Like the world's largest metropolises, Vietnam's largest city, Ho Chi Minh City will in future have two airports Tan Son Nhat airport, which has been in service since the French era, and the future Long Thanh International airport 40km to the east of the city. However, while waiting for the inauguration of this new hub, the launch of which has been delayed time and time again, passengers are congregating in the two narrow terminals of the Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh International airports. Tan Son Nhaton the brink of implosion. A situation that even the Vietnamese Prime Minister describes as worrying. Because it is harmful to the country's economy.
The airport finally launched on 31 August in the construction of its terminal 3 more than three years late. Originally scheduled for 2022 and then 2024, the terminal is now due to open to the public in the second quarter of 2025. The project will cost 470 million dollars. It will cover an area of 112,500 m² and will be able to handle some 20 million passengers.. The terminal will have around twenty direct aircraft boarding gates.
The terminal will be used exclusively for domestic traffic. The two existing terminals will be reserved for international traffic, with a total capacity of 25 million passengers.
Nevertheless, Saigon airport will still be working under capacity. By 2019, passenger traffic had already exceeded 40 million. Last year, traffic once again reached 34 million passengersThis is mainly on domestic routes. The 40 million mark should be passed again this year.
Long Thanh, Saigon's future international airport in 2026
Also, Has the government finally awarded the concession to build the new Long Thanh airport?. It is located 40 km to the east of Vietnam's economic metropolis. Long Than will have an initial capacity of 25 million passengers, but in its final phase it could accommodate 100 million passengers..
The new airport was planned back in 2003. But the acquisition of land, difficulties in finding financing and, finally, the Covid crisis delayed its completion. The investment represents 1.4 billion for the first phase of the terminal building, a runway and ancillary buildings including the control tower.
So far, only one project has seen the light of day. This is the HCM Ville-Long Thanh motorway. A second motorway to the Mekong Delta in the south is also due to open next year.
Phase 1 of the terminal will open to the public in 2026.. Planned by a Korean architectural firm, Heerim Architects and Planners Co. Ltd, the terminal will be inspired by Vietnam's symbolic flower, the lotus. When it opens, it is sure to become one of the most beautiful in Southeast Asia.
The future Long Than airport (Photos: Heerim Architects and Planners Co. Ltd)
More Vietnam Airlines flights to Paris-Ho Chi Minh City
However, the congestion at Than Son Nhat international airport does not seem to be discouraging. Vietnam Airlines. It continues to offer more international flights. The carrier has just announced the introduction of a fifth weekly flight on the Paris-Ho Chi Minh City route. from 31 October 2023. A latest-generation A350 will operate the route, with three classes of travel and capacity for 305 passengers.
The company will also be inaugurating December three weekly flights from Saigon to Perth in Western Australia. Flights will take off from HCM City at 00:50 on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Landing is scheduled for the following day at 06:10. It will provide connections to Paris.
