At a glance
- The roughly 22 km widening of the HCMC-Long Thanh Expressway is about 81% complete, with the aim of finishing most of it this year.
- Long Thanh Airport sits in Dong Nai Province, about 40 km from Ho Chi Minh City, and is scheduled to start operating this December.
- The Long Thanh 2 Bridge over the Dong Nai River will have its main spans joined at the end of this year and finish in Q1 2027, so some work may remain after opening.
- In the early weeks, confirm which airport your flight uses and how you will get to or from the city, and leave extra time.
What is changing: a new airport and its access roads
Long Thanh International Airport, Vietnam’s largest airport by area, is scheduled to start operating this December. It spans 5,000 hectares in Dong Nai Province, about 40 km from Ho Chi Minh City. At that distance, the road between the city and the airport matters as much as the terminal itself, especially for travelers, business visitors and residents who will be picking up guests.
The key route is the HCMC-Long Thanh Expressway. According to VnExpress, the widening project is about 81% complete after more than a year of work. It is now in a final push to be largely finished this year.
The widening project at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Route | From the Ring Road 2 interchange in HCMC to the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway in Dong Nai, about 22 km |
| Total investment | More than VND16.3 trillion (about US$634 million) |
| Groundbreaking | August 2025 |
| Progress | About 81% |
| Lanes | 10 to 12, depending on the section |
Once finished, the project is expected to improve connections between central HCMC and the airport.
Progress section by section
Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway interchange
Contractors have largely finished compacting the roadbed and are preparing to lay asphalt on the section being widened to 10-12 lanes. A viaduct of about 300 m, running parallel to the existing expressway, has most of its girders in place. It is expected to be finished by the end of this year.
National Highway 51 interchange
About 2 km away, the bridge girders are installed. Crews are now building the deck and approach roads before asphalt paving. Reports describe this interchange and the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau one as the two key hubs linking the airport to the southeastern road network.
Long Thanh 2 Bridge over the Dong Nai River
A line of new piers has risen alongside the existing bridge. The main spans are scheduled to be joined at the end of this year, with completion in the first quarter of 2027. This section may therefore still be under construction when the airport opens. How traffic and lane use will work here in the first weeks is not yet known [needs verification].
Sections in Dong Nai and HCMC
In Long Thanh and Nhon Trach wards in Dong Nai, crews are laying the crushed-stone base course and paving with asphalt. In HCMC, the section through Long Truong Ward is being widened on both sides to 10 lanes.
At the Ring Road 3 interchange, girders are installed on most piers and some connecting approach roads are largely complete. This junction is described as a key point at HCMC’s eastern gateway. Once Ring Road 3 and the expressway expansion are done, it is expected to improve links to the airport and the southeastern provinces and reduce the number of vehicles entering the city center.
Who is affected
- HCMC residents and expats: Trips to drop off or collect family and guests may be longer than you are used to, depending on which flights move to the new airport.
- Business travelers: If you have meetings in Dong Nai or toward Vung Tau, the interchange upgrades may help your planning.
- Tourists: If you book flights from December onward, check first which airport you will use.
Airport scale and phasing
Long Thanh is the largest airport in Vietnam by area. Its first phase covers 1,810 hectares and is designed to handle 25 million passengers a year. The long-term plan is for 100 million a year once all phases are complete, although the source text is cut off at this point [needs verification]. This capacity is a design target. It does not mean the airport will operate at that scale from the first day.
Practical checklist before and after opening
- If you have a ticket for December or later, check your airline’s notices to confirm the departure and arrival airport. The exact opening date and the timing of route transfers were not confirmed in the source article [needs verification].
- Look for official guidance on how to travel between the city and the airport (taxi, ride-hailing, bus and so on) and the expected journey time. The source gives no detail on this [needs verification].
- Allow extra time in the first weeks. Finishing work is still under way, and a new airport can take time to settle into routine operations.
- Construction schedules can change, so check local news and airline announcements again just before the opening.
Bottom line
The access roads to Long Thanh are in a final push aimed at the end of this year, while some major structures, such as the Long Thanh 2 Bridge, will not be finished until the first quarter of 2027. A new airport does not automatically make every trip easier on day one. The most practical preparation is to confirm your flight’s airport and your ground transport in advance and to build in a time buffer.
Frequently asked questions
When will Long Thanh Airport open?
Local reports say it is scheduled to start operating this December. For the exact date and when routes will move, check official announcements from airlines and the airport [needs verification].
How far is Long Thanh Airport from Ho Chi Minh City?
It is in Dong Nai Province, about 40 km from HCMC. Journey times to the city were not given in the source, so check after opening [needs verification].
When will the HCMC-Long Thanh Expressway widening be finished?
It is about 81% complete, and the aim is to finish most of it this year. The Long Thanh 2 Bridge over the Dong Nai River is due to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.
Sources
This article summarises publicly available reports and is not legal, tax or investment advice. Check with the relevant authorities or a qualified adviser before making important decisions.