Southern Vietnam airport project Long Thanh on fast track, test flights set for December

Construction of the Long Thanh International Airport in the southern province of Dong Nai is progressing on schedule, with calibration flights for Runway 1 planned for September 25 and a technical test flight expected on December 19.

Reporting the progress to Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha during his Sunday inspection trip, relevant units said that land clearance for the airport has reached 100%, with 4,946.45 hectares recovered.

An additional 126.13 hectares for two connecting roads (T1 and T2) have also been fully handed over to Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV).

Sub-project 1 on building state management headquarters has completed structural work, with interior finishing underway. It is on track for full completion by December 31, 2025.

For sub-project 2 on air traffic management infrastructure, construction is expected to finish by September 2025 and equipment installation by December 2025.

Regarding sub-project 3 on essential airport facilities, three of 15 contract packages have been completed while the rest under construction.

Nguyen Tien Viet, deputy general director of ACV, reported that connecting Road No.1 has been completed, while Road No.2 is over 80% finished and expected to wrap up within the month.

Within the airport site, Runway 1 and associated taxiways are fully completed, with Runway 3 construction also accelerating. The terminal building’s roofing is largely done, and glass installation is set to finish in September.

However, Package 4.8 (internal roads and facilities) has faced delays due to adverse weather, with completion targeted for later this month.

Contractors are now working intensively on key infrastructure systems, including aprons, internal traffic, fuel supply, technical utilities, and airport management systems. Measures are being taken to resolve issues related to site overlap, weather disruptions, and logistical conflicts.

To ease chronic congestion at the Dong Nai Bridge caused by heavy container traffic, ACV has proposed prioritizing freight flow on Ho Chi Minh City’s newly opened Ring Road 3. It also recommends limiting container trucks to a single lane on the bridge to reduce pressure.

Preparing personnel for operating 5-star int’l airport

Deputy Minister of Construction Pham Minh Ha confirmed that most major obstacles have been resolved. The Ministry of Construction is working closely with ACV, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, and Vietnam Airlines to ensure smooth coordination, timely problem-solving, and overall project efficiency.

Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha emphasized the need to adhere strictly to the committed timeline. He called on all parties to report any technical or administrative bottlenecks for immediate resolution.

He also stressed the importance of preparing a fully capable operations team, covering airport management, security, and customer service up to 5-star international airport standards.

For the surrounding infrastructure, Dong Nai province was tasked with finalizing land-use planning for resettlement areas and submitting proposals for financial adjustments to the Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister. External infrastructure works must also stay on schedule.

Additionally, the Deputy PM urged local authorities to collaborate with the Ministry of Construction on a comprehensive development plan for the Long Thanh area, encompassing industrial zones, urban areas, services, and commerce, to ensure integration and avoid isolating the airport from regional growth.

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.