$3.4 bln rail line proposed to link Vietnam's Tan Son Nhat, Long Thanh airports

The $3.4 billion Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway line is expected to address transportation needs between Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City and Long Thanh International Airport in neighboring Dong Nai province, according to the Ministry of Construction.

The rail route will span approximately 42 kilometers. It will be designed for speeds of up to 120 km/h and will include 20 stations, serving both intra-city and interprovincial passengers traveling from HCMC and Dong Nai to the Long Thanh airport.

Developing a transportation link between the two airports is essential in the context of overloaded existing infrastructure and the near completion of Long Thanh airport, said the ministry in its proposal submitted to the Prime Minister regarding the implementation of the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway project.

According to the proposal, passenger transport between the two airports would be served via two main routes: Metro Line 6, connecting infrastructure facilities in the Phu Huu Station area; and Metro Line 2, linking from the Thu Thiem Station area to Tan Son Nhat airport.

Currently, Metro Lines 2 and 6, along with the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway, are included in HCMC’s urban railway master plan and the national railway network plan.

Therefore, to ensure smooth and efficient operations between Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh airports, these projects must be developed in a coordinated manner in terms of timing, technology, and operational management.

The Ministry of Construction emphasized the urgent need to implement a rail connection between the two airports to ensure cohesion and consistency in construction and operation, maximize the value of surrounding land resources, and enhance the autonomy of local authorities in project implementation.

At the same time, the ministry proposed that HCMC be allowed to study the inclusion of the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway in the city’s urban railway master plan and that the line be added to the list of projects eligible for special mechanisms under the National Assembly's Resolution No. 188.

Earlier, concluding the 6th meeting of the Southeast Region Coordinating Council on Tuesday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh tasked the HCMC People's Committee with coordinating with the Dong Nai provincial People’s Committee, the Ministry of Construction, and other relevant ministries and agencies to urgently study and submit proposals within Q3 regarding policies and plans to connect the two airports via railway or metro systems.

Previously, a consortium led by multi-sector firm DonaCoop and VinaCapital has proposed a VND65 trillion ($2.48 billion) metro line connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Long Thanh International Airport.

According to their proposal recently submitted to the Dong Nai People's Committee, the project would extend the existing Metro Line No. 1 from Suoi Tien Station in HCMC to Dong Nai's new administrative center in Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park, spanning 6.5 kilometers. From there, the line would run another 27 km to Long Thanh airport. An additional 5 km extension is planned to reach the downtown area of former Bien Hoa town from the new provincial center, bringing the total proposed length to nearly 40 km.

In addition to the above project, Dong Nai province is also planning a 21 km metro line from Suoi Tien to its Ho Nai ward, with an estimated cost of VND30 trillion ($1.14 billion), to be funded by central and local government budgets, ODA loans, or local bonds.

Located about 40 km east of HCMC, Long Thanh International Airport is Vietnam’s biggest aviation infrastructure project to date, with a total investment of VND336.63 trillion ($14.12 billion). The airport is being developed in three phases.

The first phase, nearing completion and slated for opening next year, includes one runway, a passenger terminal, and auxiliary facilities designed to serve 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo annually.

Phase 2, scheduled by 2035, will expand capacity to 50 million passengers and 1.5 million tons of cargo by adding a second runway and terminal. In the final phase, Long Thanh is expected to reach full operational capacity of 100 million passengers and five million tons of cargo per year by 2050.

Once completed, the 5,000-hectare airport will help ease congestion at HCMC's Tan Son Nhat International Airport, which currently operates beyond its 25-million-passenger capacity.