Vietnam’s Airport Infrastructure: Why Steel Structures Matter for Modern Terminal Design

 As Vietnam continues to develop its transport infrastructure, airport terminal design presents an important engineering challenge: how can large public buildings accommodate complex passenger flows, create open and functional spaces, and support efficient construction?

Long-span steel structures can help address these challenges by providing flexible, column-reduced spaces for modern airport terminals and other large public buildings.

For airport developers, architects, and EPC contractors, several factors deserve particular attention when evaluating structural solutions in Vietnam.

1. Designing for Vietnam’s Tropical Climate

Vietnam experiences a tropical monsoon climate, with regional differences in rainfall, wind conditions, temperature, and exposure to coastal environments.

For airport terminals, these conditions make climate-responsive structural design essential.

Key engineering considerations include:

  • Wind resistance: Structural systems and roof connections should be designed for the applicable site-specific wind loads and governing design requirements.

  • Rainwater management: Large-span roofs require carefully coordinated drainage systems, roof slopes, waterproofing details, and overflow provisions.

  • Corrosion protection: Protective coating systems and material specifications should reflect local exposure conditions, particularly at coastal sites.

  • Thermal performance: Roof insulation, solar heat control, and ventilation strategies can contribute to indoor comfort and operational efficiency.

The appropriate solution depends on the project location, building geometry, environmental exposure, and engineering requirements.

2. Creating Large, Flexible Terminal Spaces

Airport terminals require clear circulation routes, spacious check-in halls, security screening areas, waiting zones, and passenger boarding facilities.

Long-span steel structures can reduce the need for intermediate columns in selected areas, helping architects organize these functions more flexibly.

Depending on the architectural concept, steel roof trusses, space frames, or other engineered steel systems may be considered for:

  • Large entrance halls and check-in areas

  • Passenger concourses and circulation spaces

  • Wide-span roof structures

  • Covered pedestrian connections and public facilities

Structural selection should balance span requirements, roof geometry, service integration, construction logistics, and whole-life performance.

3. Improving Construction Coordination

Airport construction involves more than structural erection. Structural work must be coordinated with architectural design, mechanical and electrical systems, fire protection, baggage handling, and other terminal functions.

Steel structures can support a coordinated fabrication and installation approach, with many components manufactured off-site before delivery to the project.

Potential benefits include better control over fabrication quality, more predictable installation sequencing, and reduced dependence on extensive on-site fabrication.

However, actual schedule performance depends on design readiness, procurement, transport access, lifting capacity, site conditions, and coordination among contractors. Steel construction does not automatically guarantee a shorter project schedule.

4. Planning for Long-Term Performance

Airport terminals are long-life public assets. Their structural systems must support safety, durability, maintainability, and future operational needs.

Before selecting a steel structure solution, project teams should evaluate:

  • Applicable Vietnamese regulations and relevant international standards where permitted

  • Site-specific wind and other environmental loads

  • Structural fire protection requirements

  • Roof access, inspection, and maintenance provisions

  • Future expansion or modification requirements

  • Fabrication tolerances, connection design, and erection accuracy

Early collaboration between the architect, structural engineer, steel fabricator, and installation contractor can help identify potential conflicts before construction begins.

How Can Steel Structures Support Vietnam’s Airport Development?

The answer is not simply to choose steel over other materials. It is to select a structural system that meets the terminal’s functional requirements, local environmental conditions, construction constraints, and long-term performance objectives.

For large-span roofs and open public spaces, properly engineered steel structures offer an important option for creating adaptable, efficient, and architecturally distinctive airport environments.

At LF-BJMB, we believe successful steel structure projects begin with understanding the building’s purpose, site conditions, span requirements, and installation challenges.

Planning an airport terminal or large public building in Vietnam?

Contact LF-BJMB to discuss your project requirements and explore suitable steel structure solutions.

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