Long Thanh International Airport: Vietnam’s Gateway to a New Era of Global Aviation

As the aviation landscape of Southeast Asia evolves rapidly, Long Thanh International Airport is preparing to become a game-changer. Set for partial operations in mid-2026, this mega-infrastructure project will help alleviate congestion at Tan Son Nhat, support booming tourism, and establish Vietnam as a major hub in the region. Below is a detailed look at the project status, infrastructure, and what it will mean for B2B travel agents, consolidators, corporate travel planners, and airline operators.

Project Overview: Scale, Phases, & Capacity

• The airport is being built on a 5,000-hectare site in Dong Nai Province, about 40 km east of Ho Chi Minh City.

• Total investment is approximately VND 336.63 trillion (~USD 13–14 billion) for full development through all phases.

• Phase 1, expected to begin operation in mid-2026, will feature one runway, one passenger terminal, and supporting facilities. Capacity: 25 million passengers/year plus ~1.2 million tons of cargo annually.

• Phase 2, slated for completion by 2035, will expand capacity to 50 million passengers/year and ~1.5 million tons of cargo with a second runway and terminal.

• Full build-out (Phase 3) is projected by about 2050, targeting 100 million passengers/year, and 5 million tons of cargo.
  
  

Strategic Rationale & Aviation Impacts

• Congestion relief: Tan Son Nhat is operating well beyond capacity, affecting punctuality, customer experience, and airline scheduling. Long Thanh is designed to absorb much of the international / long-haul traffic to ease that burden.

• Economic development: Authorities expect the airport to generate significant spillover effects—boosting tourism, trade, industrial zones, logistics hubs, free trade zones, and employment in Dong Nai and surrounding provinces.

• Airline / Route Planning: Airlines will need to decide which international routes move to Long Thanh, which remain at Tan Son Nhat (especially short-hauls), and how to balance operations during transition. For corporate travel and consolidators, flight schedules, transfer times, and connectivity will be key.

Infrastructure & Connectivity: Key Enablers & Risks

Long Thanh’s success depends heavily not just on the airport itself but on how well travellers, staff, cargo, and workers can reach it.

Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway (major route). Ben Luc–Long Thanh Expressway (47 km, 4 lanes). * Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway, Dau Giay–Phan Thiet Expressway, etc.

Congestion already on key expressways (e.g. HCMC-Dau Giay). Some road expansions / widening (e.g. from 4 to 8 lanes) and inter-routes (Route 1, Route 2, Route 3) still under planning or construction.

Rail / Light Rail / High-Speed Links

Thu Thiem – Long Thanh Light Rail: proposed ~41-42 km, 20 stations. Planned to be operational by 2030. Proposed high-speed rail link as part of North-South high-speed railway to include a station at Long Thanh.

None of the rail/metro lines connecting the airport are yet under full construction or guaranteed timeline. Feasibility studies and investor decisions are still pending. Passenger preference and ease of access will heavily depend on how quickly these rail links materialize.

Passenger Distribution & Operational Scenarios

Government / ACV considering several models (all international flights move; or long-haul international go to Long Thanh, short haul/internationals stay at Tan Son Nhat). Early contracts and construction (runway, apron, lighting etc.) are being fast-tracked; some packages ahead of schedule.

Disruption risk during transition: airlines, agents need clarity on which flights will shift when, possible travel-time penalties until infrastructure (esp rail/metro) catches up. Connectivity delays might degrade competitiveness if travellers prefer more accessible airports.

What This Means for B2B Stakeholders (Travel Agents, Airlines, Corporates)

• Route and schedule planning: Airlines should begin modelling shifting international & long-haul services to Long Thanh; factor in transit times, costs, customs, baggage handling, and potential overlapping operations during transition.

• Product packaging & client communication: Travel agents need to inform clients about transfer time to/from airport, options (road vs planned future rail), possible delays, and cost implications. Corporate travel programs will need updated policies considering costs, convenience, and risk.

• Cargo & logistics opportunities: With the planned cargo capacity (1.2 M tons in phase 1 up to 5 M tons), logistics firms and freight partners can explore new hubs, warehousing near Long Thanh, export-oriented infrastructure and free trade zones.

  Partnerships & investment: There may be opportunities for private sector participation in feeder infrastructure (shuttles, express buses), in airport-hotel/airport-services chains, ground handling, and last-mile connectivity.

• Regulatory & operational readiness: Customs, immigration, handling of aircraft movements, safety standards, and staff training will be important. B2B players should monitor govt announcements about assignment of routes, slot allocation, inter-airport coordination (Tan Son Nhat & Long Thanh).
  
  

Updated Timeline & Key Milestones

• End of 2025: Runway, terminal builds, apron, lighting systems largely expected to be completed or nearing final finishes. Mid-2026: Phase 1 operational launch (25 million pax/year capacity).

• By 2030: Light rail (Thu Thiem–Long Thanh) expected operational.

• 2035: Completion of Phase 2, including expanded terminal and second runway, reaching ~50 million pax/year.

• By 2050: Full capacity in Phase 3, 100 million passengers and 5 M tons cargo.
  
  

Risks & Challenges to Watch

• Delay or under-funding of critical connectivity (especially rail / metro) could reduce competitiveness.

• Traffic congestion on roads, especially near Ho Chi Minh City, before expressway widening is finished. This could make transfers longer/unpredictable.

• Ambiguity over which flights remain at Tan Son Nhat vs shift to Long Thanh may create planning and marketing confusion.

• Alignment among government, local authorities, investors over zoning, free trade zones, customs, regulatory policies will matter to maximize the return on investment.

Conclusion & Key Takeaways

Long Thanh International Airport represents a transformative milestone in Vietnam’s aviation infrastructure. For B2B travel and aviation stakeholders, the upcoming years hold both opportunity and responsibility.

As of mid-2025:

• Phase 1 is firming up for mid-2026, positioning Long Thanh to handle 25 million passengers a year.

• But the success of this transition depends heavily on accessibility & connectivity — roads, rail, and public transport must keep pace.

• Airlines, consolidators, corporate travel planners, and logistics firms should begin preparing migration strategies, updating route maps, client advisories, and operational plans now.

Long Term: Full completion by circa 2050 to reach 100 million pax capacity offers huge upside—but only if the infrastructure ecosystem (rail, expressways, customs, logistics, hotels, services) evolves in step.

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