Quick summary
Long Thanh International Airport (LTH), located 40km east of Ho Chi Minh City, will begin commercial operations in June 2026, handling 25 million passengers annually in its first phase. The new hub prioritizes long-haul flights from Europe, North America, India, and the Middle East, diverting traffic from the congested Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN), which currently operates at 120% capacity.
The shift will cut immigration and boarding times at SGN from 60–90 minutes to under 30 minutes by mid-2026. Initial ground transport from the city center will take 45–60 minutes via highway, with urban rail connections planned for 2027.
Vietnam’s largest aviation infrastructure project reaches a critical milestone this June when Long Thanh International Airport opens for commercial service, ending years of capacity strain at Ho Chi Minh City’s sole international gateway. The $16 billion development will immediately absorb long-haul traffic that has overwhelmed Tan Son Nhat, where passengers routinely face 1–2 hour delays during peak periods.
For travelers booking flights to Vietnam from Australasia, the change means faster processing times and access to new routes that SGN’s slot constraints have blocked for years.
The airport conducted its first technical flights in December 2025, with Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Bamboo Airways landing ceremonial charters. Full operations begin June 2026, with Phase 1 capacity starting at 2.6 million passengers and scaling to 15 million by end-2027.
Long-haul flights move first, domestic stays at SGN
Vietnam’s airport authority will prioritize intercontinental routes for the initial shift to Long Thanh, targeting 20–30% of international traffic by year-end 2026. Flights from Europe, North America, India, and the Middle East will transfer first, while Northeast Asia routes remain at SGN until 2027. Domestic flights will stay at Tan Son Nhat indefinitely, with only 5–10% domestic feed allocated to LTH to support international connections.
The phased approach reflects operational reality: SGN handles 45 million passengers annually against a design capacity of 28 million, creating bottlenecks that ripple across the network. Long Thanh’s 4,000-meter runway and modern terminal infrastructure will absorb the widebody traffic that clogs SGN’s aging facilities, particularly during the November–March peak season when European and Australian arrivals concentrate.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspected the site on March 29, 2026, confirming that 74% of contract value is complete, with 9,000 workers on-site pushing toward the June 2026 opening. The passenger terminal, air traffic control tower, and apron are in final commissioning phases.
| Metric | Initial (2026) | End-2027 | Full Phase 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger capacity | 2.6M/year | 15M/year | 25M/year |
| Cargo capacity | 1.2M tonnes/year | 1.2M tonnes/year | 1.2M tonnes/year |
| Runway dimensions | 4,000m × 60m | 4,000m × 60m | 4,000m × 60m |
| Primary traffic | Long-haul international | + Northeast Asia | All international |
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What changed: from 90-minute queues to 30-minute processing
Tan Son Nhat’s congestion manifests as immigration queues stretching 60–90 minutes during morning arrival banks, when widebodies from Europe, Australia, and the Middle East land within a two-hour window. The airport’s single international terminal lacks the space to separate transfer passengers from arrivals, forcing everyone through the same chokepoints.
Long Thanh’s design allocates dedicated zones for international arrivals, departures, and transit passengers, with automated immigration gates and expanded customs lanes. Early projections estimate processing times will drop to under 30 minutes for most travelers by Q3 2026, once staff training completes and passenger flow patterns stabilize.
The capacity relief extends beyond the terminal. SGN’s taxiways and apron space force aircraft to queue for gates during peak hours, delaying departures by 20–40 minutes. Long Thanh’s apron can accommodate 50+ widebody aircraft simultaneously, eliminating ground delays that cascade through airline schedules.
Book flexible for mid-2026 Vietnam trips
Airlines have not yet published which specific routes will operate from Long Thanh versus Tan Son Nhat when commercial service begins in June 2026.
- Check your booking confirmation 30 days before departure — airlines will update airport codes from SGN to LTH as they finalize slot allocations. Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Bamboo Airways are confirmed early adopters.
- Select refundable or changeable fares for June–August 2026 travel — the transition period may involve schedule adjustments as airlines test operational procedures at the new facility.
- Monitor the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) website and mobile app for real-time updates on which flights operate from which airport. The app will include ground transport options and estimated travel times.
- Budget an extra 30 minutes for ground transport if your flight moves to LTH — the 40km highway route takes longer than SGN’s city-center location until rail connections open in 2027.
Watch: Slot allocation announcements from Emirates, Qantas, and Singapore Airlines in Q2 2026 will signal which long-haul carriers commit to the long-haul shift immediately versus waiting for operational stability.
Questions? Answers.
Which airlines will operate from Long Thanh when it opens in June 2026?
Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Bamboo Airways conducted technical flights in December 2025 and are confirmed as early adopters. Long-haul carriers serving Europe, North America, India, and the Middle East will be prioritized for the initial shift, with Northeast Asia routes following in 2027. Specific route assignments will be announced by airlines 30–60 days before the June opening.
How do I get from Long Thanh Airport to Ho Chi Minh City center?
Initial access relies on a 40km highway connection via the Bien Hoa–Vung Tau expressway, with travel times of 45–60 minutes. Taxis will cost approximately VND 500,000–1,000,000 ($20–$40). Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are planning shuttle services from central districts, though schedules are not yet published. Urban rail connections to Suoi Tien and Bien Hoa are scheduled to open in 2027.
Will domestic flights move to Long Thanh Airport?
No. Domestic flights will remain at Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) indefinitely. Long Thanh will handle only 5–10% domestic traffic to provide feeder connections for international passengers. The airport’s design prioritizes long-haul international operations, with Northeast Asia routes joining in 2027 after the initial phase stabilizes.
What happens to cargo operations when Long Thanh opens?
Phase 1 adds 1.2 million tonnes of annual cargo capacity, easing backlogs at Tan Son Nhat that have delayed e-commerce shipments and industrial exports. The airport’s location near the Mekong Delta’s manufacturing zones reduces transit times for electronics and textiles bound for Europe and North America. Cargo operations will ramp up gradually as freight forwarders establish ground handling contracts.
