These "mega-projects" are shaping Vietnam's economy.

Vietnam aims to become a modern industrialized country by 2045 and achieve Net Zero by 2050. Mega-infrastructure projects such as airports, seaports, and high-speed railways are expected to drive development and enhance national competitiveness.

Vietnam is facing a historic opportunity to become a modern industrialized nation by 2045 and achieve Net Zero by 2050. In this journey, infrastructure "mega-projects" such as airports, seaports, and high-speed railways play a crucial role, creating momentum for expanding development space and enhancing national competitiveness.

The "three-way balance" of power from 3 airports

The three airports of Long Thanh, Gia Binh, and Phu Quoc are not merely transportation infrastructure projects, but have become three pillars shaping a new economic structure, powered by digital transformation, AI, and a commitment to green growth.

On the morning of December 19, 2025, Long Thanh International Airport welcomed its first three successful landings amidst the simultaneous groundbreaking and inauguration of 234 projects nationwide. This is a key project aimed at making Vietnam an international transit hub. Phase 1 is expected to be operational from June 2026, featuring a new generation smart airport model, applying integrated digital technology , AI, A-CDM, and full-time biometrics for passengers.

Long Thanh Airport: Photo: Quynh Danh

Upon completion, Long Thanh will become the "heart" of the airport economic ecosystem, comprising an international-standard aircraft maintenance and repair center and an automated logistics and warehousing complex directly connected to the apron. According to the International Airport Council, the ecosystem around Long Thanh could contribute 3-5% of GDP and create 40,000-50,000 jobs in the initial phase. The combination of Long Thanh and the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port cluster will form an optimal Air-Sea transport model, significantly reducing logistics costs and increasing the competitiveness of the supply chain. The airport will also be developed according to "green airport" standards, meeting the requirements for reducing CO₂ emissions.

Gia Binh International Airport ( Bac Ninh ) is emerging as a groundbreaking example of "dual-use" planning – combining economic and other functions. Planned as a 4F airport with a capacity of 50 million passengers per year and four runways, Gia Binh is a strategic link in national defense and security, while also promoting the development of a major economic and logistics zone in Bac Ninh, the industrial hub.

Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh assessed that the planning and investment in the construction of Gia Binh port contributes to restructuring the aviation network of the Capital region according to the dual-port cluster model; expanding and improving aviation capacity when connecting with neighboring airports.

Phu Quoc International Airport is writing a new chapter in investment models, combining private sector investment and transfer, with Sun Group participating in the airport's upgrade, expansion, and terminal operation. The expansion, increasing capacity to 20 million passengers per year, the construction of a second runway, and the addition of a 354,000m² Terminal 2, not only aims to meet growing tourism demand but also represents a significant leap forward in the airport's capacity to handle long-haul international flights.

Upon completion of its expansion, Phu Quoc Airport will shorten travel time to the Pearl Island, attract more airlines, increase frequency, and provide direct connections to Europe, North Asia, and the Middle East. This is considered a "growth engine" that will enhance competitiveness and strengthen Vietnam's position as a global destination.

The synergy of these three growth "poles" creates a solid foundation: Long Thanh connects the world, Gia Binh ensures the flow of high-tech industries, and Phu Quoc flourishes with international-standard high-end tourism services. All operate on three pillars: green institutions, green technology, and green human resources, as General Secretary To Lam stated at the P4G Global Summit in Vietnam.

High-speed rail opens up new avenues for development.

The two high-speed railway lines, North-South and Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong, are expected to create a breakthrough for the national transportation network, expand development space, increase logistics competitiveness, and create sustainable growth momentum for the economy.

The North-South high-speed railway project, with a length of 1,541 km and a design speed of 350 km/h, is identified as the largest infrastructure project to date, with a total investment of over 1.7 trillion VND (equivalent to 67.3 billion USD). The line includes 23 passenger stations and 5 freight stations, playing a vital role as the "backbone" connecting the three regions of the country.

Perspective view of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway station.

