Prime Minister orders resolution of bottlenecks to ensure Long Thành International Airport progress

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered the finalization of key obstacles to ensure the progress of the Long Thành International Airport project and its connecting transport routes. The Government Office issued Notification No. 166/TB-VPCP dated 2 April 2026 summarizing the Prime Minister’s conclusions following an inspection of the project’s progress in phase 1 and the related transport links.

Project progress and key achievements

The Long Thành airport project is described as a national priority with broad socio-economic significance for the aviation sector, the country as a whole, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Southeastern provinces. The article notes that the project was prepared for investment with careful study, and that it took just over two years from the groundbreaking in August 2023 to the inauguration and the first technical flight on 19 December 2025.

The Prime Minister praised the efforts and responsibility of ministries, agencies, localities, the investor, joint-venture contractors, consulting and supervisory units, and the on-site workforce for overcoming difficulties and delivering important results within a short timeframe.

Effectiveness review and optimization of overall impact

The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Construction to guide ACV and relevant agencies to continue reviewing and thoroughly assessing the project’s effectiveness, including financial performance and broader benefits of a strategic airport as a driver of socio-economic development—particularly for the southern economic zone, Ho Chi Minh City, and Đồng Nai province.

Authorities are also required to elaborate on non-aeronautical services and the aviation ecosystem, including services and tourism, urban development, logistics, the aviation economy, security and defense, and national stature. Based on these findings, solutions should be developed to optimize the project’s overall impact.

Infrastructure completion targets and remaining works

According to reports and on-site observations, the air traffic control tower and the flight-control center have been “basically completed” to support the first technical flight on 19 December 2025.

The Ministry of Construction was tasked with directing the investor, contractors, and relevant bodies to complete remaining works, including infrastructure connections, fire protection, environmental sanitation, and landscape, to ensure a “bright, green, clean, modern” environment.

The runway, taxiways, and aprons were completed by 19 December 2025 to support the first technical flight. The Prime Minister requested that the second runway be completed in a synchronized manner with the overall project and in line with the committed schedule, noting that the current output is “over 65%.”

Utilities, fire protection, and auxiliary components

For fuel, power supply, and telecommunications systems, the Prime Minister asked Đồng Nai province and ACV to monitor and ensure timely completion by 30 June 2025, with no adverse effects on commercial operations.

Fire protection and related infrastructure linking works are also required to be completed by April 2026.

For other auxiliary components under project component 4 (including hangar, cargo terminal, ground facilities, catering and support facilities), construction should be accelerated to meet the plan, with emphasis on items essential for commercial operation by August 2026.

Milestones toward commercial operation

The passenger terminal and certain packages under component 3 are reported as currently over 84% complete, described as a critical milestone for achieving commercial operation in Q4 2026.

Payments, compliance, and accountability

The Prime Minister also called for accelerating investigations and addressing violations during project implementation. He emphasized ensuring accountability while resolving payment obstacles to contractors in accordance with legal provisions.

Immediate task forces are to be established by the Ministries of Finance and Construction, together with ACV, to address payment and supply issues.

Transport connectivity and logistics ecosystem

On transport connectivity, progress on road links between Ho Chi Minh City and Long Thành is described as on track to meet the schedule, with emphasis on synchronizing with airport operations.

The Prime Minister urged acceleration of the Thủ Thiêm–Long Thành urban rail line by June 2026, and the early 2026 initiation of Metro Line 2 (Tham Lương–Bến Thành) and Metro Line 1 extension to Long Thành through Đồng Nai.

Đồng Nai Province was directed to advance investment preparation for a regional passenger and logistics hub around the airport by 2026, building a modern aviation-services ecosystem. The ecosystem includes lodging, hotel, convention and trade centers, healthcare, training, maintenance, logistics, duty-free zones, and financial services, aiming to form the “Long Thành Airport City.”

Administrative consolidation and coordination

The Ministry of Finance was tasked with finalizing the consolidation of ACV’s organization by 15 April 2026.

Related agencies were also directed to study remaining needs and ensure coordinated, efficient execution of these interconnected transport and logistics initiatives.