The airport project broke ground on January 5, 2021, with full-scale construction beginning in March 2022. Phase 1 includes two northern runways, one passenger terminal, and supporting infrastructure designed to handle 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo per year, covering an area of 1,810 hectares.

To date, several key components have been completed, including connecting roads, Runway 1, and the Phase 1 perimeter fence. Calibration and flight tests were carried out from September 26 to October 29, 2025.

Once operational, Long Thanh International Airport is set to directly create approximately 14,000 jobs for businesses operating on-site. When the airport reaches its full design capacity of 25 million passengers annually, it is expected to generate 22,000 direct jobs and contribute around US$3.7 billion per year to national GDP.

Indirectly, the project will create around 69,800 additional jobs for suppliers and service providers supporting the airport, contributing approximately US$4.5 billion annually. Furthermore, the consumption effects of these direct and indirect employees are expected to generate roughly 57,000 additional jobs, contributing an extra US$2.5 billion per year to GDP.

With strong determination from the Government, ministries, investors, and construction units, Phase 1 of Long Thanh Airport is expected to be substantially completed, meeting all operational standards for technical flights before December 19, 2025, paving the way for commercial operation in the first half of 2026.

In his remarks, Party General Secretary To Lam praised the ministries, local authorities, and relevant units for their outstanding efforts in keeping the project on schedule. He highlighted that Runway 1 and traffic route 1 are ready for technical flights and that the terminal has achieved over 60% of its contract value, saving nearly VND450 billion for the State.

“Long Thanh International Airport must be built and operated with a pioneering spirit, setting a new benchmark for modern, sustainable, and smart aviation infrastructure,” said the leader.

He requested relevant ministries, agencies, and investors to jointly develop a set of criteria to evaluate the airport’s international competitiveness, focusing on passenger service quality and experience; operational efficiency and productivity; and connectivity and transfer capability within the regional aviation network.

“The goal is for Long Thanh to become one of Southeast Asia’s most attractive airports, on par with or surpassing leading airports in the region,” he stressed.

During the working session, the General Secretary also acknowledged recommendations from local authorities and investors, and assigned the Party Central Committee’s Office to submit them to relevant agencies for urgent review and resolution in accordance with the law, ensuring the project is completed on schedule and develops sustainably in the coming years.

Daily Mail hails Long Thanh International Airport as one of world’s biggest

VOV.VN - The UK's Daily Mail newspaper has published an article describing Long Thanh Airport in the southern province of Dong Nai, 40km from downtown Ho Chi Minh City, as one of the biggest in the world.