Hanoi: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 2 reiterated that Long Thanh International Airport must be completed to receive its first flight on December 19, 2025 and begin commercial operations in early 2026. The government leader made a trip to inspect the airport construction in the southern province of Dong Nai. This was his eighth on-site inspection of the Long Thanh International Airport project, a 5,000-hectare development with a total investment of 336 trillion VND (12.84 billion USD), aimed at easing congestion at Ho Chi Minh City’s overstretched Tan Son Nhat Airport. The same day, the PM inspected the Tan Van-Nhon Trach section of HCM City’s Ring Road 3 project, which includes the Nhon Trach Bridge.

According to Vietnam News Agency, the Long Thanh International Airport project is a critical infrastructure development intended to support the rapidly growing air traffic in the region. The new airport is expected to alleviate the heavy air traffic burden on Tan Son Nhat Airport, which has been operating beyond its capacity. The strategic importance of the project has prompted ongoing government oversight to ensure its timely completion.

Prime Minister Chinh emphasized the necessity of adhering to the deadline for the airport’s completion and has been closely monitoring progress through multiple inspections. The Long Thanh project is a part of a broader initiative to improve Vietnam’s transportation infrastructure, which includes the expansion of Ho Chi Minh City’s Ring Road 3. This ring road, particularly the Tan Van-Nhon Trach section and the Nhon Trach Bridge, is crucial for enhancing connectivity and supporting economic growth in the region.

The Long Thanh Airport, once operational, is anticipated to become a significant hub for both domestic and international flights, contributing to the economic development of not only Dong Nai province but also the broader southern region of Vietnam.