Ready for take-off

At 3:58 p.m. on December 15, a Boeing 787 aircraft coded VN 5001, departing from Tan Son Nhat Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) landed at Long Thanh International Airport (airport), in Long Thanh commune, Dong Nai province. The aircraft carried only the flight crew and technical staff, with no passengers or cargo on board. This was a technical test flight to prepare for the first official flight to Long Thanh Airport on December 19.

Party General Secretary To Lam inspects the Long Thanh Airport super project on November 13. Photo: Cong Nghia

To ensure the safe arrival of the first commercial flight at Long Thanh Airport, over the past 5 years, thousands of officials, engineers, and workers have worked day and night in accordance with the directives of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, taking quick meals, getting little sleep, and working in 3 shifts - 4 teams.

Especially, in November and December 2025, General Secretary To Lam and Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, along with many Central working delegations, inspected the construction progress and encourage engineers and workers directly involved in this super project, bringing immense encouragement and promoting the project to gradually complete the set milestones.

On December 19, Long Thanh Airport welcomes the first official flights of airlines: Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Bamboo Airways. This is an important milestone that urges related units to rush to the finish line, complete all technical infrastructure to soon put the project into commercial operation in the first half of 2026.

On December 14, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspects the readiness plan to welcome the first technical flight. Photo: Cong Nghia

Officials and staff of the Northern Air Traffic Management Company are present at the Long Thanh International Airport air traffic control tower to welcome the technical flight on December 15. Photo: Ngoc Quan

The Boeing 787 aircraft lands safely at Long Thanh International Airport. Photo: Ngoc Quan

After taxiing to the apron, the Boeing 787 aircraft is welcomed with water cannons at Terminal T1, Long Thanh Airport. Photo: Ngoc Quan

Leaders of the Ministry of Construction present flowers to congratulate the Boeing 787 flight crew on successfully landing at Long Thanh Airport. Photo: Ngoc Quan

From the Air Traffic Control Tower, the staff continuously monitor the aircraft's landing trajectory as it approaches Terminal T1. Photo: Ngoc Quan

By Cong Nghia-Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha