HCMC – Ly Son, an island district off the central province of Quang Ngai, is expected to be developed into a city with an airport and a seaport by 2045 to boost local tourism growth.

According to the adjusted master plan on the development of the Dung Quat Economic Zone by 2045, signed on February 28 by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, 1,000 hectares on Ly Son, a popular tourist destination, and 500 hectares of water surface will belong to the expanded Dung Quat Economic Zone, the news site vnexpress.vn reported.

A 153-hectare airport would also be built on the island. Earlier, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam and Quang Ngai repeatedly sought to build the airport to boost tourism growth in the area, as the island is currently only accessible by boat.

The Ly Son island district is categorized as a grade-5 urban area and is expected to become a grade-4 one during the 2026-2035 period. The island and Binh Son District are poised to become important drivers of economic growth in the northern part of Quang Ngai by 2045.

The Dung Quat Economic Zone was established in 2005 to promote economic development in Quang Ngai and the central region, with the highlight being the Dung Quat Oil Refinery, which accounts for 70-80% of the budget contribution in Quang Ngai.