The Government has requested that Long Thanh International Airport be put into operation right on schedule in 2026, affirming its position as a strategic aviation hub for Dong Nai City and the region.

Long Thanh International Airport, the nation's most critical transportation infrastructure project, is entering its sprint construction phase. Following a factual inspection tour, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc emphasized that bringing this mega-airport into commercial operation within 2026 is a mandatory requirement that cannot be delayed.

Strategic goals and timeline pressure in 2026

In the context of Dong Nai officially becoming Vietnam's 7th municipality directly under the Central Government, the Long Thanh Airport project is expected to serve as a new growth engine for the entire Southern Key Economic Zone. Government leadership affirmed that this is not merely a pure transportation project but a vital link in the global logistics supply chain.

The project is oriented to become a regional-scale aviation transit hub closely tied to a modern "airport economy" model. This ecosystem encompasses synchronous commercial services, warehousing, and logistics, promising to reshape the economic landscape of Dong Nai City in the coming decades.

A corner of the Long Thanh International Airport construction site. Photo: VINACONEX

Accelerating synchronous construction of core components

To ensure the 2026 operational milestone, the Government requires project owners and contractors to mobilize maximum resources in machinery and equipment. The prerequisite requirement is synchronicity: from the passenger terminal and cargo terminal to the air traffic control tower and connecting transportation systems, all must be completed simultaneously.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that even a delay in a minor component would drag down the airport's entire operational capability. Therefore, coordination between construction and supervision units needs to be strictly executed, particularly in the installation phase of complex technical equipment.

Inside the Long Thanh Airport passenger terminal, where construction is being rushed forward. Photo: VINACONEX

Human resource challenges and disbursement progress

Although the volume of work is being pushed aggressively, the project is currently facing a severe personnel shortage. According to data from the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the construction site is short of about 2,400 workers (equivalent to 27% of actual demand) to maintain the detailed plan.

As of May 22, component project 3—essential works invested by ACV—has reached an executed production value of 65.602 trillion VND, accounting for approximately 75.97% of the total value of signed contracts. To compensate for the timeline, construction units are being encouraged to make the most of favorable weather conditions and organize overnight work shifts.

Workers pulled overnight shifts on the construction site. Photo: VINACONEX

The 3-phase development roadmap of the 16-billion-USD mega-project

The Long Thanh International Airport project has a total investment capital of approximately 336.6 trillion VND (over 16 billion USD), divided into a specific roadmap:

• Phase 1: Constructing one runway, one passenger terminal with a capacity of 25 million passengers/year, and 1.2 million tons of cargo. The total approved capital is around 109.111 trillion VND.

• Phase 2: Adding another runway and terminal, raising the capacity to 50 million passengers/year.

• Phase 3: Finalizing all components to reach a maximum capacity of 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo per year, becoming one of the largest airfields in Southeast Asia.

ACV has been tasked with building a detailed week-by-week plan, tying individual responsibility to handle potential delay risks promptly. Notably, the technical tunnel and power supply systems must be finished before June 10, and the cargo terminal needs to be basically completed this coming October.

Perspective rendering of Long Thanh International Airport upon completion. Illustrative photo

Once in operation, Long Thanh Airport will not only relieve the load on Tan Son Nhat but also generate new development space for urban growth, logistics, and services in Dong Nai City, asserting Vietnam's position on the international aviation map.

Note: Project information may change according to planning adjustments and actual progress from the investor.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/