Cam Ranh Airport was built by the United States Army during the Vietnam War, and operated by the United States Air Force for military purposes as Cam Ranh Air Base.

In 1972, the base was turned over to the South Vietnamese government. On April 3, 1975, North Vietnamese forces captured Cam Ranh Bay and all of its remaining facilities. From 1979 to 2002, the facility was used by the Soviet and then Russian Air Force because of a 25-year rent-free leasing treaty.

On May 19, 2004, after major reconstruction, the airport received its first commercial flight from Hanoi. It now handles all of Nha Trang's commercial flights, which previously headed to Nha Trang Airport. In 2007, Cam Ranh was upgraded to an international airport.

In December, 2009 Cam Ranh International Airport was opened. The total invested capital is up to about 300 billion VND.