International flights return to Da Lat airport

Photo courtesy of Tuoi Tre

International services have resumed at Lien Khuong Airport, restoring the direct air link between Kuala Lumpur and Da Lat after a five-month closure for major runway and taxiway improvements.

Kuala Lumpur route restarts

The first international service since the closure landed on 2 September. AirAsia flight AK571 arrived from Kuala Lumpur at 10:58am, bringing overseas visitors to Da Lat on Vietnam’s National Day.

The return flight, AK572, departed Lien Khuong for the Malaysian capital at 11:40am. Airport authorities said restoring international flights would help meet demand from residents and tourists during the peak holiday period.

The airport identified 28 August to 3 September as its busiest period, with an estimated 36 to 40 flights operating each day and between 7,000 and 8,500 passengers using the terminal.

Runway rebuilt during five-month closure

Lien Khuong, the principal aviation gateway to Da Lat and Vietnam’s first international airport in the Central Highlands, closed on 4 March for renovation work.

The project covered the airport’s 3,250-metre runway and about 1.3 kilometres of taxiways. Existing asphalt pavement was replaced with concrete to improve operational capacity and safety.

The upgrades are also intended to allow the airport to handle Code E aircraft. This category generally includes wide-body aircraft with wingspans from 52 metres to less than 65 metres, potentially broadening the types of services the airport can accommodate.

Passenger operations recover quickly

Domestic operations resumed on 19 August. In the first eight days after reopening, through 26 August, Lien Khuong handled hundreds of take-offs and landings.

Nearly 39,000 passengers passed through the airport during that period, while carriers transported 76 metric tonnes of cargo. The return of international flights marks the next stage in restoring the airport’s role as a gateway for tourism and commerce in Lam Dong Province and the wider Central Highlands.

The Kuala Lumpur connection is particularly important for Malaysian visitors travelling directly to Da Lat without routing through Ho Chi Minh City or another Vietnamese airport.

What it means for foreigners in Vietnam

Foreign residents and tourists now have another direct international option for reaching Da Lat and the Central Highlands. Travellers should check current schedules with AirAsia and confirm airport transfer arrangements, as flight frequencies may change after the holiday peak. The upgraded runway should support safer and more capable operations, while the restored Kuala Lumpur route offers a more convenient connection for travel between Vietnam and Malaysia.

3 September 2026