HCMC – Party General Secretary To Lam has said any delays in the Long Thanh International Airport project will not be tolerated as it is of national significance.
Speaking during a field visit to the Long Thanh airport project site in the southern province of Dong Nai on November 13, he said that when completed, Long Thanh would place Vietnam among the leading international aviation hubs in the Asia-Pacific region.
The project contributes to the nation’s three strategic development pillars: institutions, infrastructure, and human resources — with Long Thanh being a key infrastructure element. “Therefore, delays cannot be tolerated. Every day of delay is a loss for the country,” he noted.
He requested relevant agencies to clarify issues related to the project’s national, regional, and international competitiveness. “Many countries have already invested in major airports. As a latecomer, we must draw lessons from their experiences and create distinctive value.”
He called for comprehensive planning of a city around the airport and surrounding development zones to ensure synchronized and efficient investment. “The airport cannot stand alone; it must be part of a larger ecosystem,” he said. “A modern airport is only truly successful when passengers want to come, airlines want to land, businesses want to invest, and the nation benefits.”
Covering 5,000 hectares, and implemented in three phases, the Long Thanh International Airport would be able to handle 100 million passengers and five million tons of cargo annually, The first phase will have two runways, a passenger terminal, and supporting facilities, targeting an annual capacity of 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo.
Under the Government’s directive, construction of phase one is to be substantially completed by December 19, 2025, with technical flights and commercial operations beginning in the first half of 2026.
The Government is directing relevant ministries and agencies to prepare for Phase 2, with the groundbreaking for the third runway slated for December 19, 2025.
Party General Secretary To Lam acknowledged the project’s positive progress, saying the first phase demonstrates both financial viability and the capabilities of Vietnamese companies involved in the project.
He praised the efforts of the Government, ministries, local authorities, contractors, and workers for their determination to meet project milestones.
Long Thanh is not merely an airport but a strategic driver of Vietnam’s socioeconomic growth, particularly in the southern key economic region, he added.
“The goal is to make Long Thanh one of Southeast Asia’s most attractive aviation destinations — comparable to or surpassing leading regional airports.”
He urged coordinated planning for regional connectivity, accelerating work on the Bien Hoa–Vung Tau and Ben Luc–Long Thanh expressways, Beltways 3 and 4 of HCMC, and expediting the Thu Thiem–Long Thanh railway to directly connect the city’s metro network to the airport.
He also directed the creation of a modern airport ecosystem, including hotels, convention centers, commercial zones, healthcare, logistics, training, and financial services — forming a new “aerotropolis” that would position Long Thanh as a regional logistics and aviation hub.
He said incentive policies would be needed to attract international airlines while service fees should be made competitive and marketing be done to make Long Thanh a preferred gateway for international passengers and carriers.
