‘Lightning-Fast’ Construction: $16 Billion Airport Nears Completion, Poised to Take Vietnam Into a New Era

Long Thanh International Airport to Welcome First Flight on December 19

On December 19, Long Thanh Airport will welcome its first flight from Hanoi to Long Thanh International Airport. The aircraft will taxi through the completed passenger boarding bridges to the terminal, marking the completion of the project’s first phase.

This update was shared by Mr. Nguyen Tien Viet, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV), during a government meeting reviewing the progress of key national infrastructure projects in the transportation sector for the first half of 2025.

Providing further updates on the construction progress of Long Thanh International Airport to the Prime Minister, Mr. Nguyen Tien Viet assured that the project is generally on track as per the government’s directives.

“On December 19, coinciding with the inauguration of several major infrastructure projects across the country, Long Thanh Airport will welcome its first flight from Hanoi to Long Thanh International Airport,” shared the Deputy General Director of ACV. “The aircraft will use the completed passenger boarding bridges to taxi into the terminal, marking the completion of the project’s first phase.”

In conclusion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh instructed the Ministry of Finance to direct ACV and relevant agencies to comprehensively review the project’s progress, increase manpower and equipment, and organize shifts to make up for lost time. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining strict quality control, ensuring labor safety, and adopting rational and scientific construction methods.

Accelerating the Completion of Long Thanh International Airport’s Components

The two main access routes to Long Thanh Airport, Route 1 (T1) and Route 2 (T2), are making significant progress. Route T1 was opened to traffic on April 30, while Route T2 has achieved technical completion. Both routes are expected to be officially opened for technical use in August 2025.

In addition to these new routes, the existing roads of Ton Duc Thang (25B) and Nguyen Ai Quoc (25C) in Nhon Trach district are also being expanded and upgraded by the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee to ensure synchronized connectivity to Long Thanh Airport.

Regarding the terminal, the roofing for all three wings of the main terminal has been completed, and over 12,000 square meters of glass walls have been installed. The installation of glass walls is expected to be finalized by the end of August. The central area of the terminal has also received a waterproof coating on the first floor, and other finishing works are being expedited for completion by September 2025.

The passenger boarding bridge system is also taking shape, with 12 out of 32 main pillars completed. The bridges are being assembled on-site, and the goal is to have 36 out of 64 bridges installed by December 31. Additionally, the installation of the baggage conveyor system is in progress, with approximately 50% of the supports and 30% of the system already in place.

Spanning nearly 5,000 hectares in Long Thanh district, Dong Nai province, Long Thanh International Airport is designed to serve 100 million passengers and transport 5 million tons of cargo annually. With an investment of over $16 billion, it will become Vietnam’s largest airport upon completion.

The upcoming first flight to Long Thanh Airport signifies not just a technical milestone but also a symbolic step forward. It represents a modern and developing Vietnam that is ready to connect globally in the new era of international air transportation.