Expanding Long Thành into a Regional Air Transportation Hub
Long Thành International Airport, scheduled to open in 2026, is poised to become Vietnam's primary hub for international air traffic and air cargo operations. The airport, located about 40 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, will focus on handling all international flights, especially long-haul routes, while Tân Sơn Nhất Airport will concentrate on domestic and short-haul international traffic.
This division aims to alleviate congestion at Tân Sơn Nhất, Vietnam's busiest airport, which often experiences overcrowding and delays due to operating beyond its capacity. Long Thành is designed with a large capacity—up to 100 million passengers annually in its final phases—and aims to handle over 19 million international passengers annually in its initial operation phase.
To enhance its role as a hub, Long Thành is building a comprehensive aviation ecosystem. This includes a state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance center developed by Vietjet, which will service multiple large aircraft simultaneously to meet international standards, creating high-quality jobs and attracting further investment.
The airport's strategic location and ongoing infrastructure developments, such as expressways, ring roads, metro lines, and proposed high-speed rail lines, are expected to improve accessibility. Long Thành's modern infrastructure will also allow the application of green logistics solutions and digital logistics.
The airport's logistics complex will house cargo terminals and freight forwarding facilities, serving international cargo carriers and logistics firms. Concentrating international cargo operations in Long Thành could make Vietnam an aviation logistics hub in the South and Southeast Asia region.
The Airports Corporation of Việt Nam (ACV) has proposed two operational scenarios for Long Thành's first phase of operation in 2026. In the first scenario, all international flights will be shifted to Long Thành, allowing Tân Sơn Nhất to concentrate solely on domestic operations. In the second scenario, Long Thành will handle all international flights, particularly those over 1,000 km, with around 15 million international passengers per year.
The development of an international air cargo hub at Long Thành is expected to attract major logistics players in the world. The construction of Long Thành is being sped up with a target to receive its first flight on December 19 this year. The transition of all international cargo operations to Long Thành represents a strategic move for long-term economic, operational, and planning benefits for the national aviation system.
The Ministry of Construction has asked ACV to work with carriers to study and assess the impact of the flight exploitation plan and submit a report by September. The establishment of Long Thành International Airport as a hub for the Southeast region is a significant step towards improving Vietnam's aviation infrastructure and positioning the country as a key player in the regional and global aviation market.
