Long Thanh poised to become Vietnam’s ‘gateway’ for international exchange

Long Thanh urban area is the core of the future Long Thanh Airport urban area. Photo: Pham Tung

Long Thanh urban area is identified as closely linked to Long Thanh International Airport, assuming the role of a national “gateway” for international exchange.

Aspiring to rise with the “mega” airport

Long Thanh holds a strategically important geographic position at the heart of the Southern key economic region, located about 40 km east of downtown Ho Chi Minh City. It is adjacent to dynamic industrial areas such as Nhon Trach and the Ba Ria–Vung Tau industrial-seaport complex. This location provides favorable conditions for Long Thanh to serve as a gateway, a connectivity hub, and a driver of regional urban development.

Notably, with the “mega” Long Thanh International Airport project currently under construction, Long Thanh holds significant advantages for accelerated growth in the coming years.

Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway interchange passing through Long Thanh. Photo: Pham Tung

According to Truong Thi Huong Binh, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Director of the Department of Finance, once the airport becomes operational in 2026, it will spur the formation of a value-added service chain surrounding the airport, including aviation logistics, distribution centers, free trade, financial and banking services, hotels, conferences, and smart urban development. This is expected to generate new economic momentum for Dong Nai, marking a major step forward in growth and international integration.

It is expected that Long Thanh Airport will officially be put into operation by the end of 2026. To fully exploit the potential and advantages of one of the national key development areas, Dong Nai is implementing the planning for building the Long Thanh Airport urban area and the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) associated with this airport. In these plans, Long Thanh is the central development area.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department of Construction, said the department is coordinating with relevant agencies to soon finalize and submit for approval the master plan for Long Thanh urban area through 2045.

Phan Thi An, Master of Urban Management, Deputy Director of the Center for Architecture and Rural Planning, National Institute of Architecture (Ministry of Construction), believes that with the appearance of Long Thanh Airport urban area, it is possible to see the opportunity to form a super urban region with the highest economic competitiveness, not only in Southeast Asia but also globally.

Ready for the historic moment

Le Hoang Son, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Long Thanh Commune, said that in preparation for the establishment of Long Thanh Ward, the locality has completed a range of key tasks to ensure smooth operation under the new administrative model. “The commune’s People’s Committee has submitted proposals to the commune’s People’s Council to convert hamlets into neighborhoods and to transform the Economic Office into the Office of Economy, Infrastructure, and Urban Development,” Son said.

Long Thanh International Airport (Airport) is being built, creating a strong development momentum for Long Thanh.

Also according to Son, to best serve residents and businesses after Long Thanh Ward’s establishment, local authorities are prioritizing consolidating administrative apparatus and implementing the swift conversion of administrative documents. At the same time, efforts are being accelerated to advance digital transformation, complete synchronized technical infrastructure aligned with radial transport routes, and develop social infrastructure such as standardized schools and healthcare facilities, aiming to realize the goal of becoming a central urban area.

As a locality with an important strategic geographical location, in addition to the Long Thanh International Airport project, Long Thanh commune is currently implementing a series of other key projects. Therefore, one of its top priorities of the locality is to coordinate with relevant agencies to expedite project completion, thereby creating momentum for socio-economic development. “About 10 key projects are currently underway in Long Thanh. The locality is therefore focusing intensively on site clearance to accelerate progress and drive growth,” Son added.

Under its development orientation, Long Thanh urban area is envisioned as an urban area closely integrated with Long Thanh Airport, serving as a national gateway for international exchange. It is also set to become a hub for airport logistics services, warehousing, multi-sector industry, and high-tech industry in the Southeastern region. Furthermore, Long Thanh is expected to function as a major multimodal transport hub of national, regional and Dong Nai’s significance, while also holding strategic importance for national defense and security.