Vietnam's new mega airport could replace Tan Son Nhat for all international flights from 2026

The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), with analysis from South Korea's Incheon Airport Consortium, has proposed two scenarios. Each would change how millions of travelers move through the south's skies, and each comes with trade-offs.

The construction of the roof of Long Thanh International Airport's passenger terminal, August 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Phuoc Tuan

Built on 5,000 hectares at a cost of VND336 trillion (US$12.8 billion), Long Thanh will become the country's largest airport.

Under the first plan, Long Thanh would handle 100% of international routes, an estimated 19 million passengers a year, plus about 1.5 million domestic travelers making connections. Tan Son Nhat would focus almost entirely on domestic services, serving close to 30 million passengers annually.

Supporters say this single-hub approach would make Long Thanh a powerful regional gateway, streamline staffing and equipment costs and end the need for passengers to transfer between airports, a trip that can take 4–5 hours. It would also ease Tan Son Nhat’s chronic congestion without overhauling its existing layout.

The drawback is location. Long Thanh is about 40 km from downtown Ho Chi Minh City, meaning longer journeys for many international travelers.

The second scenario divides routes by length. Tan Son Nhat would keep all domestic flights and short-haul international services under 1,000 km, such as to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, serving around 3.8 million international passengers a year. Long Thanh would take all long-haul routes, with roughly 15.3 million passengers annually, plus some domestic connections.

People check information of incoming international flights at Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC, January 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

This setup would make nearby destinations more convenient for city residents and make use of Tan Son Nhat's existing facilities. But running two international operations would raise costs, create confusion over departure points, and potentially dilute Long Thanh's competitiveness in attracting global airlines.

Based on international experience, ACV warns that splitting international traffic between multiple airports can weaken transfer capacity and reduce a hub’s competitive edge.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has already voiced strong support for the single-hub model, saying it would simplify operations and firmly establish Long Thanh as the south's main international gateway.