LONG THANH AIRPORT SET FOR COMMERCIAL LAUNCH IN LATE 2026

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh gestures during his site inspection of the Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province on March 29 - PHOTO: VNA

HCMC – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered construction to be expedited to ensure Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province begins commercial operations in the fourth quarter of this year during the site inspection on March 29.

All construction work must be finalized no later than September this year to meet this deadline.

The project’s Component 3, featuring 145 packages, has reached around 74% of its contract value, with VND64.1 trillion in executed volume. Key infrastructure, including the air traffic control center, runways and taxiways, is complete. The passenger terminal is now in its finishing stages, with equipment such as baggage conveyors and jet bridges currently being installed, according to the Long Thanh International Airport Project Management Board.

Despite the progress, the big-ticket project faces significant headwinds. Labor shortages remain a primary concern, with the workforce currently at 9,000, against a peak demand of 14,000. Harsh weather conditions and dust have led to high turnover among technical staff. Furthermore, global geopolitical tensions have driven up fuel and material costs, while inspection and payment processes for several packages have been stalled since earlier this year pending regulatory guidance.

To ensure synchronized operations, the PM also directed ministries to accelerate connecting transport infrastructure, including the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau and Ben Luc-Long Thanh expressways, as well as the extension of Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line to Long Thanh airport.

Long Thanh International Airport has a total investment of VND336.63 trillion. Once all phases are completed, the airport would be able to handle 100 million passengers and five million tons of cargo annually.

Source: The Saigon Times

Related News

BANKING / FINANCE / INSURANCE / TAX

BANKS LAUNCH CROSS-BORDER QR PAYMENTS TO TAP GROWING DIGITAL ECONOMY

Banks are rolling out cross-border QR payment services enabling consumers to make international transactions directly through domestic banking apps to tap into the country’s fast-growing digital economy. The expansion of QR-based payments is gradually reshaping spending habits, reducing reliance on cash and international cards while offering faster and more transparent transactions at points of sale.

Apr 23, 2026

VIETNAM ECONOMY INVESTMENT

VIETNAM’S SMALL BUSINESSES TOP ASIA‑PACIFIC GROWTH RANKINGS

Vietnamese small businesses posted the strongest performance among 11 Asia Pacific markets in 2025, with 84% reporting growth, up from 82% a year earlier, according to CPA Australia’s small business survey. This momentum is forecast to continue in 2026 with 89% of small businesses expecting to grow on the back of a strong focus on technology, e-commerce, and improved business management.

Apr 23, 2026

VIETNAM ECONOMY INVESTMENT

VIETNAM’S IMPORTS FROM CHINA TOP US$50 BILLION IN Q1

Vietnam’s imports from China in the first quarter of 2026 surged a staggering 31.6% year-on-year to more than US$50 billion, accounting for around 40% of the country’s total imports, customs data showed. The increase was driven largely by technology goods and industrial equipment. Imports of computers, electronics and components jumped 62.2% to US$16.77 billion, while machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts rose 25% to US$9.72 billion.

Apr 23, 2026

INFRASTRUCTURE / CONSTRUCTION / LOGISTIC / PORT

VIETNAM TARGETS OVER 30 AIRPORTS, 25 RAILWAY LINES BY 2050

Vietnam plans to expand its nationwide civil aviation network to more than 30 airports by 2050, with total capacity reaching 533 million passengers per year. Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh told the National Assembly on April 20, as the country accelerates decentralization and diversifies funding sources for transport infrastructure.

Apr 23, 2026

VIETNAM ECONOMY INVESTMENT

FIRST-QUARTER GROWTH HITS RECORD HIGH DESPITE GLOBAL VOLATILITY

According to Dragon Capital, Vietnam’s growth momentum strengthened in March following Lunar New Year normalisation, reinforcing confidence that the expansion remained firmly intact through the first quarter of 2026. GDP grew 7.8 per cent on-year in the first quarter, with industry and construction rising 8.9 per cent and services 8.2 per cent, highlighting that growth is not solely reliant on exports and manufacturing, but is increasingly supported by services and domestic demand.

Apr 23, 2026

VIETNAM ECONOMY INVESTMENT

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE EXPORTS SURGE ON GLOBAL DEMAND

Việt Nam’s fruit and vegetable exports have made a strong start to the year, with rising shipments and tighter compliance with international standards helping producers tap robust global demand, according to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association. The association reported export earnings of nearly US$532 million in April, bringing total export value to $2.06 billion in the first four months of the year, up 22 per cent year-on-year.

Apr 23, 2026