Long Thanh Airport: A testament to the spirit of “nothing is impossible” (Part 2)

PART 2

THE "RUNWAY" PROPELS DONG NAI'S DEVELOPMENT

If Long Thanh International Airport is considered the "nucleus" of development for Dong Nai in the new era, then the Long Thanh Airport City urban area and the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) connected to it are the most vital " pieces" to unlock the immense potential and benefits brought by this "mega" project.

Vu Hong Van, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of Dong Nai’s National Assembly Delegation, along with provincial leaders, conducted a survey of the planned area for building the airport urban area, the FTZ, and transportation links to Long Thanh Airport in August 2025. Photo: Collaborator

“Opening the sky” for Dong Nai’s takeoff

During a working session between a Government working delegation and the Provincial People's Committee on August 15, 2025, Ho Duc Phoc, Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Prime Minister, assessed that once all three phases are completed, Long Thanh International Airport, will be the sixth-largest airport worldwide and one of the most modern globally. The position of Long Thanh Airport will also reinforce the stature of both the nation and Dong Nai province.

According to Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Dong Nai regards Long Thanh Airport, situated within the province, as the "nucleus" of the province's future development orientation. The Long Thanh Airport urban area and the Dong Nai river corridor are designated as two new growth drivers for the province.

Associate Professor Dr Tran Dinh Thien, former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics and Member of the Government’s Advisory Team, evaluated that Long Thanh Airport has the mission of creating tremendous prospects and opportunities for the breakthrough development of the nation, the Ho Chi Minh City region, and Dong Nai province. "An international transit airport, combined with international seaports, will generate a massive impetus for development. Therefore, Dong Nai will ascend to a completely new level of development, as it creates a new development approach for the province centered on high-tech industry and smart urban areas," Associate Prof. Dr Tran Dinh Thien shared.

The Resolution of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term also identified that one of the province's development perspectives is to focus on the digital, green, circular, sharing, and knowledge economies. This aims to make Dong Nai a leading locality in developing the aviation economy, high-tech industry, high-tech agriculture, logistics centre, science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. In particular, once fully and synchronously completed, Long Thanh Airport will transform Dong Nai into a modern national logistics centre, playing a pivotal role in both the national and international supply chains.

Realizing the development momentum of the “mega” airport

According to the master plan, the total area of the Long Thanh Airport City urban area and its adjacent region exceeds 57,000 hectares. Of this, the Long Thanh Airport area accounts for the most portion, spanning over 43,000 hectares. It is planned for development according to a modern, green, smart and globally-connected Airport City model, aiming to position Long Thanh as a leading international aviation-logistics hub in Southeast Asia.

According to the proposal by the consortium of Vietnam Institute of Architecture, Nihon Sekkei, Inc. (Japan), and Coninco (VIAR-NS-Coninco Joint Venture)—the first-prize winner in the competition for the Long Thanh Airport City Master Plan and its adjacent zone, the Long Thanh Airport urban area is oriented towards an Aerotropolis development model. This is a transformative urban development model that places the airport at the center of economic development, leveraging connectivity, logistics, and industry to create robust urban centers that extend beyond the airport’s boundaries. Crucially, the Long Thanh Aerotropolis and Ho Chi Minh City will be connected under a twin-city model, creating a globally competitive region centered around Long Thanh Airport.

Do Thanh Phuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Construction, stated that based on the competition results, the Department of Construction and the consultant consortium have proceeded with cost estimation, negotiation, and agreement on the scope of the consulting contract to be submitted to the Provincial People's Committee (PPC) for approval. Currently, the PPC has directed the Department of Construction to promptly finalise the Long Thanh Urban Master Plan Project so that it can be promptly reported to the Standing Boards of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee.

In addition to developing the Long Thanh Airport urban model, Dong Nai province has initiated procedures to propose that the Government build a special resolution for submission to the National Assembly concerning the establishment and development of a FTZ within the province, linked to the airport. This move aims to create economic growth momentum and attract substantial investment to achieve the goal of making the locality a leading financial, industrial, and logistics center.

