Road links to Long Thanh Airport taking shape

As the launch of Phase 1 of Long Thanh International Airport draws closer, work on transport projects connecting to the airport is also being accelerated.

The interchange connecting the T1 route to Long Thanh Airport with National Highway 51 and Road 25C has been completed.

The synchronized completion of transport links will play a crucial role in supporting the operation of Phase 1 of Long Thanh Airport and maximizing the effectiveness of the major project.

A series of projects set for completion

In early August, construction activity on the 25C Road Construction Project, section from National Highway 51 to Huong Lo 19, became increasingly busy. The approximately 2.6-kilometer section is the first part of Road 25C and serves as a key link from Long Thanh Airport to major regional transport routes, including the Ben Luc–Long Thanh Expressway and Ho Chi Minh City’s Ring Road 3.

Nguyen Linh, Deputy Director of the city's Construction Investment Project Management Board, said that site clearance for the entire Road 25C project has basically been completed. The investor and contractors are therefore targeting completion of the project in September 2026.

Earlier, in mid-July 2026, Phuoc Khanh Bridge, a key component of the Ben Luc–Long Thanh Expressway, was officially joined. The expressway is a major transport corridor connecting Long Thanh Airport with Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta region. According to the plan, the entire expressway will be completed and fully opened to traffic in September 2026.

Under the transport network plan for Long Thanh Airport, road routes will serve as the “backbone” connecting the airport with Ho Chi Minh City and other localities during its initial operational phase. As a result, authorities have required all transport projects connecting Long Thanh Airport to accelerate construction to ensure timely completion.

The Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway, which provides a direct transport connection between Long Thanh Airport and Ho Chi Minh City, officially opened its mainline to traffic in mid-May 2026. Dong Nai City and relevant agencies and localities are also targeting full opening and synchronized operation of the project in September 2026.

Similarly, the section of Ho Chi Minh City’s Ring Road 3 running through Dong Nai has been required to be completed and fully put into operation in September 2026. During a field inspection of the project in early August, Deputy Secretary of the Dong Nai City Party Committee Vo Tan Duc instructed the investor and contractors to accelerate construction to ensure completion as scheduled.

Opening roads to serve the “super project”

Alongside Road 25C, Road 25B is another important transport route connecting Long Thanh Airport with a number of other roads to support the airport's operations. Construction has faced difficulties and delays due to problems with site clearance.

Dong Nai City has therefore instructed local authorities to accelerate site clearance work. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.

Similarly, the project to expand the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh section of the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway is targeting substantial completion by the end of 2026.

Construction of the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh Expressway expansion project, part of the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway.

Pham Thanh Hai, Director in charge of the Southern Expressway Projects Management Unit (SEPMU) under the Vietnam Expressway Corporation, said construction has now reached more than 60% of the project's total contract value. The project is expected to be substantially completed in 2026 to support the operation of Long Thanh Airport's transport infrastructure.

Under the Government's requirements, Phase 1 of Long Thanh Airport is scheduled to begin operations by the end of 2026. According to a report from Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), as of mid-July 2026, construction output for Component 3 of the Phase 1 Long Thanh Airport project had reached nearly 78% of the contract value. ACV has instructed contractors to add personnel and construction equipment to ensure the project remains on schedule.

With Phase 1 of Long Thanh Airport required to become operational by the end of 2026, the synchronized completion of its transport connections is likewise entering a “race against time.”

On August 4, the Dong Nai City People's Committee issued a decision allocating land to the city's Land Fund Development Center to conduct land-use rights auctions to select investors for facilities under Component 4 of the Phase 1 Long Thanh Airport project. The city assigned nearly 89 hectares of land in Long Thanh Ward for auctions to select investors for projects including an Airport City and an airline operations center.

According to Deputy Secretary of the Dong Nai City Party Committee Vo Tan Duc, once Phase 1 of Long Thanh Airport becomes operational, its connecting transport routes must also be completed and put into service to ensure seamless connectivity. Dong Nai City has instructed relevant agencies to coordinate closely to accelerate site clearance and construction so that the transport projects are completed in sync with the airport's launch. Without adequate transport connections, Long Thanh Airport would not be able to fully realize the benefits of its investment once operations begin.

By Pham Tung - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha