Long Thanh International Airport — Vietnam’s new international gateway
Long Thanh International Airport has been in the making for years. Tan Son Nhat Airport, which serves Ho Chi Minh City, has been operating well beyond its designed capacity for a long time. Delays, overcrowding, and limited room for expansion made it clear that a second airport was needed. Long Thanh is the answer — a purpose-built international hub designed from the ground up to handle the scale that Tan Son Nhat never could.
The airport is located in Long Thanh district, Dong Nai province, about 40 kilometers east of central Ho Chi Minh City. Construction began in January 2021, and on December 19, 2025, the airport held a ceremonial technical opening, with the first flights landing on runway number one. Commercial operations have not yet started, but are targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026.
The project is being developed in three phases. Phase 1, with a total investment of around US$5.4 billion, includes two runways of 4,000 meters each, a passenger terminal, and supporting infrastructure. At full capacity, phase 1 is designed to handle 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo per year. When all three phases are eventually complete, that figure is expected to reach 100 million passengers annually — placing Long Thanh among the largest airports in Southeast Asia.
The airport is operated by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) and will serve as a hub for Vietnam Airlines. Its IATA code is LTH.
When will Long Thanh Airport open?
The short answer is: not yet, and the timeline has shifted more than once. The airport completed a technical opening on December 19, 2025, which saw the first flights land on the runway as part of a ceremonial inauguration. That was not a commercial opening — no passengers were handled, and no scheduled flights operate from Long Thanh at this point.
Commercial operations were originally targeted for the first half of 2026, then pushed to June 2026. As of late March 2026, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh set a revised target of the fourth quarter of 2026 following an on-site inspection of construction progress. Nearly 9,000 workers are currently on site, and around 74 percent of the total contract value has been completed.
The delays are not unusual for a project of this scale. Construction was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and site clearance took longer than planned. The terminal building, which is the most critical component for passenger operations, entered its equipment installation phase in late 2025 and is being fast-tracked toward readiness.
For travelers planning a trip to or from Ho Chi Minh City, the practical takeaway is this: do not assume Long Thanh will be operational on any specific date. If you are booking flights for late 2026 or early 2027, check which airport your airline is using at the time of booking — and keep an eye on updates as the opening date approaches.
Which flights will use Long Thanh Airport?
Long Thanh and Tan Son Nhat will not simply split traffic equally — there is a clear logic to which airport handles which flights, and it matters for travelers.
International flights
When Long Thanh opens for commercial operations, it will take over all long-haul international routes. This means flights connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Europe, North America, Australia, the Middle East, South Asia, and Central Asia will operate from Long Thanh. These routes account for around 80 percent of current international passenger volume at Tan Son Nhat.
Tan Son Nhat will continue handling short-haul international flights in the initial period — primarily routes to Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia, including destinations like Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Japan, South Korea, and China. From the 2027 summer schedule onwards, all remaining international routes are expected to transfer to Long Thanh as well, with the exception of short-haul routes under 1,000 kilometers operated by Vietnamese carriers.
Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air are expected to anchor operations at Long Thanh from the start, having both completed technical flights at the airport in December 2025. Carriers likely to be among the early movers for long-haul routes include airlines serving Europe, the Middle East, and Australia — though no confirmed route announcements have been made public at the time of writing.
How does it work with domestic flights?
Domestic flights will remain almost entirely at Tan Son Nhat. Long Thanh is expected to handle only around 10 percent of domestic traffic in phase 1, primarily passengers connecting between a domestic flight and an international departure. If you are flying domestically within Vietnam — to Hanoi, Danang, Phu Quoc, or anywhere else — your flight will almost certainly use Tan Son Nhat, not Long Thanh.
This split mirrors the model used in Bangkok, where Suvarnabhumi handles international flights and Don Mueang focuses on domestic and low-cost routes. For travelers arriving on a long-haul flight and continuing to a domestic destination, this means dealing with two separate airports — something covered in more detail further in this guide.
How to get from Long Thanh Airport to Ho Chi Minh City
Long Thanh sits 40 kilometers east of central Ho Chi Minh City — roughly five to six times further than Tan Son Nhat. Getting into the city will take longer and require more planning than travelers are used to with the current airport. The good news is that several transport options are being put in place ahead of the commercial opening.
