Da Nang is trapped in success: how the city's airport copes with the influx of tourists and what awaits travelers

Imagine flying to Da Nang, dreaming of turquoise bay, hills and street food. And at the airport you are met not by sea views, but by endless queues. So lives today one of the main air gates of the Central Vietnam Da Nang International Airport. He is literally choking on popularity.

In 2025, its international terminal received 6.8 million passengers, although it was originally designed for only 4 million. And these are not just numbers in the report, they are real hours spent hoping for registration, security and passport control, especially during rush hours: late at night and late in the morning until early lunch. Here, automation works only for a select few: electronic gates for immigration are mostly available to crews and Vietnamese with chip passports, and online check-in is only available for two of 29 airlines. For most, it's still the good old-fashioned manual mode.

The authorities are not sitting idly by. The deputy chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, Nguyen Thi An Thi, has already asked the Ministry of Public Security to increase the number of immigration officers during peak hours, open all counters and expand access to automation for foreigners. Plan and simplify procedures, and strengthen customs with the help of technology.

But the problem is not only in the international terminal. Terminal 1 (domestic flights) served 7.5 million people in 2025 with a design capacity of 6 million. Even before the pandemic, in 2019, the airport as a whole operated with 15.5 million passengers, and after it, the flow to central Vietnam only increased.

What's next? The government has an ambitious modernization plan for the next decade. By 2030, the airport should serve 20 million people a year. Provision is made for:
Renovation of Terminal 2 for 6 million passengers per year
Expansion of Terminal 1 to 14 million domestic passengers
Doubling the number of parking spaces (up to 52) for wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350.
* Modernization of runways and redevelopment of terminals.

Technology will play a key role in unloading queues: more automatic gates for immigration, self-service during check-in and baggage check-in, revision of terminal layout and acceleration of customs checks.

While this transformation is underway, going through the airport can be a challenge. But the trip to Da Nang itself is worth it.

To truly immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this picturesque city – from ancient shrines to cozy cafes on the banks of the Khan River – it is best with a local guide. It will help to avoid hassle with logistics and show those corners that are not written in guidebooks.

You'll be welcomed in Vietnam.private guidesAnd they'll offer you a copy.individual toursTravel agencies of the country of Vietnam, will offer their services and organizetourInteresting excursions for travelers.

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