On August 18, 2025, during a survey trip to the planned area for the airport city, the FTZ, and Long Thanh Airport's connected infrastructure, Vu Hong Van, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Dong Nai National Assembly Delegation, noted that the PPC and relevant departments, sectors, and localities must strictly review the planning and land use and invite investors. He stressed that, especially with Long Thanh Airport preparing for completion and operation by late 2025, the Long Thanh region’s attractiveness to investors is immense.

Throughout the implementation process, related units must prioritize increasing the value of land resources. Planning must be strategic and long-term to ensure the Long Thanh Airport area develops in line with its potential, providing a strong impetus for Dong Nai province's ascent. Long Thanh must be planned in the best possible way, the best investors must be selected, and the implementation must progress as quickly as possible. Regarding the FTZ, the province must continue to closely follow central guidelines while referencing the experience of establishing the Da Nang City FTZ and similar zones in other regional countries. This will ensure the selection of the most suitable, optimal, and effective option, thereby driving fast and sustainable development in Dong Nai.

A key “locomotive” driving economic growth

According to researchers from the Scientific Research, Cooperation, and Training Department at the City Planning Institute under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, Long Thanh Airport—entirely located within Dong Nai province - is a crucial “locomotive” driving economic growth.

Dr Ngo Viet Nam Son, President of NgoViet Architects & Planners, pointed out that given the recent administrative boundary adjustments at the provincial level, the scale of the Long Thanh Airport urban area should be reassessed and updated to reflect the new realities. Specifically, the Long Thanh Airport urban area should not be confined to the current planning study area; instead, it should be expanded to include the Nhon Trach urban area and integrated with Ho Chi Minh City.

Perspective view of the Nhon Trach Urban Master Plan, according to the consultant's proposed design. Photo: Pham Tung

On November 13, 2025, during a working session with a Central working delegation led by Party General Secretary To Lam regarding the Long Thanh International Airport Project, Vu Hong Van, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, reported that Dong Nai province has prepared the necessary conditions to maximize the advantages of the Long Thanh Airport when it becomes operational. This preparedness aims to achieve the provincial target of double-digit growth for the entire 2025-2030 term.

However, to realise this goal, the head of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee also requested that the Government prioritise the approval of a unified policy mechanism for the province’s FTZ, associated with the Long Thanh Airport and the seaport-linked FTZ in the Cai Mep Ha area. This linkage is intended to connect the two FTZs, enabling them to mutually support each other in competing with international FTZs.

Simultaneously, Dong Nai province requested the Central Government to permit the review and adjustment of the population size for the Long Thanh - Nhon Trach area to reach 2.5 million people within the current Provincial Planning adjustment phase. This adjustment to increase the area's population scale serves as a basis for forecasting, calculating, and planning land funds to anticipate the wave of investment from large, capable, and experienced corporations and investors currently showing interest in the region.

Long Thanh Airport will only realize its full potential when its transportation connectivity, urban services, and logistics are organized in a synchronized, and modern manner.

Party General Secretary To Lam

During the working session, Party General Secretary To Lam assessed that the proposals put forward by Dong Nai province are entirely appropriate. The Party chief emphasized that Dong Nai should use these as a foundation to achieve double-digit growth, accelerate progress, and efficiently exploit the Long Thanh Airport Project, propelling the province to become an economic hub of the Southeast region, of the Southern Key Economic Region, the country, and Southeast Asia at large.

Party General Secretary To Lam also noted the necessity of developing a modern and integrated aviation ecosystem and services, including accommodation, hotels, convention centers, commercial and medical facilities, training and professional development, logistics and technical support, customs, and financial services. This would transform the area into a modern airport city, an Aerotropolis model, and establish it as a regional logistics and transit hub in the Southeast Asia.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Hong Van, Thu Ha