Long Thanh Airport set to open Dec 1 with phased international routes and service fee discounts

Vietnam's new Long Thanh International Airport is slated to begin commercial operations on 1 December 2026. The opening will be phased: from December 2026 to March 2027 airlines are encouraged to launch new international flights and cargo services at Long Thanh while existing routes remain at Tan Son Nhat. Vietnam Airlines has registered flights to Beijing, Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Manila, and domestic services to Hanoi. Vietjet plans routes to Hanoi, Hai Phong, Vinh and Thanh Hóa. By the end of 2027 the airport will handle most long‑haul international flights, with Tan Son Nhat retaining only short‑haul routes under 1,000 km.

To attract carriers, the airport authority (ACV) will offer a "Long Thanh Launch" incentive reducing airport service fees by 20‑50 % during 2026‑2027. Construction progress is accelerating, with over 76 % of contract value completed. The passenger terminal structure is finished and interior works are underway; runway and taxi‑way works are over 90 % complete. Phase‑1 capacity is planned at 25 million passengers per year, with an expected 350 000 passengers in the final month of 2026, rising to 8.8 million in 2027 and over 26 million by 2030.