Vietnam’s biggest airport project ‘races to the finish line’

The Ministry of Construction has requested investors of the Long Thanh International Airport to complete the main route by August 2025 to facilitate trial operations of the passenger terminal and other components.

The move aims to have phase 1 of the $14.12 billion project, located in the southern province of Dong Nai, basically completed in 2025 and ready for commercial operations in the first half of 2026.

Passenger terminal to be completed by November 2025

In its report to the Prime Minister, the ministry said as of June 30, 2025, Component Project 1, which builds office buildings for state management agencies, is expected to be completed by December 2025.

Among them, the animal and plant quarantine stations are being closely monitored by the investors to ensure on-schedule completion.

Component Project 2 – air traffic management facilities – is also being accelerated. So far, the air traffic control tower has reached 107.93 meters high out of the planned 115 meters, with expansion work on the upper floors above level 15 currently underway. This facility is expected to be fully completed by September 30, 2025.

Other components such as the primary/secondary radar stations, radio transmitter/receiver stations, dependent surveillance stations, weather radar stations, and navigation beacons have completed their construction and are expected to be fully operational by August 2025.

For Component Project 3, which builds essential infrastructure, Package 4.6 (Runway No. 1) had approximately 90% of the work volume finished as of April 26, 2025. This package is expected to be finalized by December 2025.

The Runway No. 3 project, developed by Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), broke ground on May 30, 2025. Currently, roadbed preparation, taxiway, and drainage system construction are underway, with completion date set for December 2025.

Of particular note, Package 5.10 (the Passenger Terminal) has completed all reinforced concrete structures for the basement and floors 1 to 4. Steel structures, including central roof, wing roofs, jet bridges, and facade support frames, are nearly 80% complete, with full roof completion scheduled for November 30, 2025. Installation of glass facade panels is also expected to finish in November 2025.

Ensuring material supply to avoid delays

Based on the recent review, to ensure the project is substantially completed in 2025, enabling flight calibration, technical testing, and eventual commercial operation in early 2026, the construction ministry has directed the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam to urgently finalize the selection of investors for hangar projects No. 2, 3, and 4 by July 12, 2025, to allow timely construction commencement.

Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) has been tasked with ensuring the timely completion of all items under Component Project 2, especially packages involving specialized air traffic management equipment. VATM is also to study and propose a temporary power supply plan to support trial operations.

The ministry proposed competent authorities instruct the ACV to regularly review and update construction progress weekly, promptly resolve difficulties and obstacles, and direct contractors to mobilize additional labor and equipment, as well as increase construction efforts.

The investor has been asked to prioritize completing the main route by August 2025 to enable the installation of technical infrastructure systems such as water supply/drainage, electricity and signals needed for trial operations of the passenger terminal and related items in Component Projects 1, 2, and 4.

ACV is also coordinating with Dong Nai provincial People’s Committee to expedite procedures for supplying stone materials for the project, increasing extraction capacity and hours of operation at quarries, and proactively securing alternative stone sources to ensure an uninterrupted material supply.

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

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