Removing "bottlenecks” at Long Thanh Airport

The long-standing bottlenecks related to contractor payments and workforce mobilization that had slowed the construction of Long Thanh International Airport project have largely been resolved.

Construction of the passenger terminal at Long Thanh International Airport.

Under the Government’s directive, Phase 1 of Long Thanh International Airport must become operational by the end of 2026. However, at the beginning of the year, the project faced a series of challenges, including delayed payments to contractors, fluctuating construction material prices, and, particularly, a shortage of construction workers, all of which affected progress.

Workforce continues to be strengthened

According to the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the simultaneous implementation of numerous major infrastructure projects across the Southern region and other parts of the country made it difficult for contractors to recruit sufficient workers for the Long Thanh Airport project.

In response, a comprehensive package of measures was introduced in April 2026. On April 13, the Politburo issued Conclusion No. 24-KL/TW on removing obstacles for long-delayed projects, allowing bottlenecks to be addressed while accountability reviews continue. The decision provided a solid legal foundation for accelerating construction across the entire site.

Subsequently, task forces responsible for contractor payments and construction materials were also established. At the same time, the Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Finance, Dong Nai City, and Ho Chi Minh City coordinated efforts to prioritize material supplies, support workforce, and promptly resolve project-related issues.

Nguyen Duc Hung, Acting General Director of ACV, said that outstanding payment issues have been largely settled, while the approval of advance payments for verified completed work has eased financial pressure on contractors and enabled construction to speed up.

To ensure sufficient manpower, contractors participating in the project pledged during the campaign launching the final 180-day construction acceleration to mobilize additional workers, equipment, and machinery.

Nguyen Do Quy, General Director of Hanoi Construction Corporation - JSC (Hancorp), a member of the construction consortium, said the company has prioritized maximum resources, particularly its workforce, for this national key project. Hancorp subsequently issued decisions requiring all available resources to be concentrated on Long Thanh Airport.

Meanwhile, ACC Airport Construction Corporation has maintained sufficient personnel and equipment for construction of the second runway package.

According to ACV, more than 7,300 workers are currently deployed at the construction site, an increase of over 4.5% compared to early June 2026. ACV has also instructed contractors to review construction capacity, increase manpower, equipment and materials, and strengthen support teams responsible for documentation, acceptance procedures and quality management to ensure synchronized implementation from construction to project completion.

Racing against time

During a mid-June working session with the Standing Board of the Dong Nai Party Committee, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung stressed that completing and putting Phase 1 of Long Thanh International Airport into commercial operation is a mandatory task.

During a field inspection in mid-June, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh reiterated that "there can be no delay," emphasizing that all parties must race against time to meet the project deadline. He also instructed project stakeholders to review construction volumes, payment documentation, and provide appropriate support for engineers and workers who have been working around the clock at the site.

According to ACV, following the launch of the 180-day acceleration campaign, construction momentum has continued to improve. The total value of completed work under Component Project 3 has reached more than VND65.6 trillion, equivalent to nearly 76% of the total contract value. For the project's major construction packages, completed work is valued at over VND56 trillion, representing nearly 68% of total contract value, an increase of 3.35 percentage points compared to early June.

Particular attention has been given to Package 4.8, covering construction, equipment installation, detailed engineering design, internal airport transport infrastructure and technical infrastructure—one of the project's largest and most complex packages. ACV is closely monitoring construction progress across work zones, groups of components, and interface requirements with other related packages. To date, completed work under Package 4.8 is valued at nearly VND6.9 trillion, or almost 62% of the contract value.

With the rainy season approaching, which could affect construction activities, ACV and relevant agencies have proactively developed contingency plans and adjusted construction schedules to suit weather conditions.

ACV said it will continue working closely with the Long Thanh Airport Project Management Board to closely monitor site activities, strengthen inspections, coordinate resources, promptly resolve emerging issues, and require contractors to maintain maximum efforts to ensure project progress, quality, construction safety, and overall synchronization.

By Pham Tung - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha