“Enhancing Connectivity: Forging Transport Links Between Ho Chi Minh City and Long Thanh International Airport”

On August 20th, a working group from the National Assembly’s Economic and Financial Committee, led by Vice President of the National Assembly Vu Hong Thanh, inspected the Long Thanh International Airport project and supervised the implementation of the National Assembly’s resolutions on key national projects and socio-economic development in the province of Dong Nai.

According to the People’s Committee of Dong Nai province, in the first six months of the year, the local economy (GRDP) grew by 8.23%, ranking 13th out of 34 provinces and cities, higher than the national average (7.52%). Various economic sectors and investment attractions continued to develop with remarkable improvements.

Regarding compensation and site clearance for key projects, the province has completed the handover of the entire site for the Long Thanh International Airport project. It has also substantially completed site clearance for the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway project and is expediting construction to technically open the project on December 19th.

The province is also working on compensation, site clearance, and construction of the Ben Luc – Long Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City – Chon Thanh – Hoa Lu, and Gia Nghia – Chon Thanh expressways. Additionally, they are finalizing procedures to propose to the Government the development of a National Assembly resolution on the establishment and advancement of a free trade area in the province.

Reporting to the supervision delegation, Mr. Nguyen Tien Viet, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV), informed that construction is simultaneously underway for all packages at the Long Thanh International Airport. On the construction site, the contractor consortium has mobilized approximately 17,000 personnel and machinery to work day and night, with many packages ahead of schedule by three to six months. It is anticipated that flight calibration will take place on September 25, 2025. The units aim to essentially complete all items of the project before December 19, 2025.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Viet also stated that to meet the new progress requirements at Long Thanh International Airport as directed by the Government, ACV has worked with consulting units to expedite the preparation for operation and maintenance, ensuring that Long Thanh International Airport will be put into operation immediately after the successful trial run. ACV is also preparing the necessary procedures for the Government to report to the National Assembly for approval of the investment policy for the third runway at Long Thanh International Airport in accordance with the law.

At the working session, many members of the working group expressed that the current transportation system connecting Dong Nai province is not adequately invested and lacks synchronization. For example, there is still no direct bridge or road connection between Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc, which merged to form the new province of Dong Nai. There is also a lack of transportation links between Ho Chi Minh City and Long Thanh International Airport. The province’s public investment disbursement remains low, with many long-delayed projects.

It is suggested to study the following items at Long Thanh International Airport and propose to the competent authority for consideration if they can be implemented in this phase.

Speaking at the supervision session, Vice President of the National Assembly Vu Hong Thanh appreciated that Dong Nai province is implementing a series of key national projects with a vast amount of work. Overcoming difficulties, the province has achieved positive results, especially in site clearance for Long Thanh International Airport and Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway.

Compared to the previous supervision, the progress of the projects has significantly improved, especially the Long Thanh International Airport and Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway projects, with many technical innovations to shorten the construction time and mobilize the entire political system for propaganda and mobilization to hand over the site.

The Vice President of the National Assembly proposed that Dong Nai province needs to accelerate and promote public investment disbursement because public investment plays a leading and stimulating role in the development of other economic components. It is necessary to soon build road and railway transport connections, especially between Long Thanh International Airport and Ho Chi Minh City. Local authorities need to promptly update the provincial planning with new projects such as railways, free trade areas, and the conversion of Bien Hoa Industrial Park 1’s functions; while also paying attention to the lives of ethnic minority people in border areas.