ACV picks coconut leaf design for Long Thanh International Airport   Of the three passenger terminal design plans submitted to the Prime Minister, Airport Corporation of Viet Nam (ACV) showed its preference for Plan LT-07, the architectural plan for Long Thanh International Airport inspired by the coconut leaf image.   illustration photo At the beginning of March 2017, ACV proposed government to pick plan LT-07 highlighting coconut leaf design for the passenger terminal of Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai. Plan LT-07 will be applied to the construction of the roof. It demonstrates characteristics of local culture and the space inside the station was designed as a boat travelling in a rural river in Vietnam. The project also features modern architecture harmoniously combined with green zones and the furniture to break the usual monotony. According to ACV’s leaders, construction as per plan LT-07 would be simple and economical. The furniture inside and outside the terminal catches up with the trends of other airports in the world. In 2016, ACV held a contest for the design of Long Thanh International Airport’s terminal. The contest attracted nine architectural plans from many countries. Of all nine architectural plans in the contest, the Ministry of Transport has discussed and chosen plans LT-03, LT-04, and LT-07 to submit to the government. These are the three most voted for options during the consultation period by citizens, professional associations, and specialised organizations. Besides the plan LT-07 that was preferred by ACV, the other two designs were also worth considering. Plan LT-03 was inspired by a stylized lotus, and plan LT-04 uses all bamboo material in the public spaces of the airport. All has their own advantages and demonstrate specified local cultures in Vietnam. Long Thanh International Airport will be constructed in Long Thanh District (Dong Nai). The construction comprises of three phases, the first one will begin in 2019, and each phase costs nearly VND165 trillion (over $7 trillion). The 5000-hectare project is expected to become a big and important international gateway to Vietnam and even Southeast Asia in the future. By Trang Vu, VIR