By express bus
Ho Chi Minh City has plans to launch two express bus routes connecting Long Thanh Airport to the city from the third quarter of 2026. The first route will run between Saigon Bus Station and Long Thanh Airport, with limited stops at Saigon Bus Station, Ham Nghi Transit Hub, and Mai Chi Tho Street. The second route will connect Tan Son Nhat Airport directly to Long Thanh Airport, which is particularly useful for travelers who need to switch between the two airports for a connecting flight.
Both routes will use the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway. Expected journey time is 60 to 70 minutes from Saigon Bus Station, and 70 to 80 minutes from Tan Son Nhat. Fares have not been confirmed at the time of writing.
These bus routes are planned to launch around the same time as the airport opens, but this is not yet guaranteed. Confirm availability before traveling.
By car or taxi
The main road connection between Long Thanh Airport and Ho Chi Minh City is the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway. Under normal traffic conditions, the drive between the airport and central Ho Chi Minh City takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes. During peak hours, expect longer.
One important caveat: the expressway is currently being expanded from 4 lanes to 8–10 lanes, with the project targeted for completion in December 2026. During the initial months of airport operations, the road may still be under partial construction, which could affect travel times. The Long Thanh bridge, a key section of the route, is not expected to be completed until the second quarter of 2027.
Grab will almost certainly be available at Long Thanh Airport from the time it opens, as it is at every major airport in Vietnam. Metered taxis will also operate from the arrivals area.
By private transfer
For most international travelers arriving at Long Thanh, a private transfer will be the most practical option — especially with luggage, after a long-haul flight, or when traveling in a group. Transfer times are subject to the same road conditions mentioned above, so build in extra time when connecting to onward transport or accommodation.
Future rail connections
A light rail line connecting Long Thanh Airport to Thu Thiem in Ho Chi Minh City is planned, with construction beginning in early 2026. The line will stretch just over 11 kilometers, with most of the route running underground. It is not expected to be operational before 2030. A future connection to the North–South Express Railway is also planned but remains long-term.
For the foreseeable future, road transport is the only realistic option for getting between Long Thanh and the city.
Getting to Tan Son Nhat Airport for connecting domestic flights
This is one of the most practical things to understand about Long Thanh before you travel. If you are arriving on a long-haul international flight and continuing to a domestic destination — Hanoi, Danang, Hoi An, Phu Quoc, or anywhere else in Vietnam — your domestic flight will almost certainly depart from Tan Son Nhat, not Long Thanh. That means transferring between two separate airports, 40 kilometers apart, through Ho Chi Minh City traffic.
There is no direct airside connection between the two airports. You will need to collect your baggage, clear customs and immigration at Long Thanh, and then make your own way to Tan Son Nhat for check-in on your domestic flight.
The express bus route between Long Thanh Airport and Tan Son Nhat Airport is planned to launch from the third quarter of 2026, with an expected journey time of 70 to 80 minutes. Outside of that, a taxi or Grab is the most reliable option, with a similar journey time under normal traffic conditions — though significantly longer during peak hours.
How much time should you allow? A minimum of three hours between your international arrival and your domestic departure is a reasonable buffer. Four hours is safer if you are traveling during morning or evening rush hour, or if your long-haul flight arrives slightly late. Do not plan a tight connection between the two airports — the road distance alone makes it risky, and traffic in the Ho Chi Minh City area is unpredictable.
If possible, consider spending a night in Ho Chi Minh City between your international arrival and your domestic departure. This removes the transfer stress entirely and gives you time to recover from a long-haul flight before continuing into Vietnam.
Arrival at Long Thanh Airport — what to expect
Since Long Thanh has not yet opened for commercial operations, confirmed details about the arrival experience are limited. What follows is based on official plans and what has been announced publicly. Some details will change — check back once the airport is operational.
Immigration
Long Thanh will handle international arrivals, so a full immigration process applies. This means passport control, biometric checks, and the standard entry procedures for Vietnam. The terminal is designed to international standards, and the immigration hall is expected to be equipped with e-gates for eligible passport holders, similar to what is available at Tan Son Nhat. Wait times at immigration will depend heavily on how many flights arrive simultaneously — during the initial phase of operations, passenger volumes will be lower than the terminal’s designed capacity, which should help.
Baggage collection
The baggage hall will be located after immigration, as is standard. The number of carousels and the layout have not been publicly confirmed in detail. For a terminal designed to handle 25 million passengers annually at full capacity, the baggage facilities are expected to be substantial — but how efficiently they operate in practice will only become clear once the airport is running.
