Deputy Minister of Construction: Ho Chi Minh City to Long Thanh Airport will take 30 minutes by 2027

After a series of transport projects are completed, the journey of over 40 km from central Ho Chi Minh City to Long Thanh Airport will take approximately 30 minutes, according to the Deputy Minister of Construction.

Deputy Minister of Construction Le Anh Tuan provided this information at the National Assembly's oversight session on transport projects connecting Long Thanh Airport, on the morning of 14/5.

Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan (second from right) reported to the National Assembly's oversight delegation on the airport's transport connectivity situation on the morning of 14/5. *Photo: Phuoc Tuan*

The Deputy Minister highlighted several key infrastructure projects nearing completion. According to Tuan, the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway has partially opened the section from Long Thanh interchange to Vung Tau, while component project one is expected to open its entire route in May. Ho Chi Minh City's Ring Road 3 will also be largely completed and operational by next June. Meanwhile, the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway is accelerating progress to open its entire route by September.

Furthermore, the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway is being expanded from 4 to 8-10 lanes, with completion anticipated in June 2027. "With a series of projects completed, the connection from Ho Chi Minh City's administrative center to Long Thanh Airport will take only about 30 minutes", Tuan said, adding that the routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Nai play a crucial role, meeting the travel needs of approximately 75% of passengers to the airport.

Inside the Long Thanh Airport Passenger Terminal on the morning of 14/5. *Photo: Phuoc Tuan*

Improving connectivity to Long Thanh Airport has been a priority. General Secretary and President To Lam assigned relevant units to implement the 30-minute connection between Long Thanh Airport and Ho Chi Minh City during a working session in the city in February this year. Beyond road links, local authorities are also accelerating investment procedures for the Thu Thiem - Long Thanh and Suoi Tien - Bien Hoa - Long Thanh railway lines.

Long Thanh Airport commenced construction in early 2021, covering an area of over 5,000 hectares with a total investment of approximately 16 billion USD, and is expected to become operational by the end of this year. According to a proposal from the Airports Corporation of Vietnam, by 2027, the airport will primarily serve international passengers from the Ho Chi Minh City area.

At the aforementioned oversight session, Vu Pham Nguyen An, Director of the Long Thanh Airport Project Management Board, stated that the schedules for key tender packages have been revised to ensure completion by the end of 2026. Approximately 95% of imported equipment has been delivered to the site, with 80% already installed. For the passenger terminal package alone, there are currently about 3,000 engineers and workers on site; however, this workforce only meets approximately 60% of the demand, with a 40% shortfall.