Preparing a "Scenario" for Transportation Connectivity between Tan Son Nhat Airport and Long Thanh Airport

​(News Portal – Dong Nai) - Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Long Thanh Airport are the two largest airports in Vietnam. Thus, establishing a transportation connection between these two airports is essential, as they can supports each other's operations while meeting the air transport demands not only for Ho Chi Minh City but also for the southern region of Viet Nam.  

Construction of Two Routes Connecting Long Thanh Airport 

The Necessity of Connecting the Two Airports  

Currently, Tan Son Nhat Airport is classified as a 4E airport (according to the classification of the International Civil Aviation Organization - ICAO), covering an area of more than 545 hectares with two passenger terminals. The Ministry of Transport is investing in constructing Terminal T3, anticipated to be operational in the third quarter of 2024. According to the master plan for nationwide airport development for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, Tan Son Nhat Airport will maintain its 4E classification with a design capacity of 50 million passengers per year.

Meanwhile, Long Thanh Airport is planned to be a 4F airport, functioning as a regional transit hub in Southeast Asia, capable of competing with major international airports with a capacity of 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo annually.

Mr. Lai Xuan Thanh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Airports Corporation of Viet Nam (ACV), stated that Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh Airports form a modern airport cluster that will become one of the major aviation centers in the region, enhancing the competitiveness of Viet Nam's aviation industry on the path to international integration, contributing to the successful implementation of strategic breakthroughs in transportation infrastructure.

Given their status as the largest airports in the country, connecting these two airports will support and promote each other. However, according to the Transport Development and Strategy Institute, the current connection is only through road routes, which are limited and often congested, especially on National Highway 51 and the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway. “Given the scale, importance, and transportation demand of these two airports, researching a comprehensive transportation connection plan between Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh Airports is crucial and part of the investment research task for connecting Long Thanh Airport with the Southern key economic region," the report from the Institute of Transport Strategy and Development emphasized.

Previously, in the conclusion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the State Steering Committee during the 11th session of the State Steering Committee for important national projects in the transport sector, the Prime Minister also tasked the Ministry of Transport to report on the comprehensive research results for the transportation connection between Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh Airports.

Proposing Five Connection Methods

In the comprehensive report on transportation connectivity between Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh Airports, the Transport Development and Strategy Institute has presented five connection methods currently under research. These include two road connection methods and three rail connection methods.

Specifically, for road connections, the first method involves a ground and underground road connection from the Cong Hoa interchange to the end of Pham Van Dong Road. From Pham Van Dong Road, there are three connection routes to Long Thanh Airport via the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway and Cat Lai Bridge, linking with two transportation routes (T1, T2) into Long Thanh Airport. These routes range from 48-62km in length.

The second road connection method involves urban road routes between Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh Airports, offering three connection routes ranging from 43-53km in length.

For rail connections, three methods are under research: the first involves a connection via Urban Railway Line 6 and the Thu Thiem - Long Thanh Railway with a route from the Cong Hoa interchange - Terminal T3 - Terminals T1, T2 - Hong Ha - Pham Van Dong - national railway - Ring Road 2 - Vo Chi Cong, connecting to the Thu Thiem - Long Thanh Railway to Long Thanh Airport (approximately 45km in length).

The second rail method connects via Urban Railway Line 2 from Truong Chinh - Cach Mang Thang Tam - Pham Hong Thai - Le Lai - Ben Thanh - Thu Thiem, linking to the Thu Thiem - Long Thanh Railway to Long Thanh Airport (approximately 43km in length).​

Meanwhile, the third method connects via Urban Railway Line 4 from Terminals T1, T2 at Tan Son Nhat Airport - Truong Son - Hoang Van Thu - Phan Dinh Phung - Hai Ba Trung - Ben Thanh, linking to Urban Railway Line 2 to Thu Thiem and then to the Thu Thiem - Long Thanh Railway to Long Thanh Airport (approximately 42km in length).