Ho Chi Minh City's gateway is finally becoming two. Regarding Long Thanh International Airport (IATA: LTH), under construction in Dong Nai Province about 40 km east of the city center, Vietnam Airlines has revealed a plan to move about 12% of its international flights from the current Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) (reported June 30, 2026). VietJet has also stated it will launch at least two international routes, and after a trial operation in September 2026, aims to begin commercial operations within the year. "Which flight arrives at which airport" is a practical change that concerns Japanese travelers and business travelers heading to Vietnam from the booking stage before departure.
What was announced
According to reports, Vietnam Airlines positions Long Thanh as a new hub airport and plans to move about 12% of its international flights there first. Vietjet has committed to operating at least two international routes from the airport, and Vietravel Airlines has indicated a plan to start service within 2026 and increase flights in the summer 2027 timetable. The specific route names have not yet been announced, but talks are reportedly progressing with 34 foreign carriers, including Korean Air, ANA, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines. The fact that Japanese airlines are named is not to be overlooked when considering the ripple effect on flights to and from Japan.
Phase 1 handling capacity is 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo per year. The site is about 5,000 hectares, and the total project cost is put at about 336.63 trillion dong (about 12.8 billion dollars), making it one of Vietnam's largest infrastructure projects. It is designed to eventually handle over 100 million passengers, and the direction is to first accept long-haul flights to and from Europe, North America, India, and the Middle East.
Why it starts from "12%"
Starting with about 12% rather than moving all flights at once is a realistic decision. Even when an airport opens, it takes time before ground transport, immigration, ground handling, and transfer flows all run smoothly. First get operations accustomed with some international long-haul flights, identify problems, then increase gradually. This "start small and expand" approach is, if anything, a reassurance for travelers, since the chance of being on a flight right after opening is not that high for the time being, and transfer targets are reflected in schedules in advance.
Put another way, the aim is to gradually relieve the load on the perpetually congested Tan Son Nhat. If congestion eases at the existing airport, which is convenient for being close to the city center but had neared the limit of its takeoff and landing slots, it is hoped this will also help improve delays on domestic and short-haul international flights.
Points to keep in mind for flights to and from Japan
The first thing travelers heading from Japan toward Ho Chi Minh City should check is the arrival and departure airport codes of the flight they book. Whether it is the usual "SGN (Tan Son Nhat)" or the newly built "LTH (Long Thanh)" completely changes the plan for getting into the city. For the time being, many Japan-bound flights are expected to remain SGN, but when booking during the transfer period, it is safer to always match your ticket's airport code against your actual destination in the city.
Another point to watch is transfers. If a combination arises where Vietnamese domestic and short-haul flights use SGN while international long-haul flights use LTH, you'll have movement straddling two airports. Even for the same "Ho Chi Minh City," if the airports differ, your transfer time is spent on airport-to-airport movement rather than city sightseeing. As for changes in transport,The move on airport-access rail that broke ground all at once in Hanoiis also a useful reference. The point that development speed differs by city is something to keep in mind when planning an itinerary.
How access into the city will change
Long Thanh is about 40 km east of Ho Chi Minh City's center. National Route 51 and the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway are the main routes, and depending on traffic, it is realistic to allow roughly around an hour by car. Peak hours may take even longer, so if you assume "the airport is close to the city" with the SGN sense, plans after arrival can end up off.
In the surrounding area, multiple road projects such as Ring Road 3 and the Ben Luc–Long Thanh Expressway are also advancing in parallel, and as they open, access is expected to improve. As a traveler, though, right after the opening it is reassuring to allow extra time and to secure a ride-hailing option into the city in advance for late-night or early-morning arrivals. For choosing how to get around in general,An article on this summer's domestic flight increaseschecking this together makes it easier to get the timing of your booking right.
How Vietnam's air gateway will be reorganized
This move is naturally seen as the first step toward Ho Chi Minh City's airports shifting to a two-pole system of "an existing airport close to the center plus a large hub in the suburbs." As with Tokyo's Haneda and Narita or Osaka's Itami and Kansai, splitting one metropolitan area among several airports is not unusual for Asia's big cities. That Vietnam has entered this stage is also the flip side of growth in passenger numbers and economic growth.
For travelers and business travelers, the immediate practicalities are clear: check the airport code when booking, allow extra time for travel to the city, and confirm whether transfers split across airports. Keep these three points in mind and you can plan a trip to Ho Chi Minh City calmly even during the reorganization period.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Airport name (code) | Long Thanh International Airport (LTH / VVLT) |
| Location | Dong Nai Province. About 40 km east of central Ho Chi Minh City |
| Trial operation | Scheduled for September 2026 |
| Start of commercial service | Aiming for within 2026 (latter half of the year) |
| Vietnam Airlines | About 12% of international flights transferred from Tan Son Nhat |
| VietJet | At least two international routes to be launched |
| Phase 1 handling capacity | 25 million passengers / 1.2 million tons of cargo per year |
| Main access | National Route 51, Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway (about an hour by car) |
Frequently asked questions
Will flights from Japan to Ho Chi Minh City switch to Long Thanh Airport?
For the time being, many flights to and from Japan are expected to remain with the existing Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN). However, since Vietnam Airlines plans to move about 12% of international flights to Long Thanh (LTH) in stages, be sure to check the airport code when booking during the period the transfer advances. Which Japan routes will move in the future awaits announcements from the operating airlines.
How long does it take from Long Thanh Airport to central Ho Chi Minh City?
It is located about 40 km east of the city center, and using National Route 51 or the expressway, roughly around an hour by car is a guide. Congestion and peak hours may take longer. Since it differs from the sense of Tan Son Nhat, which is near the city center, it is reassuring to leave leeway in your post-arrival plans.
When will Long Thanh Airport become available for use?
It will begin trial operations in September 2026 and aims to start commercial operations within the year, a few months after that. Phase 1 has a handling capacity of 25 million passengers per year, and the direction is to first accept some international long-haul flights. The opening schedule may change going forward, so we recommend checking the latest information before traveling.
