On 13 January 2006, Vietnam held a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of commercial aviation operations in the country. The Vice Minister of Transport and Communications, Nguyen Tien Sam, who also heads the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), officiated at the event in the nation’s capital Hanoi.

Initially commencing with a fleet of several Soviet Union-made planes in 1956, the Vietnamese aviation industry has now developed to include a fleet of 47 highcapacity modern jet aircraft from Boeing and Airbus, including B777, B767, A320 as well as Fokker and ATR72 aircraft, operated by the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, and Pacific Airlines. Both airlines are holding options for the delivery of further aircraft in response to increasing passenger and cargo traffic. The nation also has a fastdeveloping general aviation sector, equipped with modern helicopters serving the tourist industry.

Domestically, the airlines operate 25 routes to 17 cities and townships nationwide. On the international front, the flag carrier services 39 international routes, including 36 direct and three code-sharing, from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, to 24 destinations in Northeast and Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America.

The CAAV also manages 22 airports around the country, including the three international airports. As the development of aviation gathers pace, the Government has approved the construction of a new international airport to be built in Dong Nai, near Ho Chi Minh City, in recognition that this area is increasingly becoming an important economic hub.

Analysts report that on average 600 inbound, outbound and transit flights are using Vietnamese airspace daily which is a 50 per cent increase over similar figures published five years ago, helped in part by the influx of regional operators now operating services to the country. The Government has also taken a proactive approach, establishing bilateral ties with counterparts in 57 countries and territories.

The Government’s National Assembly is currently undertaking a review of the nation’s aviation legislation that is expected to be approved later this year following a tenyear period of consolidation. The Government has also unveiled its commitment to maintain the pace of change in the sector in a long-term development plan to continue developments through to 2015. The plan was recently outlined by the head of the CAAV and is aimed at delivering an ongoing program to upgrade infrastructure facilities at airports, as well as developing a competitive pricing strategy to enhance future expansion. 

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