Long Thanh Airport, a new symbol of Vietnam's capacity - Part 1: Setting new standards in the construction industry

Amidst the scorching heat of the end of the dry season in the Southeast region, where temperatures sometimes reach over 40 degrees Celsius, lines of workers, engineers, and laborers still happily arrive at the Long Thanh airport construction site from 6 a.m.; working not only with high professional skills, but also with a sense of responsibility for a project of national significance.

Interdisciplinary - multi-layered - cross-level

The Long Thanh International Airport Project Management Board (MB) said that more than 10,000 domestic and international engineers, workers, and experts are working daily at the project site, simultaneously implementing passenger terminals, runways, aprons, air traffic control towers, and internal traffic systems. During the current peak period, many important items are being accelerated to complete on schedule; such as the runway, which will be completed before April 30, 3 months ahead of the original plan; a turning point proving that Vietnam's organizational and construction capacity has reached a new level.

At the passenger terminal, the “heart” of Long Thanh airport phase 1, more than 5,000 workers and 1,000 pieces of machinery are working in shifts day and night, regardless of holidays and Tet. Construction items of glass walls, installation of mechanical and electrical systems (MEP), air ducts, fire prevention and fighting systems, baggage handling lines, etc. are all being implemented simultaneously on many sites. The central dome, considered the most difficult steel structure to construct in the country, has been successfully lifted, creating the initial shape of the largest terminal in Southeast Asia.

In the runway construction package, nearly 30 construction teams have been deployed since after Tet. Mr. Le Van Tien, Commander of the Joint Contractor, said that the entire construction force has maintained 100% capacity throughout the holiday. The runway has reached over 90% of its volume. The electrical, drainage, and striping systems are completing the final stages. It is expected that before April 30, 2025, the runway will be lit up and ready for technical calibration flights, which is a key milestone in assessing the initial operational quality of the airport. The early completion of this item also proves that the construction coordination capacity of domestic contractors has approached international standards.

At the airport parking and taxiway projects, more than 1,400 workers and 444 pieces of equipment are urgently working on compaction, foundation filling, tunnel treatment, and installation of high-tech drainage systems. At the internal traffic and overpass projects, a series of works are being carried out to build a regulating lake, technical tunnel, and connecting road to the control center.

Construction efficiency in Long Thanh comes not only from the number of workers, but also from the efficiency in synchronous, professional, and technological organization.

Mr. Duong Quang Dien, Permanent Deputy Director of the Management Board, shared: “All contractors are sprinting in the dry season. Every sunny day is precious to speed up the construction volume, making up for the rainy and stormy periods later.”

According to Mr. Dien, Long Thanh airport is not only a construction problem, but also a challenge of interdisciplinary - multi-layered - cross-level organization. The flight control system, air traffic control tower, fuel supply, aviation security, baggage handling chain, etc. must all be synchronized and tested before being put into operation. Currently, specialized equipment packages such as fuel tanks, hydrant pit systems, radar systems, security inspection equipment, pumps, and refueling vehicles have begun to be ordered and imported. Trial operation requires not only technical capacity, but also a synchronized supply chain, coordination between many contractors and international consulting units.

Behind the construction records

Behind the production and progress records are the sweat, determination, and resilience of each worker. Nguyen Duc Thuan, Deputy Director of Station Construction Operations, said: “Despite the intense heat, the workers still take turns taking shifts, eating meals right at the camp, and taking advantage of every hour to maintain the construction pace. Many people work through Tet and holidays because every day of delay means the whole project is delayed.”

Ms. Ngo Thi Mai, a steel structure welder, shared: “Everyone is proud to do this project. We know it is hard, but thinking that we are contributing to building the national airport, we are very happy. My mother in the countryside calls to encourage us all the time.”

Mr. Nguyen Minh Duy, a mechanical and electrical engineer of the 5.10 package, shared in a hoarse voice after a 12-hour shift: “We are used to eating lunch under the shade of containers, working under the sun from morning to night. Some people have postponed their weddings, others have postponed family matters. No one complained. Because everyone wants to contribute to building a project that demonstrates Vietnam’s will and capacity.”

