A swamp teeming with venomous snakes has been transformed into a leading international airport.

(Baonghean.vn) - Savarnabhumi International Airport is the starting point for many travel itineraries in Thailand. Visitors here hear the story of a magnificent structure that rose from land that was once just a swamp, so full of venomous snakes that people dared not approach it.

Completed in 2006 at a total cost of $3.8 billion, Suvarnabhumi Airport is located in Racha Thewa, Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan province, 25 km east of Bangkok. It ranks 18th among the world's busiest airports, covering an area of ​​32.8 km² and serving over 53 million passengers annually.

The first impression visitors get upon landing at Suvarnabhumi is the dome-shaped roofs, reminiscent of temples and pagodas, reflecting the distinctive style of Thai Buddhism. Suvarnabhumi boasts the world's tallest air traffic control tower at 132.2 meters and the world's largest single terminal, spanning 563,000 square meters, handling both international and domestic passengers. The airport currently handles 45 million passengers annually but can be upgraded to serve 150 million.

The structures within the airport reflect the distinctive cultural and religious characteristics of the land of Buddhism.

The airport is designed to be able to upgrade its service capacity to 150 million passengers per year.

The airport terminal has seven floors above ground and two basement levels. The airport complex includes shopping, dining, entertainment, and rest areas for travelers. It can handle 76 flights per hour and 8,300 tons of cargo per day. Remarkably, behind this massive structure lies a story that prompts much reflection from urban planners and economic strategists.

In 1973, recognizing the need for a new airport to replace Bangkok International Airport, the Nong Ngu Hao swamp area, covering a total area of ​​324 km², was chosen and purchased. Nong Ngu Hao means "Cobra Swamp" in Thai because of the abundance of venomous snakes living there. King Bhumibol Adulyadej then renamed the area Suvarnabhumi, meaning "Golden Land." However, political upheavals and the Asian financial crisis stalled the project. Many investors subsequently attempted to take over the project but failed. It was only during the tenure of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra that the project was resumed and completed.

The land leveling process took a full five years to complete, not including numerous previous failed attempts by investors.

In 1997, the land reclamation phase commenced, requiring a massive amount of earth and rock. However, excavating from other areas would create another large depression, and the cost would be prohibitively high. This was a major obstacle that led many investors to give up. At the same time, the Bangkok subway project began, so the government directed the use of earth and rock excavated from the tunnels to reclaim the swampy land. After five years of hard work, the swamp, teeming with venomous snakes, was completely reclaimed, ready for construction. In September 2006, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra officially announced the opening of Suvarnabhumi International Airport after 33 years of development.

Suvarnabhumi Airport is an architectural complex that harmoniously blends modern design with environmental friendliness.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport and the Bangkok Metro system are two major legacies left behind by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after his time in power. Thai people often recount the story of the colossal airport rising from a swamp teeming with venomous snakes as a miracle, with great pride. It is clear that achieving such monumental feats requires a unique vision, flexible policies, and unwavering perseverance.

Phan Minh