Up to this point, when the "super" Long Thanh airport is under construction, not everyone knows the stories about the bidding process for this terminal.
Overcome extreme pressure
Mr. Lai Xuan Thanh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Airports Corporation - JSC (ACV), said: "That period was extremely stressful. We could not have imagined that the very attractive VND35,000 billion terminal bidding package would have to be canceled for the first time and enter a second, very intense bidding process."
Thousands of workers and equipment were mobilized to work through Tet.
According to Mr. Thanh, the project completion date in 2025 has been calculated very scientifically. If the first bidding is successful, the plan to complete in 2025 is certain.
"When reviewing the documents of the first participating contractor, despite having raised and lowered the bid many times, we were still forced to reject it. The investor's decision was very correct, because if not, the consequences would have been huge," Mr. Thanh shared.
After the first cancellation of the bid, there were many conflicting opinions. Some people questioned why the bid package was not divided into smaller packages. Others commented on the capacity of the project management board. Why not hire an independent project management board to carry out the project? "During that period, there were nights when I couldn't sleep, I was very worried. The most worrying thing was that the progress was not guaranteed according to plan. But ACV always puts quality first," said Mr. Thanh.
The second bidding round was more exciting with 3 consortiums participating. The pressure was even greater this time as the public paid more attention, the time was shorter, and some contractors had information in the media, complaining to each other. The bidding evaluation team at that time had to be arranged to work in a large meeting room, a separate floor, with 2 layers of security. When entering the room, the evaluation members had to leave all their phones outside.
Mr. Thanh said that there has never been a project where ministries and branches have sent experts to guide the procedures in every detail. All of this work has helped investors build a tight, legal dossier, avoiding errors that may occur later.
Finally, the consortium of the best quality contractors was selected. And then, the progress of the "super" Long Thanh airport project changed day by day on the construction site. "The pressure from reality helped us learn lessons to make more appropriate adjustments," Mr. Lai Xuan Thanh shared.
Should be the shape of lotus petals
In the first days of the new year, at the Long Thanh airport construction site, convoys of dump trucks and trucks continuously transported materials and rocks like shuttles. Excavators, diggers, and tower cranes tens of meters high worked continuously without stopping. Everyone was in a hurry, as if they did not care about the people outside who were busy shopping for Tet.
After several months of construction, with the fierce participation of contractors, the lotus shape of the station has gradually appeared.
After passing through the construction areas of runways, taxiways, aircraft parking lots; air traffic control tower; drainage leveling area… we stopped at the construction area of package 5.10 - passenger terminal. This is a major item, deciding the completion time of the entire project.
The construction site changes dramatically every day. From the flycam flying high above, everyone can easily observe the service roads that form the shape of lotus petals - the symbolic design of Long Thanh station. The service roads are paved with crushed stone to make it easier for machines to enter and exit. At night, the entire construction site is like a miniature city when the lights illuminate a corner of the sky, and the workers divide into shifts to work.
Present at the construction site almost every week, Mr. Nguyen Tien Viet, Deputy General Director of Airports Corporation (ACV), said that the "brain" of the project management board has been moved here to promptly handle all work as quickly as possible.
Looking up at the tall cranes, Mr. Viet said that 24 tower cranes have been installed, more than 471 pieces of equipment and 1,000 workers are focused on the construction package of this station. "They are like diligent worker bees, working day and night, all concerned with the overall progress of the project that has been detailed day by day before," Mr. Viet shared.
Similarly, the representative of the Vietur joint venture said that the joint venture has more than a dozen contractors, each contractor is in charge of an area, but all of them coordinate smoothly and well. After completing the preparation of accommodation for thousands of workers, engineers, experts, etc. since December 2023, the construction site has been very busy as trucks, machinery, and human resources have all been highly mobilized.
Underground construction is currently underway at the station. "It's like a race against time, because if the underground part is not completed by next year's rainy season, construction will be extremely difficult," said a representative of the Vietur joint venture.
Celebrate Tet at the construction site to maintain progress
For more than 10 years, here and there at major traffic construction sites, Mr. Nguyen Chau, Site Commander of Zone 6 (Vinaconex, one of the contractors constructing the passenger terminal) said that he has planned for his brothers to work through Tet.
Most of the workers and engineers are from the North and Central regions. During Tet, it is difficult to travel and there is little time off, so many people register to stay at the construction site to maintain progress. The company will also organize a small, cozy party right at the construction site so that those who stay can feel the encouragement and sharing. After Tet, the staff will be arranged to have longer leave to return to their families.
According to Mr. Nguyen Tien Viet, the basic plan at the construction site is to continue working through Tet because the progress is urgent. The main breaks are on the main days such as the 1st and 2nd. On other days, the workers still work normally to maintain the work pace.
Talking about Tet, worker Le Van Luong (Ca Mau) shared that everyone wants to return to their families and neighbors during this time. "But if the company requires, I am willing to stay and work. Tet at the construction site is also cozy, working during Tet holidays earns more than usual, so trying a little is also fun," Mr. Luong confided.
Long Thanh Airport is a national key project consisting of many component projects. Of which, package 5.10 - construction and installation of passenger terminal equipment, with a total value of more than 35,000 billion VND is the largest item.
There are 3 consortiums participating in the bidding for the Long Thanh airport terminal package: Hoa Lu, Vietur and CHEC-BCEG-Vietnam Contractors. Of which, the Vietur contractor consortium has been announced as the winner of this package.
The Vietur contractor consortium includes: IC ISTAS Construction Industry and Trade Group (established in 1969), a subsidiary of IC Holding Group in Türkiye. IC ISTAS is introduced as one of the top 3 largest contractors in Turkey, having participated in the construction of many major airports in the world.
Accompanying are domestic enterprises such as Ricons, Newtecons Construction Investment Joint Stock Company, SOL E&C, Vietnam Construction and Import-Export Joint Stock Company (Vinaconex), ATAD Structure Joint Stock Company, Phuc Hung Holdings, Hawee, Hancorp.
The contract performance period is 39 months including holidays and Tet according to Vietnamese law from the date of signing the contract.
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