Southern Vietnam airport Long Thanh’s phase 1 secures extra $23.69 mln in funding

The investment for the first phase of Long Thanh International Airport in the southern province of Dong Nai has been increased by around VND606 billion ($23.69 million), under a decision recently approved by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha.

With the additional funding, total investment for the first phase has exceeded VND109.71 trillion (nearly $4.28 billion).

Construction of the project, about 40 km east of Ho Chi Minh City, is scheduled to last until 2026, with basic completion expected within 2025.

The new decision also includes adjustments and supplements concerning investors for Component 4.

Accordingly, the Dong Nai People’s Committee has been tasked with selecting investors for aircraft fuel pipeline systems from the source port to the boundary of the airport, airport city, aviation industrial park, and airline operations center.

The Ministry of Construction will select investors for the aircraft maintenance area (hangars 1 to 4), Cargo Terminal 2, an express cargo terminal, and cargo handling warehouses 5 to 8.

State-owned Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) will invest in warehouses 1 to 4, solar power systems, technical infrastructure connected seamlessly with aviation service facilities.

The first phase has also been revised to comprise two runways instead of one, along with a passenger terminal, and supporting facilities designed to handle 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo annually.

The two runways, each measuring 4,000 meters in length and 75 meters in width, will be complemented by a taxiway and apron system that can accommodate various aircraft types, ensuring the airport meets its projected capacity.

Meanwhile, Component 3, comprising essential facilities, will be carried out by the airport operator. Its key elements include general infrastructure, airfield structures, aprons, a fuel supply system, a passenger terminal, Cargo Terminal 1, a parking area, an airport operations building, and various supporting facilities.

During his recent visit to the construction site, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked investors, contractors, and relevant ministries and agencies to strictly adhere to the timeline, with construction to be basically completed in 2025 and commercial operations to begin in the first half of 2026.

For Component 1, he asked investors to speed up the construction of the headquarters for state management agencies, with completion required by the end of this year.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment was requested to complete the construction of a plant and animal quarantine station in the year as committed. It must also conduct an accountability review for individuals and organizations responsible for delays in the project and submit a report to the Prime Minister before May 30.

Regarding Component 2, PM Chinh tasked the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) with ensuring trial operations in October 2025 as planned, while working closely with ACV on equipment testing and the operation and management of the project.

The cabinet leader noted that Component 3 involves the heaviest workload, particularly the roof of the passenger terminal, which ACV is actively working on. He said after completing the roofing, efforts should focus on implementing contracts to achieve basic completion in 2025.

Regarding Component 4, the government leader asked the Ministry of Construction to outline an investor selection mechanism for special cases, allowing national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines to invest in hangars 1 and 2, and budget carrier Vietjet Air to develop hangars 3 and 4.

With regard to connectivity infrastructure, he instructed the ministry, along with the people's committees of Dong Nai and neighboring Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces, to ramp up efforts for the technical opening of Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway in April 2025, with full completion expected two months later. The two other component projects must also be completed within the year.

Mentioning railway connectivity between Long Thanh and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC, the PM asked the HCMC People's Committee to immediately study options for a rail connection, either elevated or subway, while considering cooperation with foreign partners during implementation.

Long Thanh airport is a mega project with a total investment of VND336.63 trillion ($14.12 billion) that will be built in three phases. It is set to welcome the first plane to make landing or take off in July 2025.

Once fully completed, the 5,000-hectare airport will be the nation’s biggest, helping reduce overload at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.