Long Thanh Airport near Ho Chi Minh City Planned to Open on 24 December
Vietnam's new Long Thanh Airport is planned to open at midnight on 24 December with up to 366 weekly flights. What the first phase and road links mean.
Long Thanh International Airport, Vietnam's new airport about 40 km from Ho Chi Minh City, is planned to open to commercial flights from 00:00 on 24 December 2026. The operator, Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), gave the date as expected rather than final in a letter to the Dong Nai authorities.[1]
What the first phase looks like
Only part of the terminal will be in use at first: the west wing and the central terminal area, with four check-in islands. ACV plans about 20 to 30 flights a day from December 2026 to March 2027, domestic and international, with at most 366 flights a week (322 domestic and 44 international).[1]
Two airlines are due to start there. Vietnam Airlines is expected to fly Long Thanh to Hanoi and some international routes, while Vietjet Air plans domestic flights to major economic and tourism centers. Flight allocations between Long Thanh and Tan Son Nhat are still being worked out with the airlines, so no timetable exists yet.[1] Check which airport your ticket names before you travel.
Getting to the airport
No rail link will be running at the start, so passengers will arrive by road. The routes named by ACV are the Ho Chi Minh City to Long Thanh to Dau Giay expressway, the Nhon Trach bridge, Ring Road 3 and National Highway 25C.[2]
In mid-October the Dong Nai authorities added 16 bus routes to the airport. They include Bien Hoa bus station (43 km), Saigon bus station, the new Mien Dong and Mien Tay bus stations, Vung Tau, Ho Tram, and a link to Tan Son Nhat Airport. ACV says it is also working with Ho Chi Minh City on public transport links, and on a dedicated service for passengers changing between Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh. Details have not been published.[2]
What to expect
Construction was about 86% complete by contract value, with 12 of 16 main work packages still under way, and acceptance checks and the airport operating certificate are still to be completed.[1] For now, if you are flying to Vietnam around the end of December, check the airport on your booking and your transfer plans.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Vietnamese Government Portal (Chinhphu.vn): Dự kiến đưa sân bay Long Thành vào khai thác từ 0h ngày 24/12. Retrieved October 31, 2026.
- [2] Vietnamese Government Portal (Chinhphu.vn): Đảm bảo thông suốt khi di chuyển giữa sân bay Long Thành và TPHCM. Retrieved October 31, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
ACV expects commercial operations to start at 00:00 on 24 December 2026. The date is planned, not yet final.
Up to 366 flights a week, of which 322 are domestic and 44 international, operated by Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air.
By road at first, since no rail link will be open. ACV names the expressway via Long Thanh and Dau Giay, Ring Road 3 and Highway 25C, and Dong Nai has added 16 bus routes.
