Long Thanh International Airport to begin operations in 2026

On October 7, the Government Office issued Notice No. 516/TB-VPCP announcing the conclusions of Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc following his on-site inspection of the Long Thanh International Airport Project and connecting transport routes in Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai City.

Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc inspects progress of the Long Thanh International Airport Project on October 4, 2026. Photo: Pham Tung

For Phase 1 of the Long Thanh International Airport Project, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc asked Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) to immediately review all remaining workloads under the project packages, particularly those with large outstanding volumes and those on the project’s critical path. ACV must prepare a detailed schedule for each work item as a basis for monitoring and directing implementation, ensuring that the project is completed and put into operation in 2026.

ACV must clearly identify the work items to be completed for the airport’s commercial operation, the dates for trial operations and commercial operations, and the completion date for the entire Phase 1 of the Long Thanh International Airport Project. A report must be submitted before October 10, 2026, to the Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Finance and relevant regulatory agencies for monitoring, urging and direction.

Based on the detailed construction progress, ACV must require contractors to mobilize maximum manpower, machinery, equipment, materials and financial resources. Contractors must organize construction around the clock, operating “three shifts, four crews,” and increase the number of work fronts to accelerate construction and disbursement, particularly for packages on the critical path. Contractors that fail to meet requirements on manpower, equipment, financial capacity or progress must be dealt with decisively. Where necessary, contractual violations must be handled in accordance with the law. Throughout implementation, all required processes, procedures, technical standards, security and safety requirements, and environmental protection regulations must be fully observed. Project progress must not come at the expense of quality.

For the Long Thanh International Airport Project, safety and user convenience are top priorities. Therefore, all landscaping, environmental, security and safety components must be carefully reviewed and implemented in a coordinated manner before commercial operations begin, ensuring that the airport meets the criteria of being “bright, green, clean and beautiful” and absolutely safe.

The Chairman, General Director of ACV must proactively resolve all issues within their authority. ACV and contractors must agree on solutions to remove obstacles related to payments and accelerate the completion of internal documentation and procedures for acceptance and payment of completed work at the construction site. Payments must be made fully and promptly for completed work, avoiding delays in payment for completed work. These tasks must be completed in October 2026.

ACV must closely coordinate with relevant agencies under the Ministry of Construction to promptly carry out the procedures required under specialized aviation regulations before the airport begins operations. It must also promptly announce the plan and expected timeline for putting Long Thanh Airport into commercial operation, as well as the plan for completing the transport routes connecting to the airport, enabling domestic and international airlines to proactively make preparations, register flight routes and develop appropriate operating plans.

Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc asked the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and Dong Nai City People’s Committee to prioritize material supplies for construction of the Long Thanh International Airport Project. They were also asked to urgently complete the connecting transport routes.

By Pham Tung - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha