At a strategic forum on coordinating operations between Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh airports, architect and urban planning expert Ngo Viet Nam Son emphasized: “It is not advisable to immediately move 100% of international flights to the new airport.” Instead, he proposed a phased, three-stage approach.

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Overview of the international conference held at the Vietnam Aviation Academy. Photo: TK

On September 11, the Vietnam Aviation Academy hosted the international conference titled “The Long Thanh - Tan Son Nhat airport pair: Shaping the national aviation gateway towards a regional hub in the new era.”

The event attracted key input from leading managers and experts across various sectors. The shared objective was to identify optimal strategies to develop this airport duo into a powerhouse for economic, trade, and tourism growth.

Infrastructure challenges remain

According to Pham Minh Hai, Director of the Transportation Investment Consulting Center at the Academy of Strategy and Personnel Development (under the Ministry of Construction), while Long Thanh Airport is expected to handle 100 million passengers per year, the current transportation network falls short of supporting this capacity.

He pointed out that key roads such as National Highway 51 and the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh expressway are already overloaded and frequently congested. Additionally, the absence of a dedicated rail link limits travel options and weakens the airport's transport capacity.

Furthermore, transportation projects currently under construction are poorly synchronized, resulting in complications during implementation. Disjointed traffic management and limited investment capital continue to delay the progress of major infrastructure projects.

Mr. Hai recommended that Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai Province integrate the Interregional Route 04 into the regional planning framework, agree on a unified route crossing the Dong Nai River via the Cat Lai Bridge, and expedite the expansion of the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh expressway. He also called for prioritizing investment in the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway (segments 6-10) and developing a connection to the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway.

Additionally, he emphasized the need to fast-track the light rail line from Thu Thiem to Long Thanh and complete provincial routes DT773, DT770B, and DT769 by 2025 to ease congestion in the region.

Two perspectives on airport operation strategy

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Design rendering of Long Thanh International Airport. Photo: ACV

Experts presented two main perspectives on how to divide operations between Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh airports.

Representatives from the Incheon Airport Consortium, the consulting unit, proposed two possible scenarios: shifting all international flights to Long Thanh, or splitting operations based on flight distance.

According to them, concentrating all international flights at Long Thanh would optimize resources, eliminate procedural redundancies, and improve operational continuity.

However, if flights are divided between the two airports, it could create confusion for travelers and reduce competitiveness, potentially causing Vietnam to lose up to 33% of its transit passengers to regional hubs like Bangkok or Singapore.

In contrast, architect Ngo Viet Nam Son advocated for a more cautious, strategic approach. He argued that moving all international flights at once would be premature and should only happen once supporting infrastructure is fully in place. He proposed a three-phase roadmap:

Phase 1: Long Thanh as a cargo hub.

With regional connectivity still underdeveloped, Long Thanh should initially serve as a cargo center. This would alleviate pressure on Tan Son Nhat, which is currently overwhelmed with freight, without burdening passenger transport systems.

Phase 2: Transition after infrastructure completion.

Only after key infrastructure projects like ring roads, expressways, and metro lines are completed and operational should international flights begin transitioning to Long Thanh. At that point, Long Thanh would take on greater responsibility while still working in tandem with Tan Son Nhat.

Phase 3: Long Thanh becomes a destination.

In the long term, the goal is for Long Thanh to evolve from a transit point into a genuine destination, similar to major international airport models. Passengers would be encouraged to stay, supported by the development of airport cities and free trade zones.

Long Thanh operation requires unprecedented coordination

Concluding the conference, Uong Viet Dung, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, acknowledged that the operation of Long Thanh represents an unprecedented challenge with profound implications for the entire aviation sector. He noted the government’s strong interest in accelerating the project so the airport can become operational as soon as possible.

Mr. Dung stressed the importance of a clear transition roadmap and coordinated implementation to ensure effective parallel operations at both airports.

“All expert opinions and scholarly contributions presented today form the foundation for comprehensive analysis and will be submitted to higher authorities for decision-making. The ultimate goal is to ensure safety, avoid disruption to aviation operations, and optimize the use of both Long Thanh and Tan Son Nhat airports,” he stated.

Tuan Kiet