Parallel to that is the Hai Phong - Hanoi - Lao Cai railway line, 419km long, with a total investment of approximately 203,000 billion VND (8.36 billion USD). This is a strategic freight transport route for the North, directly connecting the Hai Phong seaport system with the Lao Cai border gate to China and Europe.

Mr. Tran Thien Canh, Director of the Vietnam Railway Department (Ministry of Construction), assessed that the North-South high-speed railway plays a key role in the North-South economic corridor, shortening travel time, reducing pressure on road and air transport, promoting trade, and reducing transportation costs for businesses. The system of stations connected to urban areas, industries, and services along the route is expected to create a strong pull for urbanization, labor migration, tourism development, and population redistribution, thereby forming a new development axis running along the country. The Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong route expands connections with the Chinese market and further to Europe via the Kunming - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong economic corridor.

The completion of these two strategic railway lines will enhance transportation capacity, reduce logistics costs, increase the competitiveness of key export industries, and strengthen Vietnam's position in the regional supply chain. Simultaneous implementation of these two projects will create opportunities for the formation of a modern railway industry along with a domestic supporting industrial ecosystem; promote technology transfer, develop mechanical engineering and materials, and create momentum for new manufacturing sectors.

Potential from a mega international transshipment seaport.

In the national seaport development landscape, while Tran De and Hon Khoai are still in the long-term vision phase, the Can Gio International Transshipment Port is considered the most feasible project thanks to the superior potential of the investor and the clearly defined development model.

The project has received investment approval from the Prime Minister with a total capital of over 113,531 billion VND (equivalent to 4.8 billion USD). The joint venture between Saigon Port Corporation (a member of Vietnam Maritime Corporation - VIMC) and Terminal Investment Limited Holding SA - TIL (a member of MSC Group - the world's largest shipping company) is the unit that prepared and proposed the project.

The project is estimated to cover approximately 571 hectares, with a main wharf over 7km long, capable of receiving the largest container ships currently in operation, up to 250,000 DWT (24,000 TEU), with a capacity of 10–15 million TEU/year. The project is divided into 7 phases, with the first phase expected to be operational in 2027 and completed in 2045. This "mega-port" is expected to generate 34,000–40,000 billion VND/year for the budget, create tens of thousands of jobs, form an ecosystem of infrastructure – logistics – finance – banking, reduce transportation costs, and increase the competitiveness of import and export goods.

According to Mr. Nguyen Canh Tinh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of VIMC, after completion, the Ho Chi Minh City region will possess a "seaport triangle" comprising Cai Mep - Thi Vai, Cat Lai, and in the future, Can Gio. When the "super port" becomes operational, the total container handling capacity of the entire region is expected to reach 32.7 million TEU/year, approaching the output of Singapore - the world's second busiest seaport. In the long term, Singapore will face limitations in land availability and human resources, opening up opportunities for Vietnam to become the logistics gateway of Southeast Asia.

To welcome the 14th National Congress of the Party, on December 19, 2025, the whole country simultaneously commenced construction, inaugurated, and opened to traffic 234 projects with a total investment of 3.4 million billion VND.

Besides the airport and railway projects that have been started and inaugurated, a series of expressways have also been opened and put into operation, such as: Huu Nghi - Chi Lang (60km), Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon (88km), Can Tho - Hau Giang (over 37km)... contributing to realizing the goal of completing more than 3,000km of expressways.

Besides transportation infrastructure, there are also large-scale projects in the urban and industrial sectors. Notably, these include the Olympic Sports Urban Area Project in Thuong Phuc commune, Hanoi, with a preliminary total investment of approximately 925,651 billion VND; the Red River Scenic Boulevard Project with a preliminary total investment of approximately 855,000 billion VND; and the Hoa Phat Dung Quat Railway Rail and Special Steel Manufacturing Plant with a total investment of 10,000 billion VND, expected to supply high-speed railway rails from 2027.
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nhung-sieu-cong-trinh-dinh-hinh-kinh-te-viet-nam-2490158.html