Despite the scorching heat, more than 10,000 workers are still working hard at the construction site every day. (Photo in article: Duy Khuong)

In another area, the light electrical construction team of the passenger terminal system is completing the installation of electrical cabinets, connecting the fire alarm and ventilation systems. In the hot wind, engineer Le Thi Anh Tuyet said: "Although I am a woman, I am determined that when participating in the project, there is no difference between men and women. The sun burns the skin, but it cannot burn the determination of the team."

The construction efficiency at Long Thanh comes not only from the number of workers, but also from the efficiency in the synchronous, professional, and technological organization when constructing the mega project. The management board and the contractor consortium are applying the progress management system according to the BIM (Building Information Modeling) model, using AI cameras to monitor construction quality and labor safety, and integrating real-time output reports. “Previously, some large projects were delayed due to the division of contractors and lack of coordination. Long Thanh is demonstrating a successful test for the unified general coordination model, where each link is digitized and controlled,” Mr. Dien emphasized.

With more than 40% of phase 1 output completed, the project is not only ahead of schedule in many items, but also setting a new operating standard, forcing relevant agencies to "do it for real, do it right, do it quickly".

“Must be a good precedent in terms of progress, technique, integrity”

Long Thanh cannot be considered as a mere airport. When put into operation, Long Thanh will attract investment in the logistics industry, e-commerce, export processing, research and development (R&D) centers, etc.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, by early 2025, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and Long An provinces have prepared nearly 7,000 hectares of clean land to attract investment in smart industrial parks, air logistics, and high-tech centers; in which Long Thanh is the "fulcrum". The Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway, Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3, Ring Road 4, and Thu Thiem - Long Thanh railway are all being accelerated to complete the network connecting the center and satellite areas, forming a complete Eastern economic corridor.

With its central location in the Southeast region, Long Thanh airport is like the “connecting heart” of the Southern key economic region. From here, new beats are spreading to satellite cities such as Nhon Trach, Long Thanh (Dong Nai), Di An (Binh Duong), Ba Ria (Ba Ria - Vung Tau), Thu Duc (HCMC)... Infrastructure projects along the airport axis are not only for connectivity, but also a “launching pad” for urban and industrial restructuring according to an integrated model. The “aerotropolis” model is gradually being realized, with the airport as the center of economic and urban development, instead of just a departure and arrival point. Long Thanh is not only an airport, but will be the starting point for the journey of capital, technology, human resources...

Not only a construction project, Long Thanh airport terminal is also a cultural symbol, converging architectural lines inspired by the stylized lotus image, the national symbol of Vietnam. The terminal is designed according to international 4-star standards, environmentally friendly, energy-saving and applies smart technology in operation.

More specifically, Long Thanh airport is also a symbol of a new development stage, an institutional test. The success of Long Thanh is not only measured by kilometers of runway, number of gates, etc., but also by the ability to organize and coordinate, by the determination to act, by innovations from regulations on documents to actual construction sites. The government has assigned coordination authority to Dong Nai in the items of site clearance and infrastructure outside the fence. Many specific mechanisms such as shortening investment procedures, decentralizing decisions to the Management Board, integrating regional planning, etc. have been applied.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, during his inspection of the construction site in March 2025, affirmed: “Long Thanh must not become a bad precedent. It must be a good precedent in terms of progress, technique, and integrity.” And so far, the progress has exceeded the plan, the construction site is lit up during holidays, and discipline has been maintained, proving that the Prime Minister’s instructions have been strictly implemented.

Late afternoon. The wind still swirls yellow dust across the sky. But at the end of the runway, which is more than 4,000m long, workers and engineers are still pouring the last layers of concrete. They confide that they don’t wait until the inauguration day to feel proud. For them, every day on the construction site is a day of pride.

(To be continued)

Duy Khuong

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/san-bay-long-thanh-bieu-tuong-moi-cua-nang-luc-viet-nam-bai-1-thiet-lap-nhung-chuan-muc-moi-trong-nganh-xay-dung-post546045.html