In the final days of 2025, a reporter from VTC News visited the top floor of the Long Thanh airport air traffic control tower. Thousands of engineers and workers were working day and night to urgently complete the final items before the first phase of operation.
"Awakening" the red soil region
Long Thanh Airport is ready to welcome its test flight and inaugurate phase 1 on December 19th. (Photo: Luong Y)
More than four years ago, this area was still covered with vast stretches of straight rubber plantations, closely intertwined with the lives of the people in Binh Son commune, Long An province. The transformation has been rapid since the Long Thanh airport project, covering approximately 5,000 hectares, was implemented, gradually turning this basaltic red soil region into the largest aviation infrastructure project in the country.
Local residents still vividly remember the early days of the project, when the sound of construction machinery echoed incessantly every morning. At night, the lights from the construction site shone brightly in what was once a peaceful area. In particular, the lengthy and complex mine clearance process was carried out cautiously, marking the moment when Long Thanh officially entered its large-scale construction phase.
Rapid construction progress at the Passenger Terminal - the "heart" of Long Thanh Airport. (Photo: Luong Y)
Looking solely at the progress figures makes it difficult to fully grasp the incredibly rapid pace of construction at the Long Thanh airport site. Behind each completed item are thousands of hours of continuous, uninterrupted labor, even during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year).
During the dry season, temperatures on the construction site sometimes exceed 39 degrees Celsius, the basalt ground is hot and dry, and red dust covers the entire area. Workers have to work in continuous shifts to ensure construction quality. During the rainy season, many low-lying areas are flooded locally, and the soft soil makes it difficult for heavy machinery, but progress is still maintained according to plan.
During peak construction periods for the passenger terminal structure, the construction site was almost sleepless. Daytime or late at night, the sounds of machinery, cranes, and concrete mixers continued to operate, reflecting the urgent pace of a key national project.
Ready for the inauguration of phase 1.
The Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV) announced that it is focusing all its resources on ensuring the safety and progress of the first official flight, scheduled for December 19th. Currently, more than 15,000 engineers and workers, along with over 3,000 machines and equipment, are being mobilized to work in three shifts across the entire construction site. The focus is on key items such as runway 1, taxiways, aircraft parking areas, and the installation of passenger terminal equipment.
At runway number 1, contractors are completing the final stages including drainage channels, anti-slip coatings, expansion joint sealing, line painting, and general cleaning. On the night of December 11th, the entire aviation lighting and signage system was successfully put into operation and functioning stably.
Runway 1 is lit up, ready to welcome the first test flight.
The lighting system, meeting the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) CAT II standards, has been installed along the 4 km length of the runway and the approach ramps at both ends. Medium-voltage power supply to the airfield has also been completed, providing power to the In-Land Navigation System (ILS/DME) and the Automatic Weather Observation System (AWOS), making the area ready for the first test flight.
At the passenger terminal – the central component of Long Thanh Airport – the basic construction has been completed. Units are now focusing on equipment installation, with 26 jet bridges already transported to the construction site and 16 currently being erected. A series of security screening equipment, aircraft docking systems (VDGS), escalators, elevators, and baggage handling systems are also being deployed simultaneously.
Construction workers and engineers are working day and night to prepare for the historic moment of welcoming the first flight on December 19th. (Photo: Luong Y)
The aircraft parking apron project has completed the drainage system, technical tunnel, and the basic foundation and cement concrete structure. The connecting transportation routes are currently undergoing landscaping, lighting, and signage installation.
ACV stated that the successful connection and energization of the receiving station to the energy center, as well as from this center to the passenger terminal power stations, is an important preparatory step for testing and synchronizing the systems during the final stages of development.
Along with the runway and terminal infrastructure, the air traffic control facilities at Long Thanh Airport have basically completed all preparatory stages.
According to the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM), the 123-meter-high air traffic control tower has been completed. The air traffic control cabin on the 21st floor is fully equipped and has undergone numerous rounds of testing. The cabin space meets ICAO standards, allowing controllers to observe the entire airfield with a 360-degree view.
The 3.5 trillion VND "steel lotus bud" at Long Thanh airport is completing its final stages. (Photo: Luong Y)
The radar, surveillance, communication, meteorological, audio-visual, and flight data display systems are all operating stably. The backup power supply system, UPS, and generators have been tested numerous times, ensuring automatic power switching capabilities in all situations.
To prepare for the inaugural flight, the Southern Air Traffic Control Company mobilized experienced crews from the Ho Chi Minh City Long-Distance Control Center and the Tan Son Nhat Approach Control Tower. The crew on December 19th consisted of controllers with 10-15 years of experience, along with a multi-layered monitoring and support mechanism to ensure absolute safety.
Simultaneously, logistical support for the air traffic control personnel was fully prepared, from transportation and accommodation to meals and healthcare.
A milestone marking the beginning of a new era.
From above, the runway, taxiway, and apron system at Long Thanh Airport appears as a modern aviation infrastructure complex, gradually being completed day by day. Behind the concrete, steel, and machinery lies the story of tens of thousands of people from all over the country.
From a vast red soil region covered with rubber trees, Long Thanh Airport has become a massive construction site, where tens of thousands of engineers and workers are working day and night to meet the inauguration deadline for phase 1.
There are engineers from Hanoi , Da Nang, and Can Tho; young workers from Central Vietnam who have come to the South for long-term work; and even female workers undertaking strenuous tasks in harsh weather conditions. All share the common goal of completing a project that will bear national significance.
December 19, 2025 is set as the official inauguration date for Phase 1 of Long Thanh Airport, welcoming its first flight. For Vietnam's aviation industry, this is a significant milestone, opening up expectations for the formation of a large-scale air transit hub in the region, contributing to reducing congestion at Tan Son Nhat Airport and enhancing international connectivity.
From the red basalt soil associated with rubber forests, Long Thanh Airport is entering a new phase of development. More than just a key transportation project, Long Thanh Airport is also expected to become a symbol of infrastructure modernization and the aspiration for progress in the country's new development stage.
Phase 1 of Long Thanh Airport, covering over 1,810 hectares, commenced construction on January 5, 2021, with a designed capacity of 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo per year. To date, many key components of the project have been largely completed. Flight testing and calibration of technical systems were conducted from the end of September to the end of October. According to the plan, Long Thanh Airport is expected to begin commercial operations in early 2026.
Source: https://vtcnews.vn/tu-bat-ngan-cao-su-den-sieu-san-bay-long-thanh-hanh-trinh-mo-ky-nguyen-moi-ar992820.html
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