Mega Long Thanh airport first phase should be completed in Sept 2026: senior parliament official

Relevant agencies should prepare to complete the first phase of the $14-billion Long Thanh International Airport project on September 2, 2026, as soon as the Vietnamese National Assembly approves changes to the project, said a senior parliament member.

Nguyen Minh Son, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Economic Committee, made the statement during a visit last weekend to the construction site of the mega airport in the southern province of Dong Nai.

The target is slower than the target of "end-2025" set by the Prime Minister and Resolution 94/2015 of the National Assembly, the country's highest legislative body.

State-controlled Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the project investor, noted at the meeting with Son that the project is moving at a slow pace.

The corporation recommended additional construction of a runway in the first phase of the project, instead of the third phase.

It also proposed the Government, instead of the National Assembly only, be able to approve changes to the project, as this can speed up the progress.

The Ministry of Transport had already made such proposals to the Prime Minister for approval, participants said at the meeting. The National Assembly agreed with the draft changes, saying it can help solve challenges of the project.

Concluding the event, Son affirmed that changes to the project’s investment policy are necessary to facilitate safe and efficient operation of the airport.

Long Thanh International Airport, about 40 kilometers east of Ho Chi Minh City, is a mega project with a total investment of VND336.63 trillion ($14.12 billion) divided into three phases.

The first phase, worth VND110 trillion, will consist of a runway, a terminal and auxiliary facilities that can serve 25 million passengers per year.

The terminal is the largest package in the first phase. Construction of the VND35 trillion ($1.49 billion) terminal commenced on August 31, 2023 and is set to be completed in 39 months. It will cover 150 hectares, featuring one basement and three floors, and 40 aprons.