Vietnam’s aviation industry is taking off, and the world is taking notice. Simple Flying, a renowned aviation website, recently published an article titled “Long Thanh – Ho Chi Minh City’s New International Airport: 5 Facts About Southeast Asia’s Rising Gem.” The article celebrates the development of this new aviation hub in Vietnam, dubbing it a “gem” in the region.
Vietnam is experiencing a boom in commercial air travel, and its airports are struggling to keep up. According to the Vietnam Aviation Authority, domestic airports are expected to serve 78.3 million passengers by 2024, an 8% increase from the previous year. This growth is fueled by a surge in international visitors, with numbers projected to reach 43.5 million in 2024, a 33% jump from 2023.
Vietnam’s domestic air route between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is the busiest in Southeast Asia and the fourth busiest in the world, serving nearly 11 million passengers last year. This rapid growth has outpaced the capacity of existing airports, highlighting the need for a new, modern aviation hub.
The current international airports in Hanoi (Noi Bai International Airport) and Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat International Airport) are operating well beyond their designed capacities. Noi Bai, designed for 10 million annual passengers, now serves 30 million, while Tan Son Nhat, with a capacity of 30 million, is expected to operate at 150% capacity this year.
Enter Long Thanh International Airport, located 40km east of Ho Chi Minh City. With a massive 100 km2 site, ten times larger than Tan Son Nhat, it is poised to become Vietnam’s largest and most modern airport. The airport is designed to be a new global aviation hub, accommodating the rapid growth in air travel to and from Vietnam.
Long Thanh International Airport: 4 Runways, 4 Terminals
The airport will feature four parallel runways, each 4,000 meters long, and four separate terminals, each with four floors and a total floor area of over 400,000 square meters. With a capacity to handle more than 100 million passengers annually, it will double the current capacity of Tan Son Nhat. Construction of the airport began in January 2021 and will be completed in three phases.
Phase 1 (2021-2026): This initial phase is estimated to cost $7.8 billion and includes the construction of two runways and the first terminal, as well as land acquisition for future phases. Upon completion in 2026, the airport will have an annual capacity of 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo.
Phase 2 (2026-2035): An additional investment of $4.8 billion will be made to double the passenger capacity to over 50 million. Phase 3 (After 2035): The final phase is estimated to cost $7.2 billion and will include the construction of the fourth runway and terminal, bringing the total design capacity to over 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo annually.
Upon completion of Phase 1, Long Thanh is expected to operate alongside Tan Son Nhat. Vietnam Airlines and most international carriers flying to Vietnam may transition to the new airport, while Tan Son Nhat will continue to serve low-cost carriers, similar to Bangkok’s dual-airport system. However, in the long run, Long Thanh is poised to become the primary aviation hub for the country, according to Simple Flying.
The design of Long Thanh International Airport has been entrusted to Heerim Architects & Planners, a South Korean firm known for their work on Incheon International Airport’s Terminal 2 in Seoul. The design of the terminal takes the shape of a lotus flower, Vietnam’s national flower, incorporating local culture and aesthetics into the architecture. Heerim describes their vision as follows: “The design of Long Thanh International Airport draws inspiration from the graceful shape of the lotus flower, symbolizing the elegance, strength, and warm culture of the Vietnamese people. The airport boasts a high level of completion in both aesthetics and functionality, utilizing the best technology and airport design in the world, while seamlessly integrating Vietnamese cultural elements into the country’s new gateway.”
The Fifth Inspection: Prime Minister Issues an Ultimatum for the $16 Billion Airport Project, Emphasizing No Further Delays for the Nation’s Largest Infrastructure Investment.
The $16 billion airport, which is poised to become a major transportation hub for Vietnam with a capacity to handle 100 million passengers annually, has received a directive from the Prime Minister to be completed by 2025, with no room for delays.
The Road to Progress: Dong Nai Invests VND 1,500 Billion in Upgrading Two Vital Routes to Long Thanh International Airport’s Gateway
The Dong Nai province is set to upgrade and expand two critical provincial roads, 25B and 25C, which serve as vital gateways to the Long Thanh International Airport. These roads, traversing the districts of Long Thanh and Nhon Trach, will undergo significant enhancements to facilitate smoother travel to and from this major transportation hub.
The Long Thanh Airport Component 4 Project: Delays Risk Significant Waste
The delay in the implementation of Component 4 will have a significant impact on the Long Thanh Airport development plan, posing a high risk of substantial waste.
The Ultimate Guide to Dong Nai Real Estate in 2025: Unlocking the Potential with Transport and Infrastructure Developments
The Dong Nai real estate market is experiencing a surge in investor interest thanks to its strategic location advantage and well-developed transport infrastructure, particularly the Long Thanh International Airport and a host of industrial parks and large-scale projects. This has catalyzed the growth in property values and transformed the area into a modern and desirable living environment for residents and investors alike.
The Ground Handling Giants of Saigon and Hanoi Form a 7.81 Trillion VND Consortium, Gear Up to Bid for a Project at Long Thanh Airport
Introducing the dynamic duo that’s taking the industry by storm – SGN and HGS. With SGN leading the pack as the head of the joint venture, contributing a substantial 75% of the capital, and HGS bringing up the rear with a strong 25%, this power couple is set to dominate the market. Their combined expertise and resources create a force to be reckoned with, leaving competitors in their dust. Get ready for a game-changing journey as this formidable team takes center stage, revolutionizing the industry with their unparalleled skills and strategic partnership.
