Dong Nai draws up plan for Long Thanh Airport operations

The Dong Nai City People’s Committee has tasked relevant departments, agencies and local authorities with coordinating with Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) to develop a plan to support the process of bringing Long Thanh International Airport into operation.

Dong Nai City is developing a plan to support the operation of Long Thanh Airport. Photo: Pham Tung

Under the directive, the City Department of Construction will take the lead in coordinating with the City Police, City Military Command, relevant departments and agencies, commune and ward authorities, and other relevant units to urgently arrange working sessions with ACV. Specialized aviation management agencies, air traffic management and control units and service providers at the airport will also be invited to participate in reviewing, agreeing on and developing a coordinated plan to prepare Long Thanh Airport for operations. Each participating agency and unit will be responsible for reviewing and proposing tasks, implementation plans and necessary conditions within its respective functions and responsibilities and submitting these proposals to the Department of Construction for consolidation.

Regarding connecting infrastructure and traffic organization, the Department of Construction will take the lead in working with the Vietnam Road Administration, Vietnam Expressway Corporation, Project Management Board 85, the City Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board, the City Police, ACV and relevant units to review construction progress and assess whether connecting roads, airport access routes and related interchanges can meet operational requirements. Based on this review, the agencies will identify infrastructure components requiring completion, repairs or upgrades, as well as additional road signs, lighting, traffic signals and other safety measures that must be in place before the airport begins operations.

They will also agree on traffic management and routing arrangements suited to traffic volumes and the airport's operating hours; designate passenger pick-up and drop-off points, vehicle stops, parking areas and waiting zones; and ensure seamless connections between the external road network and the airport's internal transport system. Plans will also be drawn up to regulate traffic and deal with congestion, accidents and other incidents, particularly during the airport's initial operating period and peak hours.

In addition, the Department of Construction will work with ACV, transport operators and the construction departments of relevant localities to develop bus routes connecting the airport with urban centers, bus stations, transport hubs and areas with significant travel demand. Particular attention will be given to connections with Ho Chi Minh City and interprovincial passenger transport services.

The agencies will agree on route itineraries, starting and ending points, stops, service frequency, operating hours, and the number and types of vehicles required. These arrangements must be compatible with flight schedules and the travel needs of passengers and airport employees. Special attention will be paid to providing suitable services for passengers carrying luggage, elderly travelers and people with disabilities. The agencies will also coordinate arrangements for taxis, contract vehicles and other passenger transport services, including designated pick-up and drop-off areas and public disclosure of service information and fares. Measures will be introduced to prevent touting and unauthorized passenger pick-ups and drop-offs.

Route T1, connecting Long Thanh Airport with National Highway 51 and Road 25C, is one of the main access routes to the airport. Photo: Pham Tung

The City People’s Committee has also tasked relevant units with jointly developing plans to ensure aviation security and safety and respond to emergencies; coordinate emergency medical response, patient transport and reception, disease prevention and control, and medical quarantine; and establish the necessary arrangements for office facilities, equipment, information technology systems, personnel and coordination arrangements for customs procedures involving passengers, baggage and cargo. The plans will also cover environmental sanitation, waste collection and treatment, and the management of areas that could attract birds and other wildlife posing potential risks to flight safety.

Public information and awareness campaigns will be developed for residential communities, households, production and business establishments, and schools. Particular emphasis will be placed on raising awareness about the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), kite flying, releasing balloons and sky lanterns, and directing laser beams, all of which could pose risks to aviation safety.

The City People’s Committee has tasked the Department of Construction with consolidating the proposed plan and submitting it to the committee for approval and issuance before November 15, 2026.

Previously, ACV had sent an official document to the Dong Nai City People’s Committee notifying it of the planned opening date for Long Thanh Airport. The airport is expected to officially commence operations at 00:00 on December 24, 2026.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho