Efforts intensified to bring the Long Thanh Airport Project "to the finish line"

Many important components of phase 1 of the Long Thanh International Airport Project are gradually nearing completion.

However, to meet the deadline for completion and put the project into commercial operation in June 2026, a great deal of effort is still needed from investors, contractors, especially for packages with large construction volumes.

Installation of the passenger terminal jet bridge at Long Thanh Airport. Photo: Courtesy of ACV

For Component Project 1, including state management agency headquarters, all 6 headquarters buildings have been completed. Among them, the Customs Headquarters (under the Ministry of Finance) has completed construction and fire prevention and fighting acceptance procedures; and project completion acceptance. The remaining 5 projects are currently carrying out fire prevention and fighting acceptance; project completion acceptance and are expected to be completed in January and February 2026.

For Component Project 2, air traffic control facilities, construction items including: air traffic control tower, technical building, VIP building, power building, air traffic control facilities were basically completed on December 19, 2025. Currently, contractors are continuing to complete the installation of electromechanical equipment systems; fire prevention and fighting and cable systems in underground tunnels and are expected to be completed in February 2026.

Along with that, air traffic control systems and equipment (primary/secondary radar stations, radio transmitting stations, radio receiving stations, dependent surveillance stations, meteorological radar stations, very high-frequency omnidirectional navigation stations) have basically completed the installation of all equipment. Currently, the investor is preparing to organize single-unit and inter-unit trial operations and is expected to be completed in April 2026.

Meanwhile, for Component Project 4, other facilities, there are currently 7 facilities including catering service facilities; ground commercial technical services; hangars (aircraft maintenance areas) are under construction. These facilities are expected to be completed in June 2026.

As for Component Project 3, essential facilities within the airport, the most important component project of the entire Long Thanh Airport Project phase 1, 3 out of 15 packages have been completed. For the remaining 12 packages under construction, according to the Ministry of Construction's assessment, 10 packages can ensure completion and put into operation in June 2026.

Focusing on mobilizing more human resources and equipment for construction

According to the Ministry of Construction, for Component Project 2, the investor – Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) needs to continue to urgently organize the completion of the remaining construction items, especially the cable system in the underground tunnel and the single-unit and inter-unit operation of equipment systems to prepare for commercial operation in June 2026.

For Component Project 3, Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) continues to direct contractors to mobilize more human resources and construction equipment to organize the implementation of construction items, especially for both packages 4.8 covering internal port traffic and technical infrastructure; and 5.10, concerning passenger terminal. Because these are packages with a very large volume of finishing work, especially package 5.10, which mainly uses manual labor and less mechanized equipment, there is still a risk of delay compared to the adjusted schedule.

Previously, in mid-January 2026, during a field inspection at the project site by Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh, Nguyen Tien Viet, Deputy General Director of ACV, stated: All bid packages of the project are being simultaneously constructed across the entire construction site. The contractor consortiums have mobilized nearly 15,000 experts, engineers, and workers, over 3,000 pieces of equipment and machinery, and deployed hundreds of construction teams. "The highest goal is to put Long Thanh Airport into service and commercial operation in June 2026," said Nguyen Tien Viet.

Also at this meeting, Minister Tran Hong Minh emphasized: All project items must be completed before June 2026, ready to serve the operational activities of Long Thanh Airport as planned. Especially, at the current stage, the Long Thanh Airport construction site needs not only to be fast but also beautiful, green, and clean. Each completed item must meet standards of quality, technical specifications, and aesthetics, worthy of being a modern, environmentally-friendly international airport, achieving 5-star standards when put into operation.

In the report on the implementation progress of Long Thanh Airport Project Phase 1 sent to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, the Ministry of Construction proposed that ACV, in its role as the investor of Long Thanh Airport Project Phase 2, urgently organize the preparation of a feasibility study report to implement the next steps to ensure the required progress.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha