Vietnam’s Long Thanh airport enters final construction phase to become global mega-hub

Vietnam is pushing ahead with one of the most ambitious airport projects in its history. Long Thanh International Airport, built to ultimately become the country’s main aviation gateway and one of the largest hubs in the world, has reached a crucial construction milestone and is now in an accelerated completion phase.

The multi‑billion‑dollar project is intended to relieve pressure on Ho Chi Minh City’s overloaded Tan Son Nhat airport and position Vietnam as a key aviation and logistics hub in Southeast Asia over the next decade.

New mega airport near Ho Chi Minh City

Long Thanh International Airport is being built in Dong Nai province, around 40 kilometres east of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). Once fully developed, the airport is designed to handle up to 100 million passengers a year – a scale comparable to the world’s busiest hubs such as Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta in the United States or Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates.

The total project value is estimated at around 18 billion US dollars, and the development covers an area of approximately 5,000 hectares. The airport is planned as a long‑term replacement for Tan Son Nhat as Vietnam’s primary international gateway.

Construction reaches about 80% completion

After more than three years of intensive work, the project has now reached nearly 80% completion, according to information cited by Vietnamese media. Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the state‑controlled operator in charge of the project, has launched a concentrated drive to finish key elements in what it calls a decisive 180‑day and 180‑night phase.

On the site, the first runway, 4,000 metres long, has already been built, along with an aircraft apron able to accommodate multiple jets. Several critical structures are reported to be nearing completion, including the main passenger terminal.

Terminal design inspired by Vietnam’s national symbol

The main terminal building, with a planned floor area of about 373,000 square metres, was designed by the architectural firm Heerim Architects. The shape of the terminal draws inspiration from a blooming lotus flower, a national symbol of Vietnam. The design aims to combine strong passenger capacity with a distinctive national visual identity.

Inside, the terminal is expected to integrate modern passenger handling systems, extensive retail and service areas, and facilities tailored for both international and domestic traffic, though detailed interior specifications are still being rolled out in phases.

Timeline: tests in 2026 and phased expansion

According to the current schedule reported by local outlets, Long Thanh is expected to enter operational testing in September 2026. If the tests progress as planned, commercial operations at Long Thanh International Airport are slated to begin in December 2026.

Phase 1 of the project is designed to give the airport an initial capacity of 25 million passengers per year and around 1.2 million tonnes of cargo annually. This should significantly reduce congestion at Tan Son Nhat, currently Vietnam’s busiest airport and one that has struggled with limited expansion space and heavy traffic.

Long-term plan: four runways and four terminals

The Long Thanh project is structured as a multi‑stage development extending to around 2035. While the first phase focuses on one runway and one major passenger terminal, later stages are expected to add additional infrastructure progressively.

In its final configuration, the airport is planned to feature:

• Four parallel runways
• Four modern passenger terminals
• A total designed capacity of about 100 million passengers per year
• Annual cargo handling of roughly 5 million tonnes

This scale would place Long Thanh among the largest aviation hubs globally and make it a central node for air travel and freight in Southeast Asia.

Strategic impact on Vietnam’s economy and aviation network

ACV and Vietnamese authorities stress that bringing Long Thanh into service in 2026 has strategic importance for both the national aviation sector and the broader economy. By opening up additional capacity for passengers and cargo, the new airport is expected to support tourism growth, export‑oriented manufacturing, and regional connectivity.

Experts, however, note that the full impact of Long Thanh will depend heavily on the supporting infrastructure developed around the airport. Efficient road links and other transport connections to Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding regions are seen as essential for the hub to reach its potential. These elements, along with the additional terminals and runways, are scheduled to be developed step by step through to the planned finalisation of the project around 2035.

If these plans are realised, Long Thanh International Airport could significantly reshape air traffic patterns in Southeast Asia and bolster Vietnam’s role in global aviation and logistics networks.