Maximizing the advantages of Long Thanh Airport

To fully capitalize on the advantages of Long Thanh International Airport, Dong Nai Province is moving to implement the directives outlined in Conclusion Notice No. 420-TB/VPTW dated November 17, 2025, issued by the Party Central Committee’s Office on the conclusions of Party General Secretary To Lam at a working session on the project held in November 2023 (Conclusion Notice No. 420).

Phase 1 of the Long Thanh Airport Project is expected to be put into operation and commercial exploitation in the first half of 2026. Photo: Pham Tung

In Conclusion Notice No. 420, Party General Secretary To Lam agreed in principle with the proposals of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Standing Committee aimed at maximizing the overall effectiveness of the Long Thanh Airport Project.

Focusing on key task groups

Based on the Conclusion Notice No. 420, on December 4, 2025, the Dong Nai Provincial Party Standing Committee issued Plan No. 23-KH/TU to implement assigned tasks, with a focus on thoroughly grasping and raising awareness, strengthening determination in action, and effectively carrying out the directives and orientations for the development of Dong Nai Province. At the same time, the plan translates these orientations into specific objectives, tasks, solutions, and clearly assigns responsibilities and completion timelines for each component set out in Conclusion Notice No. 420.

In parallel, the Provincial People’s Committee also promulgated Plan No. 198/KH-UBND dated December 4, 2025, on the implementation of Conclusion Notice No. 420. The plan identifies key task groups to be carried out, including: tasks related to special mechanisms and policies; tasks on spatial development planning and economic corridors; tasks for the implementation of Phase 2 of the Long Thanh Airport Project; tasks related to the rollout of key transport infrastructure; tasks in logistics and trade-services; and tasks in tourism, culture, and ecological development.

Speaking at the conference on disseminating and implementing Conclusion Notice No. 420, Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, requested that departments, sectors, and local authorities develop detailed plans, roadmaps, and implementation timelines, with clear task assignments, to ensure the effective execution of all contents outlined in Conclusion Notice No. 420.

At the conference on disseminating and implementing Conclusion Notice No. 420 organized by the Provincial People’s Committee on December 11, Truong Thi Huong Binh, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Director of the Department of Finance, stated that with regard to the Provincial Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Establishment Scheme, the Department of Finance has so far completed the scheme and submitted it to the Provincial People’s Committee for referral to the Ministry of Finance for appraisal. Following the appraisal and feedback from the Ministry of Finance, the Department of Finance will continue to supplement and finalize the scheme.

Regarding the development of a National Assembly resolution on a number of special mechanisms and policies for the development of Dong Nai Province, the Department of Finance has been assigned as the advisory agency for this task. At present, the Department of Finance has completed a report submitted to the Party Committee of the Provincial People’s Committee to seek approval in principle from the Provincial Party Standing Committee to assign the Department of Finance to formulate the special mechanisms and policies for the development of Dong Nai Province.

From the perspective of the Department of Construction, according to its representative, in terms of spatial development planning and economic corridors, Dong Nai Province will synchronously plan transport routes connecting Long Thanh Airport with localities in the Southeast region and key growth areas, and plan the formation of new urban centers under the airport city model. At the same time, the province will study and supplement plans to build transport routes connecting Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia via the Hoa Lu International Border Gate to Long Thanh Airport, Phuoc An Port, and Cai Mep Port. Research will also focus on forming new growth-driven urban centers (airport city model) with functions directly linked to Ho Chi Minh City, maximizing connectivity advantages along the Dong Nai River, particularly in the urban areas of Bien Hoa, Long Thanh, and Nhon Trach. Planning adjustments will be made to increase the population scale of the Long Thanh and Nhon Trach urban areas to 2.5 million people.

According to Le Hoang Son, Chairman of the Long Thanh Commune People’s Committee, in order to develop Long Thanh into a modern and sustainable urban area and fully leverage the potential and advantages of Long Thanh Airport, the locality has set out key orientations and solutions for the next development phase. In the group of planning and investment development solutions, the locality will focus on improving quality and synchronizing planning. For logistics connectivity and service development, Long Thanh Commune will prioritize investment in transport infrastructure projects, particularly east-west and north-south axes. Efforts will be concentrated on accelerating progress on interlinked transport routes connecting the commune-level road system with major national highways. “At the same time, Long Thanh Commune will also focus on regional connectivity infrastructure, positioning Long Thanh Urban Area as a key node in the dynamic urban network of the entire region,” Le Hoang Son noted.

Identifying tasks requiring immediate action

Speaking at the Conference on disseminating and implementing Conclusion Notice No. 420 organized by the Provincial People’s Committee, Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Steering Committee for the Implementation of Conclusion Notice No. 420, required each unit and sector to commit to progress milestones and immediately roll out assigned tasks in accordance with the plans of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee, following the principle of the “six clarities.” In particular, focus must be placed on five key task groups: elevating development thinking with the orientation that Long Thanh Airport is not merely an airport but a new strategic growth engine for regional and national development; completing and effectively implementing special mechanisms and policies for the development of Dong Nai Province; reviewing and synchronously adjusting planning, spatial development orientations, and economic corridors associated with Long Thanh Airport and Cai Mep Seaport; accelerating the development of multimodal connectivity infrastructure; and forming a modern, integrated ecosystem of aviation services, logistics, and airport cities.

Long Thanh Airport welcomed its first official landing flight on December 19, 2025. Photo: Pham Tung

At the same conference, the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee requested that, based on Conclusion Notice No. 420, relevant units clearly identify two fundamental task groups to be implemented, including tasks that must be carried out immediately and tasks that need to be oriented and updated in planning in order for the province to calculate and implement investment during the 2026-2030 period.

Accordingly, tasks requiring immediate action include investment in the project to extend the Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien metro line to the provincial administrative center and Long Thanh Airport, and the Thu Thiem – Long Thanh railway project. At the same time, investment must be made to develop an ecosystem serving Long Thanh Airport, such as accommodation facilities, restaurants, and hotels. Planning adjustments will also be implemented to increase the population scale of the Long Thanh and Nhon Trach urban areas to 2.5 million people.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Quynh Giao, Thu Ha