The Government Office announced on 21/4 Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc's conclusions from a meeting reviewing the progress of the Long Thanh International Airport project. He emphasized that any handling of violations must clearly identify individuals, their actions, and their responsibilities.
The Ministry of Public Security is tasked with clarifying the extent of violations by involved organizations and individuals, especially key leaders of the investor and contractors directly overseeing construction. Concurrently, the ministry must facilitate the continued participation of individuals not directly implicated in violations, to prevent adverse effects on overall project progress.
The investigation agency will continue to coordinate with Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Construction, and relevant units to review documents and records for the investigation. For items without violations, the Deputy Prime Minister requested normal payment conditions. For parts with violations, appropriate handling plans are required.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, completing and commissioning the project in 2026 presents an immense challenge. This is due to the substantial remaining workload, persistent payment obstacles, limited favorable construction time, insufficient on-site personnel, and rising material costs. Despite these hurdles, the goal of commissioning the project for commercial operation must be met. He urged all relevant ministries, sectors, and units to heighten their responsibility, proactively resolve issues, and accelerate progress.
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Long Thanh airport construction site, 3/2026. *Quynh Tran* |
The Ministry of Finance is tasked with promptly reorganizing ACV's structure and personnel, and establishing a task force to guide the resolution of payment issues. This must be completed by 22/4. ACV must review all bid packages regarding volume, progress, personnel, equipment, and materials. It must also require contractors to increase resources and capitalize on favorable weather to accelerate construction.
The investor will work with each contractor to determine remaining work volume, progress, and resource mobilization capacity. They will also negotiate to resolve payment obstacles and make temporary payments when necessary, pending conclusions from authorities. The Ministry of Construction will establish a task force to coordinate with Dong Nai province in addressing issues related to the supply and pricing of raw materials and fuel for the project.
Dong Nai province must accelerate land clearance for connecting transport projects, ensuring their synchronized completion when Long Thanh airport becomes operational.
The Long Thanh airport project is a national key initiative spanning approximately 5,000 hectares, with a total investment of nearly 337 trillion VND. By late 2025, some phase 1 components are expected to be completed and ready to receive the first flights.
On 5/3, Airports Corporation of Vietnam announced that the Ministry of Public Security had temporarily detained its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vu The Phiet. He is being investigated for severe violations of bidding regulations and accepting money to facilitate contractors winning bids. Also arrested was Nguyen Tien Viet, a member of the Board of Directors, Deputy General Director in charge of the Executive Board, and concurrently Director of the Long Thanh International Airport Project Management Board.
On 8/4, the Central Inspection Committee expelled Lai Xuan Thanh, former Party Secretary and former Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Nguyen Tien Viet from the Party. This action was taken due to their violations of Party regulations and state laws in performing their assigned duties, specifically concerning anti-corruption, anti-wastefulness, and anti-negativity efforts. The Central Inspection Committee also recommended that competent authorities consider disciplinary action against Vu The Phiet.
*Vu Tuan*
