Long Thanh airport set to become Southeast Asia’s leading aviation hub

Vietnam is moving to position Long Thanh International Airport as one of Southeast Asia’s most competitive aviation gateways, with a new set of international benchmarking criteria to guide service quality, connectivity and transit capacity.

Long Thanh Airport is scheduled to welcome its first technical flight on December 19 - PHOTO: LE VU

According to a conclusion released on December 11 by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, the Government views Long Thanh not only as a major national infrastructure project but also as a future regional aviation destination capable of competing with leading airports in the region.

The Ministry of Construction has been tasked with directing Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) and Vietnam Airlines to develop a competitiveness assessment framework for the airport. The criteria will center on passenger experience, operational efficiency, air connectivity and the airport’s ability to serve as a regional transit hub.

Authorities also requested a comprehensive review of project efficiency and early preparation for a second runway and passenger terminal. Existing equipment and resources should be fully utilized to accelerate capacity expansion to 50 million passengers and 1.5 million tons of cargo per year. These tasks are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.

The deputy prime minister stressed the need for competitive policies to attract international carriers, including incentives related to fees, ground services, aircraft maintenance, cargo transit and marketing. The goal is to make Long Thanh a preferred choice for regional and global airlines and a new international gateway for Vietnam.

Transport infrastructure surrounding the airport must also be synchronized. Key projects include the Bien Hoa–Vung Tau and Ben Luc–Long Thanh expressways, as well as HCMC’s Beltways 3 and 4. HCMC has been instructed to accelerate preparations for the Thu Thiem–Long Thanh light rail line and the Suoi Tien–Dong Nai administrative center–Long Thanh metro line, with groundbreaking targeted for 2026.

Beyond transport connectivity, Long Thanh is envisioned as the core of an airport city hosting hotels, convention facilities, commercial centers, logistics services, aircraft maintenance, vocational training, healthcare and a free trade zone. The aim is to build a regional service and transit hub.

During a site inspection on November 13, Party General Secretary To Lam also called for incentives to attract more international airlines and position Long Thanh as a priority stop in regional flight networks.

Phase 1 of Long Thanh covers 1,810 hectares and broke ground on January 5, 2021. It is designed to handle 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo annually. Several key components have been completed, with flight calibration conducted from late September to late October. The airport is expected to begin technical operations next week and commence commercial services by mid-2026.

Source:SGT