Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged a study on establishing a rail or metro connection between Long Thanh and Tan Son Nhat airports, emphasizing the need for the shortest, most efficient, and fastest route.

The directive was given during a working session at Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province on December 3. The Prime Minister was joined by Deputy Prime Ministers Tran Hong Ha and Ho Duc Phoc, along with leaders from various ministries and local authorities.

Comprehensive development plans for Long Thanh Airport

Vo Tan Duc, Chairman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, reported that the province had studied global models, including airports in Singapore and Germany, to create a comprehensive plan for the area surrounding Long Thanh Airport. The plan includes five key development zones:

Commercial, service, financial, and event zones,
Cultural, tourism, sports, and leisure spaces,
Education and research hubs,
Industrial and logistics zones,
Urban residential areas.

Duc also proposed financial support for critical infrastructure projects, such as the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3, Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway, and Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4, estimating a total investment of VND 20 trillion. He requested permission to retain surplus revenue from 2025-2027 to fund these developments.

To improve transportation links, Dong Nai proposed expanding the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway to 10 lanes and constructing an underground tunnel beneath the Dong Nai River to replace the Cat Lai Ferry. This would ensure unobstructed navigation for large vessels heading to Saigon Port.

The province also suggested accelerating the development of the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh light rail and a rail connection between Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh airports to cater to passenger travel needs.

Prime Minister’s response and instructions

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh approved upgrading the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway to 10 lanes and agreed to the underground tunnel option at Cat Lai. He reiterated his call for a rail or metro connection between Long Thanh and Tan Son Nhat airports, noting this was his third reminder on the matter.

The Prime Minister set a deadline for completing route alignment and investment feasibility studies for the airport connection by the first quarter of 2025.

In response to Dong Nai's proposal, the Prime Minister suggested renaming the Long Thanh Airport urban area to “Airport City.” He envisioned the area, primarily based in Long Thanh and Nhon Trach districts with a population of approximately 500,000, as a synchronized ecosystem to maximize the airport’s potential once operational.

For Dong Nai’s proposed projects requiring VND 20 trillion, the Prime Minister instructed Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc to guide and address any obstacles. He urged local authorities to complete related policies and directives by December 2024.

The Prime Minister also emphasized the need for proactive implementation of tasks within designated responsibilities. For issues requiring higher-level approval, he advised preparing proposals for consideration.

Hoang Anh