Transport Traffic Concerns Loom as Long Thanh Airport Nears Opening

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As the much-anticipated Long Thanh International Airport in Vietnam approaches its grand opening next year, concerns are mounting over traffic congestion potentially hindering access. Experts and frequent drivers are sounding the alarm as infrastructure delays threaten smooth travel to and from Ho Chi Minh City.

 

Tran Ngoc Thanh, a seasoned driver ferrying passengers between Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), reports feeling stifled on the congested National Highway 51 and the HCMC–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway. Despite a speed limit of 120 kph, journeys of less than 60 km can stretch to two or even three hours, particularly if there are accidents or repairs. Thanh’s previous decade hauling goods between the regions only underscores the stark increase in traffic woes.

 

The expressway, a critical link between Dong Nai and HCMC, often encounters gridlock at hot spots like the National Highway 51 interchange and Long Thanh Bridge. Even alternate routes such as National Highway 51 and Dong Nai Bridge frequently experience heavy traffic, barely offering relief.

 

With the airport's impending opening, Thanh worries about exacerbated gridlock without additional access routes or expressway expansions. Many drivers, especially those commuting between Long Thanh and Tan Son Nhat airport, mirror his concerns. Current detours via various highways offer little comfort.

 

Recent expressway repairs intensified these issues, with drivers enduring up to 10-hour journeys between HCMC and Vung Tau. Built on a sprawling 5,000 hectares at a cost of approximately 485 billion Thai Baht, Long Thanh is set to become Vietnam's largest airport, aiming for phase one completion by year-end and full operational capacity by 2026.

 

The airport is envisaged as a vital economic hub, poised to meet travel demand and spark growth in the southern economic region. However, critical infrastructure projects like the Ben Luc–Long Thanh Expressway, HCMC's Ring Road 3, and the Thu Thiem–Long Thanh railroad remain unfinished or in early planning stages, risking severe bottlenecks.

 

Architect Ngo Viet Nam Son warns that without synchronised infrastructure completion, existing corridors will face insurmountable traffic pressure. He advocates prioritising projects to ensure simultaneous operation with the airport's launch. Immediate priorities should include accelerating the Ben Luc–Long Thanh Expressway and Ring Road 3 while expanding the Long Thanh–Dau Giay route.

 

Urban economist Dinh The Hien suggests Long Thanh's peak efficiency aligns with major infrastructure completions around 2027 or 2028. Meanwhile, smart bus route organisation could support the initial domestic–international transfer passenger needs.

 

The Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) plans to start widening the HCMC-Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway on 19 August. The 22-km upgrade, expanding lanes from four to eight or ten, aims for completion in 2026. Additionally, HCMC will widen over three kilometers of approach roads to the An Phu interchange, alleviating a major bottleneck.

 

Nearly 30 km of the Ben Luc–Long Thanh Expressway is open, with full completion slated for 2026, forming a crucial artery to the airport.

 

At a recent workshop on Long Thanh airport connectivity, experts like Tran Quang Phu emphasised the need for a multimodal transport network, integrating metro lines, BRT, high-speed rail, and waterways, akin to global hubs like Incheon and Schiphol. Plans for the Thu Thiem–Long Thanh rail line, a significant feeder route, include a projected cost of around 132 billion Thai Baht.

 

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has underscored the urgency for completion by December 2025, with commercial operations starting in early 2026. He emphasised the complexity of remaining tasks, urging tight coordination and resource mobilisation to meet deadlines.

 

The development vision extends beyond transportation, with plans for an airport city, aviation industrial park, free trade zone, and logistics hub.

 

As Long Thanh International Airport races towards its opening, addressing these transportation challenges remains crucial to ensuring it fulfills its potential as a regional economic powerhouse.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-08-13