Customs
After collecting baggage, passengers pass through customs. The standard Vietnamese customs process applies: a green channel for those with nothing to declare, and a red channel for those carrying goods above the duty-free allowance or items requiring declaration. This process is the same as at any other international airport in Vietnam.
Facilities
The terminal is designed to meet international standards, and facilities are expected to include the usual mix of currency exchange, ATMs, SIM card counters, luggage storage, and food and beverage outlets. Vietnam Airlines is also investing in catering facilities and ground service infrastructure at Long Thanh, targeted for completion by mid-2026. Specific details about retail, lounges, and other amenities inside the arrivals area have not been confirmed at the time of writing.
Departure from Long Thanh Airport — what to expect
The same caveat applies here as with arrivals: Long Thanh has not yet opened commercially, so confirmed details are limited. What is described below is based on official plans and public announcements. Verify specifics once the airport is operational.
Getting there on time
Given the distance from Ho Chi Minh City and the ongoing road construction, arriving at Long Thanh with enough time before your flight requires more planning than at Tan Son Nhat. Allow at least 90 minutes of travel time from central Ho Chi Minh City under normal conditions, and more during peak hours. Factor in that the expressway expansion will not be fully complete until late 2026 or early 2027, which may cause delays during the initial period of airport operations.
As a general rule, arriving at the airport three hours before a long-haul international departure is standard practice. Given the transport situation, build your journey planning around that and add a buffer.
Check-in and baggage drop
The departure terminal will have standard check-in counters as well as self-service kiosks. Online check-in is available for most airlines operating long-haul routes, which allows you to go straight to baggage drop and skip the check-in queue. Specific airline counter locations and terminal layout have not been confirmed at the time of writing.
Security and immigration
Departure immigration at Vietnamese international airports involves an exit stamp, document check, and biometric verification. This is standard across all international airports in Vietnam. After immigration, passengers proceed through security screening before entering the departure hall. Long Thanh is expected to be equipped with modern security equipment in line with international standards, though confirmed details have not been published.
Lounges
Vietnam Airlines is expected to operate a lounge at Long Thanh for business class passengers and frequent flyer members. Other airline lounges and third-party lounge access will depend on which carriers operate at the airport and what agreements are in place at the time of opening. No confirmed lounge details have been published at the time of writing.
Facilities in the departure hall
The departure hall is expected to offer the standard mix of duty-free shopping, food and beverage outlets, and retail. Long Thanh is designed as a flagship international gateway, so the facilities are likely to reflect that — but specific tenant and retail information has not been confirmed. Duty-free allowances and purchasing rules are the same as at any other Vietnamese international airport.
Practical tips for traveling through Long Thanh Airport
Check which airport your flight uses
This is the most important thing to verify before traveling. During the transition period, some long-haul routes will move to Long Thanh while others remain at Tan Son Nhat. Do not assume — check your booking confirmation and your airline’s website to confirm which airport your flight departs from or arrives at. This applies to both outbound and inbound travel, and it is worth double-checking closer to your departure date as airline assignments may change during the initial rollout.
The opening date may still shift
Long Thanh’s commercial opening has already been pushed back more than once. If you are booking flights for late 2026 or early 2027 and the operational status of Long Thanh affects your plans, keep an eye on official updates from the Airports Corporation of Vietnam and your airline. Build flexibility into your itinerary where possible.
Allow extra time for ground transport
Forty kilometers in Ho Chi Minh City traffic is not the same as forty kilometers on an open road. The expressway expansion is ongoing, and travel times between Long Thanh and the city center will be longer and less predictable than travelers are used to with Tan Son Nhat. Leave earlier than you think you need to, particularly for morning and evening departures when traffic is heaviest.
Plan your domestic connection carefully
If you are continuing to a domestic destination after a long-haul arrival at Long Thanh, do not underestimate the transfer to Tan Son Nhat. Allow a minimum of three hours, ideally four, and consider spending a night in Ho Chi Minh City if your schedule allows. A missed domestic flight because of an airport transfer is an avoidable problem with a little planning.
This guide will be updated
Long Thanh is an airport in progress. Details about facilities, transport links, airlines, and procedures will become clearer once commercial operations begin. This guide will be updated as confirmed information becomes available.
