The Long Thanh Airport project is accelerating towards completion by the end of 2025, with operations expected to begin in 2026. This key national infrastructure project has a capacity of 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo annually. Phase one will handle 25 million passengers. The total investment for the project is nearly 336,630 trillion VND (16 billion USD).

In parallel with the construction progress, aviation businesses have begun preparing their workforce. An estimated 14,000 employees are needed for the first phase, including 5,000 with university degrees or higher, 2,000 general laborers, and the rest with vocational, intermediate, and college-level training.

The Long Thanh Airport passenger terminal is nearing completion. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

The Long Thanh Airport passenger terminal is nearing completion. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

Le Thi Hoang Oanh, deputy general director of Saigon Ground Services Joint Stock Company (SAGS), said the company is recruiting for various positions: baggage handling, equipment repair, machine operation, and aircraft cleaning, with an average income of 15-20 million VND per month. Employees receive full benefits, insurance, regular health checkups, meal support, holiday bonuses, and annual vacations.

"We prioritize workers from Dong Nai. Candidates only need a high school diploma, good health, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to work in shifts. After being recruited, they will receive vocational training to quickly adapt to the job," Oanh said.

Vietnam Airport Ground Services Company Limited (VIAGS) needs to recruit over 400 people for roles such as passenger service, load control, flight dispatch, ground equipment repair, information technology, and equipment operation.

Deputy general director Luu Hoang Minh said employees need foreign language skills, communication skills, confidence, and the ability to handle pressure. Candidates will be trained directly at Tan Son Nhat Airport and then gain enough experience to work at Long Thanh when it opens.

Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) previously advertised for 1,400 specialized personnel such as electrical engineers, electronics and telecommunications engineers, mechanical and automation engineers, and chemical testing engineers. Other airlines and ground service units also need nearly 1,500 people, bringing the total current recruitment demand to over 3,000 positions.

Nguyen Cao Cuong, ACV's deputy general director, stated that Long Thanh is not just an infrastructure project but also aims to become a leading aviation hub in the region.

"With over 3,000 career opportunities, this is a journey for young workers to demonstrate their abilities and contribute to building the image of a modern, civilized, and friendly airport," he said. ACV is committed to supporting employees throughout their training, skill development, and career advancement.

Young people receive career advice at Long Thanh Airport during a job fair on 23/8. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

Young people receive career advice at Long Thanh Airport during a job fair on 23/8. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

During a recent 3-day job fair, ACV recorded 1,300 candidates who provided their information. This data will be used as a reference when official recruitment rounds are launched.

Le Truong Son, vice chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, said the locality is coordinating with ACV to organize job fairs to help students and workers access recruitment needs. In the coming period, the province will increase communication so that people can access information and participate in training to supplement the airport's workforce in a timely manner.

Provincial leaders also suggested that businesses prioritize recruiting residents from communes that have given up land for the project, providing them with long-term livelihoods.

Dong Nai has approved a project to train and develop local human resources from 2024-2026, with an orientation towards 2030. The goal is to support about 4,800 local workers in finding jobs inside and outside the airport. The Department of Education and Training has been assigned to coordinate the completion of documents to submit to the Provincial People's Council for the issuance of a resolution on the level of human resource training expenditure from 2026-2030.

Vo Tan Duc, chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, said that of the 14,000 workers needed for phase one, in addition to general laborers, the majority will be highly qualified personnel such as leaders, managers, and staff directly operating and providing services.

At the Long Thanh Airport Human Resource Training Conference at the end of 2024, ACV representatives noted that when the airport opens, most long-haul flights over 1,000 km will be transferred to Long Thanh. Therefore, schools need to focus on training in aircraft maintenance and repair, information technology, biometrics, and automated passenger and baggage handling.

"We want to build a working environment where every individual has the opportunity to develop their abilities and contribute to the competitiveness of Long Thanh Airport when it becomes operational," said Nguyen Cao Cuong, ACV's deputy general director.

Location of Long Thanh International Airport. Graphics: Hoang Thanh

Location of Long Thanh International Airport. Graphics: Hoang Thanh

Long Thanh is the largest infrastructure project in Vietnam's aviation sector to date and is expected to relieve pressure on the overloaded Tan Son Nhat Airport. According to experts, human resources are key to the airport's efficient operation. The aviation industry not only needs to recruit a sufficient number of employees but also a workforce with high professional skills, discipline, good foreign language proficiency, and the ability to work in an international environment.

Phuoc Tuan