Authorities in Dong Nai province have approved plans for the construction of a 6,318-hectare urban area designed for 450,000 residents, located near Long Thanh International Airport. The project site is situated southeast of Ho Chi Minh City and encompasses parts of Long Thanh district, as well as Phuoc Thai and Long Phuoc communes.
Currently, approximately 61,000 people reside in this area, predominantly in rural regions. According to the approved concept, the population is projected to grow almost sevenfold by 2045.
Authorities will select a consulting firm to develop a detailed master plan. The preparation of documentation is expected to take approximately nine months, after which the project will undergo evaluation and official approval before construction commences.
The future urban area is situated between the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay expressway to the north and the Ben Luc – Long Thanh expressway to the south.
The 41.8 km Thu Thiem – Long Thanh light rail line will pass through the future urban area, connecting the airport with the Thu Thiem business district in Ho Chi Minh City. Construction of the line is planned to commence before June 30.
According to Dong Nai authorities, the economy of the future urban area will be based on airport-related services. This includes aviation logistics, distribution centers, free trade zones, financial and banking services, as well as hospitality infrastructure – these sectors are expected to generate the majority of jobs for future residents.
The new urban area will become part of a larger agglomeration spanning approximately 43,000 hectares, which Dong Nai is developing around Long Thanh Airport. Concurrently, a 7,500-hectare free trade zone is being established nearby, which authorities estimate could contribute between 8% and 10.5% of the province's gross regional product.
Long Thanh International Airport is situated on a 5,000-hectare site. The total investment is estimated at 337 trillion VND (approximately $12.8 billion). This is the largest aviation infrastructure project in Vietnam's history.
Upon completion of all phases, the airport will be able to serve up to 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo annually. For comparison, this is comparable to the capacity of Singapore's Changi Airport.
The first phase of the airport, designed to handle 25 million passengers annually, is expected to be operational in 2026.