Three finalists out of nine potential design plans have been selected for the Long Thanh International Airport planned for construction in southern Vietnam’s Dong Nai Province.

Located just 50 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat airport, Long Thanh is expected to alleviate passenger load in the overcrowded southern hub upon its completion.

The plan to build the airport was ratified by Vietnam’s lawmaking National Assembly in 2015 with a projected cost of VND336.63 trillion (US$15.03 billion).

Between November and February, the Ministry of Transport and the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) co-organized the exhibition of nine potential designs in Hanoi, Da Nang, Dong Nai, and Ho Chi Minh City to welcome public feedback.

Each design is an international submission from an earlier architectural competition held by ACV.

According to ACV, the three best designs, evaluated based on their utility, esthetics, feasibility, architectural planning, landscape, and reflection of the airport’s significance, have been shortlisted as the final construction options to be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.

The three designs, coded LT-03, LT-04 and LT-07, were also the people’s favorites according to public feedback collected at the exhibitions, ACV said.

Globally inclined, locally inspired

Out of the three shortlisted designs, LT-07 received overwhelming approval from the board of judges of the architectural competition, who praised its graceful incorporation of nipa palm into a modernistic concept.

Nipa palm, or mangrove palm, is a species of palm native to the estuarine habitats of southern Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region.

The design features an abundance of greenery in the airport’s interior while still highlighting its vibrancy and modernity with a harmonious blend of materials.

The construction option is also highly appreciated for its feasibility, as its structural design is simple enough for a rapid execution of the project, and its flexibility in the use of materials allows for lower development costs while guaranteeing durability and aesthetics.

The interior of a terminal of concept design LT-07 for Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province. Photo: ACV

The interior of a terminal of concept design LT-07 for Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province. Photo: ACV

Concept design LT-07 for Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province. Clip: Youtube

Design LT-03 is inspired by the lotus flower, widely regarded as the national flower of Vietnam, and the concept is continuous throughout the airport’s ceilings, terminals, parking lots, and interiors.

The design places emphasis on the use of dynamic but selective colors to bring a sense of elegance to the megaairport.

The last design, LT-04, places more importance on passenger experience inside the airport while remaining aesthetically pleasing by using bamboo to make up the interior of the airport’s terminals.

With LT-04, Bamboo beams are intertwined to form durable but flexible structures in the terminals that reflect the local culture while giving passengers a unique impression of Vietnam.

The use of bamboo is also considered environmentally friendly compared to other construction options, though experts have questioned the concept’s real-life feasibility, especially with such a massive amount of bamboos needed for the unprecedented construction.

A model in perspective of concept design LT-03 for Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province. Photo: ACV

The interior of a terminal of concept design LT-03 for Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province. Photo: ACV

A model in perspective of concept design LT-04 for Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province. Photo: ACV

The interior of a terminal of concept design LT-04 for Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province. Photo: ACV

According to Do Tat Binh, vice chairman of ACV, all three design options are qualified for use in Long Thanh International Airport as they all meet criteria set out by the developer.

However, ACV recommends that option LT-07 be chosen thanks to its various positive aspects.

“ACV will also be advising the future contractor to synthesize the positive features of all three designs into their feasibility study,” the corporation said in its report to the Ministry of Transport.

Construction of Long Thanh is slated to commence no later than 2019, two years earlier than initially planned, according to a directive by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung.

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