The move, orchestrated by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), aims to streamline the process of entering and exiting Noi Bai, Cat Bi, Phu Bai, Da Nang, and Tan Son Nhat airports.

Initially trialled at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam’s busiest air travel hubs – the system has now been extended to include three more airports: Cat Bi in Hai Phong city to the north, Phu Bai in Thua Thien-Hue province centrally, and Da Nang city, also in central Vietnam.

The ACV has announced plans to incorporate the ETC system into the ongoing construction projects at Tan Son Nhat airport’s Terminal 3 and the expanded Terminal 2 at Noi Bai airport. The strategy is intended to mitigate traffic congestion by allowing vehicles equipped with ETC tags – already in use on the country’s highways and expressways – to pass through airport toll lanes without the need for additional tags or procedures.

During its pilot phase from 06 February to 19 March, a period that encompassed the Lunar New Year season – a peak time for travel – the system facilitated the transit of more 203,606 vehicles at Noi Bai and 132,926 at Tan Son Nhat.

Notably, the success rate of vehicles using ETC cards at automated toll lanes was around 90%, with the throughput at these lanes being 1.8 times that of conventional toll lanes, easing congestion. Vietnam, home to nearly five million cars, reportedly boasts a 96% adoption rate for ETC tags and accounts among vehicle owners.

Following the successful implementation of the ETC system at its airports, Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport is now considering the expansion of the system to other areas, including seaports, parking facilities, insurance services, and vehicle technical inspections.