The early investment and construction deployment of the Long Thanh International Airport Phase 2 and the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Railway projects will enable Dong Nai City to develop an aviation economic ecosystem while enhancing regional connectivity with Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding localities.

Sustaining Sustainable Double-Digit Growth

According to planning, Long Thanh Airport, upon full completion, will become the largest airport in the country, boasting a capacity of 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo annually. In terms of investment phasing, the airport is divided into three stages, with Phase 1 scheduled to finish construction and enter commercial operations by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, Phase 2 was originally slated for completion before 2035. However, under the new developmental context, the early execution of Phase 2 has become increasingly urgent.

In 2025, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) proposed an early investment rollout for Phase 2. According to ACV, the passenger terminal for Phase 1 has a design capacity of 25 million passengers per year. At the time Phase 1 is operationalized, international passenger traffic is projected to reach 20 million arrivals annually. Consequently, Phase 2 needs to be deployed immediately after Phase 1 goes live.

In its submission to the 15th National Assembly at its 10th Session, the Government evaluated that conducting immediate investment research for the third runway under Phase 2 of the Long Thanh Airport Project would capitalize on the existing labor force, machinery, and equipment of contractors already on-site, thereby saving time and expenses, shortening construction timelines, and optimizing investment efficiency. It also minimizes construction-induced impacts on airport operations, such as dust and noise pollution.

At the end of 2025, during the 10th Session of the 15th National Assembly, the Government also submitted a proposal to amend National Assembly Resolution No. 94/2015/QH13 regarding the investment policy for Long Thanh Airport. Accordingly, the Government requested the National Assembly to authorize the Government to approve the Feasibility Study Report for Phase 2 under its own jurisdiction without requiring separate National Assembly approval.

According to the submission, although the Phase 1 feasibility study report had originally earmarked the timeline for Phase 2 investment research between 2028 and 2032, a double-digit GDP growth scenario mapped out from 2026 indicates that passenger volume across airports in general, and Long Thanh Airport in particular, will surge faster than previously forecast. Therefore, the Government petitioned to conduct investment research for Phase 2 much earlier than anticipated.

Meanwhile, the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Railway line is one of the rail networks approved by the Prime Minister in the railway network planning for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision toward 2050. This railway is engineered to connect Long Thanh Airport with the Cai Mep - Thi Vai deep-sea port cluster.

On May 18, during a working session between a Central Government delegation—led by General Secretary and President To Lam—and the Standing Committee of the Dong Nai Municipal Party Committee, the city requested that the Government prioritize allocating resources to deploy these two projects.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee and Chairman of the Municipal People's Committee, executing these two projects will maximize the operational efficiency of Long Thanh Airport while strengthening regional connectivity between Dong Nai City, Ho Chi Minh City, and neighboring provinces.

Reviewing and Resolving Dong Nai's Proposals

According to the approved investment policy and planning, Phase 2 of the Long Thanh Airport Project intends to invest in one additional runway (the 3rd runway), one passenger terminal with a capacity of 25 million passengers per year, and synchronous auxiliary facilities to meet operational demands.

Regarding the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Railway line, the planned route stretches approximately 132km, starting at Trang Bom Station (Dong Nai City) and terminating at Vung Tau Station (Ho Chi Minh City). This railway line is designed to support a passenger train speed of around 160 km/h and a freight train speed of 120 km/h.

According to Mr. Tran Hong Minh, Member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Construction, regarding Phase 2 of the Long Thanh Airport Project, in line with government decentralization, the Ministry of Construction has assigned ACV to carry out pre-investment preparations. Meanwhile, for the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Railway Project, the Ministry of Construction has tasked the Railway Project Management Board with drafting the Pre-Feasibility Study Report.

In Notice No. 69-TB/VPTW dated May 26, 2026, issued by the Office of the Party Central Committee detailing the conclusions of General Secretary and President To Lam at his working session with the Standing Committee of the Dong Nai Municipal Party Committee, President To Lam directed relevant ministries and sectors to review and resolve Dong Nai City's proposals within their jurisdictions. This includes the petition to allocate resources for deploying national key projects, most notably Long Thanh Airport Phase 2 and the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Railway.

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Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/