Vietnam’s Politburo passed a resolution on July 21, 2026 confirming that Long Thanh International Airport is on schedule to open its first phase in December 2026. The decision ends months of speculation about whether construction delays would push the opening into 2027, and has immediate implications for travellers planning trips to southern Vietnam.
What Long Thanh Is — and Why It Matters
Long Thanh International Airport is being built approximately 40 kilometres east of Ho Chi Minh City in Dong Nai Province. Phase 1 will include one runway and a passenger terminal capable of handling 25 million passengers per year — roughly equivalent to the entire current throughput of Tan Son Nhat, the existing Ho Chi Minh City airport.
Tan Son Nhat has been operating above design capacity for years. The airport sits in the middle of the city, limiting expansion options. Long Thanh is designed to eventually handle 100 million passengers annually across multiple phases, serving as Vietnam’s primary international hub alongside Hanoi’s Noi Bai.
What Changes for Travellers in December 2026
The Politburo resolution commits to Phase 1 opening in December 2026, with initial international routes expected to be transferred from Tan Son Nhat. Airlines currently serving Ho Chi Minh City have been briefed on the transition timeline; slot allocations are expected to be announced by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam in September.
Key practical points:
Transfer time from the city will be longer. Long Thanh is 40 km from central Ho Chi Minh City via the Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway. Journey time is expected to be 30–45 minutes under normal conditions, though peak-hour traffic can extend this to 75–90 minutes. Budget considerably more time than Tan Son Nhat, which is 7–8 km from District 1. Taxi fares to the city centre are expected to run approximately VND 500,000–700,000 (USD 20–28) by metered cab; Grab will operate at the terminal. An airport bus service to Districts 1 and 3 is planned. The airport’s IATA code is LTT — check your booking confirmation carefully, since SGN still refers to Tan Son Nhat and landing at the wrong airport adds significant transfer time.
Some routes may remain at Tan Son Nhat initially. Phase 1 at Long Thanh will not absorb all capacity immediately. Domestic routes in particular are likely to remain at Tan Son Nhat for a period following the opening. Tan Son Nhat has been handling over 40 million passengers a year despite a design capacity of 28 million — Long Thanh is designed to absorb international long-haul traffic first.
A rail link is planned but not part of Phase 1. A future metro connection linking the airport to Ho Chi Minh City’s rail network is in planning. At opening, road transport will be the only option.
Connections to Da Nang and Hanoi will continue. Domestic connectivity is not affected by the transition. Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, and Bamboo operate high-frequency services between southern and central and northern hubs regardless of which airport handles international arrivals.
Southern Vietnam Travel: What to Know Now
For travellers planning visits to Ho Chi Minh City in late 2026, check which airport your flight is scheduled to use when booking. Airlines are expected to update routing information in September or October once the transition schedule is confirmed. Long Thanh will be better connected to the Mekong Delta region, which benefits travellers using the airport as a gateway to Can Tho and the delta waterways.
Phu Quoc retains its own dedicated international airport and is unaffected by the Long Thanh opening.
Why This Matters Beyond 2026
The opening of Long Thanh is a structural shift for Vietnam’s aviation market. With Noi Bai in the north and Long Thanh in the south both operating at modern specifications, Vietnam will have the hub infrastructure needed to absorb continued growth in inbound arrivals — which hit a record 12.3 million in the first half of 2026. Analysts expect the new airport to enable direct routes from markets currently served only indirectly, including parts of South America, Africa, and secondary European cities.