This issue was emphasized by many experts and local leaders at the workshop "Promoting Long Thanh - Ho Chi Minh City Connectivity", organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper on June 27.
Currently, the connection between Ho Chi Minh City and Long Thanh airport is still limited, mainly relying on the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway, National Highway 51 and National Highway 1.
Meanwhile, strategic infrastructure projects such as Ring Roads 3, 4, Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway and Bien Hoa - Vung Tau are in the process of implementation.
According to experts, if the infrastructure is delayed and broken, Long Thanh airport will not be able to be effective and will have difficulty becoming a regional development center as expected.
Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Quang Phu - Vice Principal of Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport - gave an example, Incheon Airport (Korea), 36 km from Seoul, is connected by a separate expressway, Airport Express (AREX) expressway, metro line, BRT bus and modern ITS system.
The entire network operates synchronously, helping passengers move conveniently and quickly. Thanks to that, Incheon airport is not only an air transit point but also a driving force for economic - urban development.
Therefore, in order for Long Thanh to compete with major airports in the region, it is necessary to synchronously develop a connecting infrastructure system including: expressway, belt, metro and inter-provincial railway connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Long Thanh, Bien Hoa, Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau.
Mr. Nguyen Cao Cuong - Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV) - said that Long Thanh airport has 4 component projects, the most important of which is the passenger terminal (component project 3).
Currently, there are about 3,000 engineers and workers working day and night, striving to complete the basic and test flight in December this year, commercial operation in the first half of 2026.
"However, if there is no synchronous connection with Ho Chi Minh City, especially Tan Son Nhat airport, the exploitation efficiency will be seriously affected" - Mr. Cuong warned.
Mr. Huynh Tan Loc - Deputy Director of the Department of Construction of Dong Nai province - said that the province is focusing on implementing a series of important transport infrastructure projects to effectively connect with Long Thanh airport.
Of which, two key routes, Ring Road 3 and Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway, through Dong Nai, are expected to be completed this year, contributing to strengthening regional connectivity and reducing existing traffic pressure.
In addition, Dong Nai also aims to develop an extended metro line from Suoi Tien (Thu Duc City), through Bien Hoa and connecting directly to Long Thanh Airport.
On the corridor of this metro line, the province will plan and develop TOD urban areas (urban development according to the orientation of public transport), in order to create synchronization and optimize investment efficiency between transport infrastructure and urban development.
Mr. Loc also noted that currently, the infrastructure connecting Long Thanh airport from Ho Chi Minh City mainly serves people with cars. People's travel by motorbike is being restricted because the highways do not allow two-wheeled vehicles to circulate.
In that context, an important direction is Cat Lai Bridge, connecting from Thu Duc through Nhon Trach to Provincial Road 25B, leading directly to Long Thanh Airport. This route allows motorbikes to circulate, serving the labor forces of both sides and diversifying travel options.
However, the project has not yet been implemented and Dong Nai province is actively promoting early implementation.
