Long Thanh airport races toward October trial operations with key facilities taking shape

With trial operations set for this month, critical infrastructure like check-in counters and automated baggage systems is rapidly taking shape inside the new VND35 trillion (US$1.3 billion) terminal of Long Thanh mega airport in Vietnam’s southern Dong Nai City. In late September, the passenger terminal entered its final construction phase ahead of upcoming trial runs, with crews currently finishing the roof over the facility's central section. The VND35 trillion project, which broke ground in August 2023, is now more than 76% complete and on track to finish by the end of this year. The roof and interior of the terminal's western wing are largely complete. According to the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), a state-owned firm that operates all 23 airports across Vietnam and the investor of Long Thanh International Airport project, this wing and the central section will be prioritized for initial trial operations. The roof and interior of the terminal's western wing are largely complete. According to the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), a state-owned firm that operates all 23 airports across Vietnam and the investor of Long Thanh International Airport project, this wing and the central section will be prioritized for initial trial operations. The roof and interior of the terminal's western wing are largely complete. According to the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), a state-owned firm that operates all 23 airports across Vietnam and the investor of Long Thanh International Airport project, this wing and the central section will be prioritized for initial trial operations. Workers are completing check-in counters for an airline in the central section of the passenger terminal. Inside the terminal's central section, escalators are already in place. According to ACV, crews are focused on finishing architectural details and installing core infrastructure, including mechanical, electrical, fire safety, and information technology systems. The terminal will feature a self-service baggage-drop area as part of a modernized operating plan. Once open, Long Thanh Airport will deploy advanced technologies, including biometric check-ins, allowing passengers to independently process their luggage and complete various pre-flight procedures. The first phase of Long Thanh airport is slated to begin commercial operations in December 2026. To meet this deadline, ACV has ordered contractors to deploy additional resources, tighten progress monitoring, and improve coordination across work packages. Crews are also being directed to secure materials early and prioritize the completion of essential operational facilities. Designed to resemble a stylized lotus petal, the passenger terminal's exterior is largely complete and now connects to the taxiways, apron, runway, and air traffic control tower. According to ACV, Component 3 of the project, which encompasses 16 separate construction packages, had reached roughly 80% of its total contract value by mid-September. Component 3 is the package for the airport's essential airport facilities, including the passenger terminal, runway/taxiways, aprons, cargo facilities and the supporting infrastructure required to operate the airport. Overhead, the facility's distinctive roof is designed to resemble stylized lotus petals. To meet year-end operational requirements, ACV is fast-tracking the completion of the terminal's central section and western wing. The air traffic control tower is set to begin trial operations in early October. Its technical systems went online late last year, successfully guiding the facility's first flights to safely land. Work is also progressing at the airport's fuel storage area. Designated a key national project, the broader Long Thanh Airport development broke ground in early 2021. The facility spans more than 5,000 hectares in Long Thanh Commune and carries a total investment of nearly VND337 trillion. A map of Long Thanh airport, Tan Son Nhat airport and nearby roads. Graphics by Hoang Thanh, Minh Nga