline but is expanding along the coastal corridor, linked to urban areas, services, culture, and the livelihoods of the local people.

In late April 2026, Lam Dong province announced the Mui Ne National Tourist Area Development Plan until 2040, with a vision to 2050, aiming to build Mui Ne into one of the leading destinations in the Asia-Pacific region. The Mui Ne National Tourist Area covers approximately 14,760 hectares, encompassing the Phu Thuy, Mui Ne, Hoa Thang, and Phan Ri Cua areas.

The development space is organized according to the model "One coastal corridor - Three centers - Multiple access routes to the sea," in which the 63km long coastal corridor acts as the connecting axis for the entire area. It is projected to welcome approximately 14 million tourists by 2030 and 25 million by 2040; with about 71,500 accommodation rooms; and approximately 12,980 hectares of land for the construction of functional zones.

Mui Ne has great tourism potential but has not yet attracted international tourists due to its transportation infrastructure.

According to Mr. Nguyen Linh Vu, Deputy Director of the Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center of Lam Dong province, the province's development orientation is to shift from purely resort products to a "multi-experience ecosystem" with large-scale urban tourism complexes and a vibrant night-time economy . In addition, the "blue sea" region will be strongly connected to the eastern growth axis. In the initial phase, the province will attract major strategic investors for high-end resort projects, marine sports, and integrated entertainment complexes to create its own unique brand.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa Mai, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, when properly planned, Mui Ne will not only generate direct revenue from tourists but also stimulate the local supply chain, attracting investment in hotels, restaurants, logistics, entertainment, healthcare, tourism real estate, air and road transport. Developing high-value and competitive beach tourism products, targeting high-spending international tourists with longer stays, is a crucial shift from "resource-based tourism" to "competitive-based tourism."

The airport is expected to improve local connectivity.

With its stunning beaches, unique tourist experiences, and distinctive local culture, Phan Thiet's biggest gap compared to the two major coastal tourism markets of Da Nang and Phu Quoc lies not in its tourism resources but in its air gateway. If the expressway opens up a flow of tourists from the southern region, then Phan Thiet airport can increase connectivity with domestic and international markets.

Phu Quoc International Airport is continuously breaking records for passenger numbers.

Da Nang and Phu Quoc are ahead of Phan Thiet not just by a few years of development, but also have advantages in infrastructure and air networks. Compared to its potential, the number of international tourists to Phan Thiet is still quite modest. In 2024, Phu Quoc welcomed nearly 6 million tourists, including 900,000 international visitors. In 2025, the number of international tourists is expected to double thanks to a dense network of direct flights. Meanwhile, Phan Thiet is expected to receive over 350,000 international tourists in 2024. In modern tourism, where distance is measured not in kilometers but in travel time, the key to overcoming this "bottleneck" is the development of expressways and air infrastructure.

The civil aviation component of Phan Thiet Airport in Lam Dong province, officially commenced by Sun Group on April 27th, is expected to be completed within two years. The airport has an investment scale of 3,900 billion VND, built on an area of ​​nearly 75 hectares, meeting 4E standards. This scale allows the airport to accommodate modern wide-body aircraft, with an initial design capacity of approximately 2 million passengers per year.

Phu Quoc Civil Airport will serve as a connecting point for international tourists from popular destinations such as Da Nang and Phu Quoc, creating diverse opportunities for visitors to explore new, potential areas and extend their travel experiences.

Perspective view of Phan Thiet Civil Airport

The Phan Thiet airport, along with the Dau Giay-Phan Thiet and Phan Thiet-Vinh Hao expressways, and a wave of large-scale investment, could create further impetus for Phan Thiet's development. The changing tourism map will lead to a changing investment map. Phan Thiet is expected to transform from a "resort capital" into an international-class "tourism-resort-entertainment-health city".

Besides boosting domestic and international tourism, these flight routes also attract investment capital. As the number of tourists increases, large corporations will invest in resorts, entertainment areas, and tourist cities. This has happened in Phu Quoc, Da Nang, and Ha Long. This, in turn, contributes to the urban development and socio-economic progress of the localities.

In recent times, Phan Thiet has seen the presence of many large enterprises such as Novaland, Sun Group, Eras Land, and Sunshine Group with a series of large-scale projects. Novaland has developed the NovaWorld Phan Thiet urban tourism complex, while Eras Land is focusing on a resort model combined with practical operation and management with the Costamigo project. Notably, Sun Group is researching and proposing investment in large-scale projects, ranging from transportation infrastructure and urban areas to eco-tourism in forests and beaches, which are expected to positively impact the development of the eastern part of Lam Dong province.

Entering 2026, Lam Dong's tourism industry is flourishing. However, according to experts, the majority of local tourism products are still short-term sightseeing and relaxation. This form of tourism is not yet sufficient to extend the length of stay or create incentives for tourists to return. Meanwhile, global tourism trends are shifting rapidly, especially the trend of combining leisure and sports tourism or the demand for multi-experiences: beaches, mountains, local cultural activities; and the need for inter-regional experiences.

Chairman of the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee, Ho Van Muoi, observed: With the new landscape, the demand for new tourism products is necessary to create tourism tours that connect regions. In this context, the take-off of Phan Thiet tourism will create momentum for the development of the "sea-highland" tourism axis. The two tourism spaces – beach resorts and highlands with a cool climate – will complement each other.

Lam Dong's tourism industry can benefit from increased transit visitors, longer stays, stimulated demand for services, and especially contribute to expanding the international tourist market, connecting major tourist destinations such as Phu Quoc, Da Nang, and Quang Ninh to Phan Thiet by air.

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Source: https://nhandan.vn/co-hoi-mo-rong-thi-truong-du-lich-tu-san-bay-phan-thiet-post964361.html