Long Thanh Airport: Opening Date, Flights, Getting There
Long Thanh opens in part on 24 December 2026, ACV's newest target. Domestic and short-haul international flights go first, at up to 366 flights a week. Plan on a taxi or car by expressway; the planned express bus from Saigon Bus Station takes 60 to 70 minutes, and rail comes after 2030.
On this page
Long Thanh opens on 24 December 2026, with the first part of the terminal in use. The old 1 December date is dropped.
When Long Thanh opens
Plan on 24 December 2026. ACV is reporting that target to the Government and telling airlines. Any page quoting 1 December is out of date.
The airport operating certificate and the security programme were due for approval in October and November 2026.
Which flights go there first
Expect domestic and short-haul international routes first. Vietnam Airlines has proposed Hong Kong, Beijing, Guangzhou, Manila and Hanoi; Vietjet has proposed Hanoi, Haiphong, Vinh and Thanh Hoa. In the first phase the terminal uses its western wing and central area. ACV projects a maximum of 366 flights a week, 322 domestic and 44 international.
From April to October 2027, Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet plan to add international routes. All long-haul flights are proposed to move from late March 2027, and almost all international flights by March 2028, except Vietnamese carriers’ routes under 1,000 km. From October 2027, the plan is the full route network on the winter schedule.
Most of your flights will still use Tan Son Nhat at first. Read the airport name on your booking: Long Thanh or Tan Son Nhat.
How to get to Long Thanh from the city
Long Thanh sits in neighbouring Dong Nai City, not inside Ho Chi Minh City. Today you reach it mainly by the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway and National Highways 1 and 51.
Take a taxi or a ride-hailing car for a first flight and get the price fixed before you go. Buses are planned for the opening, but you should not rely on one for day one.
Long Thanh, Dong Nai City, Vietnam · Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Open Long Thanh International Airport in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Express buses
The Ministry of Construction approved a public bus network linking Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh. Ho Chi Minh City plans 13 new routes under a premium airport bus model. The first buses are planned for December 2026, alongside the airport’s first phase.
Two express routes lead the plan:
- Saigon Bus Station to Long Thanh: 60 to 70 minutes via the expressway, with limited stops at Saigon Bus Station, Ham Nghi Transit Hub and Mai Chi Tho Street.
- Tan Son Nhat to Long Thanh: around 70 to 80 minutes, with limited pick-up points.
Buses on expressways carry seated passengers only, so there is no standing room. Four National Highway 51 routes, 60-3, 72-1, 72-2B and 172, are being adjusted to serve the airport. For city buses today, read Getting Around Ho Chi Minh City.
Train and metro
Do not count on rail. Rail and metro links to Long Thanh are expected to finish after 2030.
Entry and visa notes
Resolution 389/NQ-CP adds Long Thanh International Airport to the list of entry points open to e-visa holders, applicable once the airport is put into operation. Pick it as your entry point once it opens and your airline flies there.
The rules for the entry card and the e-visa itself are in the Vietnam e-visa guide. For the airport you probably land at today, read Tan Son Nhat arrival and immigration.
Before you book a first flight
- Confirm the date: ACV targets 24 December 2026.
- Check the airline’s airport code: the first phase is domestic and short-haul international.
- Allow for the expressway: the planned bus takes 60 to 70 minutes from Saigon Bus Station.
- Budget for a taxi or ride-hailing car on the first days. Compare fares in Tan Son Nhat Airport to the City.
- A ticket booked for 1 December is out of date: that target was dropped.
- Forecast traffic is about 350,000 passengers in December 2026, so expect a light start.
Step by step
- Check the dateACV targets 24 December 2026 for partial commercial operations.
- Check your airlineThe first phase focuses on domestic flights and short-haul international routes.
- Pick your road linkExpress buses from Saigon Bus Station are planned at 60 to 70 minutes, and the expressway is the main road.
- Plan the e-visa gateLong Thanh is on the e-visa gate list once it operates.
Not confirmed: Bus fares and taxi fares to Long Thanh are not published. Get a fixed price from your hotel or a ride-hailing app before a first flight, and leave a buffer. No airline has published its route list for 24 December. Read the airport name on your booking before you travel.
Common questions
When do commercial flights start at Long Thanh?
ACV targets 24 December 2026 for partial commercial operations. ACV is reporting that target to the Government and telling airlines.
Is the 1 December 2026 date still valid?
No. ACV's 13 October 2026 statement gives 24 December; the 1 December date comes from July 2026.
Do all international flights move from Tan Son Nhat?
Not at first. The first phase focuses on domestic flights and short-haul international routes. Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet plan to add international routes from April 2027, and all long-haul flights are proposed to move from late March 2027.
How far is Long Thanh from central Ho Chi Minh City by bus?
A planned express from Saigon Bus Station takes 60 to 70 minutes. A planned express from Tan Son Nhat takes around 70 to 80 minutes.
Is there a train or metro to Long Thanh?
Not yet. Rail and metro links are expected to finish after 2030.
Can I enter Vietnam on an e-visa at Long Thanh?
Yes, once it operates. Resolution 389/NQ-CP adds Long Thanh to the list of entry points open to e-visa holders.
Is Long Thanh inside Ho Chi Minh City?
It is in neighbouring Dong Nai City.
Read next
Places in this guide
General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.
Spotted an error? Report it.