Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh has issued directives urging Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV) to expedite the construction of Component Project 3 of Long Thanh International Airport.

ACV, as the project's investor, has been tasked with adhering to the directives of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and mobilizing additional equipment, manpower, and financial resources to capitalize on the dry season.

The minister emphasized a “three shifts, four teams” work schedule, requiring continuous operations, even during holidays and weekends, to exceed the project’s timeline.

ACV must create detailed schedules for each construction task, prioritize critical packages such as 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, and 5.10, and ensure smooth coordination to prevent conflicts between work packages.

The investor is also responsible for strengthening supervision personnel to match contractors' progress, evaluating construction timelines, and addressing delays swiftly to avoid impacts on the overall schedule.

Strict monitoring of construction progress, occupational safety, traffic safety, and environmental cleanliness must be maintained to ensure both the pace and quality of the project.

Current progress and challenges

Phase 1 of Long Thanh International Airport’s construction, covering essential airport infrastructure under Component Project 3, is the largest part of the project, with an investment of over 99 trillion VND ($4.1 billion), accounting for 90.8% of the total project budget.

This component includes 16 sub-packages:

Three packages are nearly complete as of December 2024.

Seven packages are under construction.

Three packages are in the contractor selection stage.

Three packages are undergoing technical design appraisal.

Package 5.10, which began in July 2023, poses significant challenges due to its complex and technically demanding elements.

Scheduled for completion by November 30, 2026, the package’s tight timeline has been acknowledged as a considerable challenge by contractors like the VIETUR consortium.

In December 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh instructed the Ministry of Transport, ACV, and contractors to revise the timeline and aim to complete Long Thanh International Airport by December 31, 2025, a year earlier than initially planned.

ACV is negotiating with contractors, particularly for Package 5.10, to explore solutions for accelerating progress and achieving the Prime Minister’s directive.

N. Huyen