Prime Minister’s 8th Inspection of Long Thanh Airport: Targeting December 19, 2025 for Substantial Completion.

Accompanying the Prime Minister were Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh, leaders of ministries, sectors, central agencies, and local authorities. The Prime Minister visited the construction site of the second runway at the airport and then proceeded to the airport terminal construction site to inspect the progress and listen to a report on the construction results and implementation progress.

Long Thanh International Airport is a key national project with a total investment of approximately VND 109,000 billion in phase 1. It comprises component projects 1 (headquarters of state management agencies), component project 2 (facilities serving air traffic control), component project 3 (essential facilities within the airport, including the passenger terminal, with a total investment of VND 99,000 billion), and component project 4 (ground-handling service facilities such as in-flight catering, aircraft maintenance, etc.).

This is the eighth time Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has inspected this project, with the most recent visit being on March 20, 2025. According to the reports and opinions at the meeting, after the inspection on March 20, the ministries and agencies have completed many important tasks.

Specifically, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has implemented the construction of the headquarters of the animal and plant quarantine station, completed the inspection of responsibilities for the slow implementation of the project, and submitted to the Government a resolution on the application of special mechanisms in the licensing of mineral exploitation for construction materials. The People’s Committee of Dong Nai province has directed the supply of sand and rocks for the project (approximately 1.73 million m3 have arrived at the construction site).

The Ministry of Construction has selected investors for 4 aircraft maintenance hangars, submitted for approval the adjustment of the project, and worked with the Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV) to review and report on shortening the project implementation schedule, developing a detailed schedule, and determining the completion time in December 2025, as well as organizing technical flights. The investors have reviewed and implemented the construction of the headquarters of state management agencies, ensuring completion as scheduled.

Regarding progress, it is noteworthy that all packages of component project 3 (essential facilities) are currently being implemented simultaneously by ACV across the entire site with hundreds of construction sites, nearly 13,000 experts, engineers, workers, and about 3,000 construction equipment to accelerate the progress.

Component project 3 has a total of 14 packages, of which 3 have been completed, and the remaining 11 are under construction. Up to now, the total value of the work volume is about 40,316/79,468 billion VND, reaching 50.73% compared to the signed contract value.

Specifically for the passenger terminal, 4,700 personnel and more than 1,000 machinery and equipment are currently being arranged for construction; 99% of the steel structure of the roof has been completed, and it is expected that the entire roof structure will be finished before August 15, 2025.

The first runway has been basically completed, and ACV has completed the selection of contractors in special cases, started construction of the second runway on May 30, 2025, and the joint venture contractor has mobilized more than 283 engineers and workers with 127 vehicles and equipment for construction.

Besides, there are still many tasks that have not been completed, including some very important ones that directly affect the operation of the airport.

Early Operation of the Project with the Spirit of “Nothing is Impossible”

After listening to the reports and opinions, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh commended the relevant agencies, especially the Ministry of Construction and ACV, acknowledging the numerous tasks that have been implemented and basically completed within more than 3 months since the previous inspection. This also serves as a valuable lesson, demonstrating the effectiveness and necessity of inspection and supervision. However, there remains a substantial amount of work to be done to achieve the synchronized completion and operation of all related items.

According to the Prime Minister, the early completion and operation of the project hold significant importance: It affirms the confidence and determination to overcome difficulties and challenges of the relevant subjects; demonstrates the growth and strength of the Ministry of Construction, the Project Management Board, ACV, investors, contractors, and consultants; enhances investment efficiency; ensures harmonious and effective coordination between agencies, units, and localities; contributes to job creation and livelihoods for the people, promoting economic growth; proves that “nothing is impossible,” and the question is whether there is determination and the right approach in carrying out the tasks.

With the goal of striving to basically complete the project by December 19, 2025, inaugurating it as per regulations, and putting it into commercial operation in early 2026, the Prime Minister requested that the ministries, sectors, the People’s Committees of Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai province, investors, contractors, consulting units, engineers, workers, and laborers should make greater efforts and display stronger determination and higher resolve, focusing on fully and seriously implementing the conclusions and directions of the Prime Minister, and completing the tasks.

Emphasizing the spirit of speed and boldness, “only discussing doing, not discussing retreating,” “overcoming the sun, winning against the rain, and not losing to storms,” “3 shifts, 4 teams,” constructing “through holidays, Tet, and rest days,” the Prime Minister directed the agencies to rebuild the schedule according to the set goals, assign tasks with “clear people, clear work, clear time, clear responsibilities, clear results, and clear authority,” and strengthen monitoring, supervision, and inspection.

Accordingly, the four component projects must be completed, ensuring smooth traffic connectivity, firstly connecting with expressways, roads, and railways. The technical inspection of air traffic control must be completed, along with the completion of telecommunication infrastructure, electricity, and water supply, environmental landscape, and accompanying services such as fuel supply. The Prime Minister particularly emphasized the importance of adhering to the schedule while ensuring quality, technical and artistic requirements, safety, environmental sanitation, paying attention to planting more trees, preventing corruption and negativity, and preparing well for the implementation of airport operation projects. The planning of the airport city should be completed, and the logistics and free trade areas should be urgently implemented.

Assigning specific tasks, the Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Construction to review and direct the relevant agencies to urgently implement the traffic connection projects, giving priority to using all available tools to start construction soon. The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City was asked to promptly study and implement the railway connection between Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh airports. ACV was instructed to immediately start constructing the third runway.

Regarding the proposals and recommendations, the Prime Minister agreed in principle with the selection of contractors in special cases, preventing corruption, negativity, and wastefulness. The Ministry of Construction was requested to prepare well for the acceptance process in accordance with regulations.

The Prime Minister also required the investor to establish a catering service area to take care of the engineers, workers, and units at the construction site, with the main focus on serving them.

Nhon Trach Bridge connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai province to be inaugurated on August 19

On the evening of the same day, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspected the Ho Chi Minh City Belt Road 3 project, Tan Van – Nhon Trach section, including the Nhon Trach Bridge project.

The Belt Road 3 project in Ho Chi Minh City is 76 km long, running through 3 localities: Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Tay Ninh, with a total investment of VND 75,300 billion funded by the state budget.

Component project 1A, the Tan Van – Nhon Trach section (passing through Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai), is 8.22 km long and has achieved nearly 98% of the construction volume as of the end of July. It will be opened to traffic on August 19. Nhon Trach Bridge, a key item of component project 1A and the largest bridge on the Belt Road 3, will also be opened to traffic on the same day.