The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) is finalizing a plan to transfer operations between Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh international airports, which are located in Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring Dong Nai province, respectively,  aiming to establish an international air transit hub in the Ho Chi Minh City region.

According to ACV, preparations for the commencement of operations at Long Thanh International Airport are underway. A two-step roadmap for the transfer of activities from Tan Son Nhat has been developed and submitted to competent authorities.

The plan aims to gradually relocate the majority—and eventually all—international flights to Long Thanh. This strategy aligns with the airport’s infrastructure capacity and the long-term vision of developing a regional international transit hub.

Phase 1: Spanning from the start of commercial operations until the end of the Winter 2026 flight schedule (December 1, 2026, to March 27, 2027), all long-haul international flights, including cargo services, will be moved from Tan Son Nhat to Long Thanh. This volume is expected to account for approximately 19% of the total international passenger traffic in the HCMC area.

Phase 2: Starting from the Summer 2027 flight schedule (March 28, 2027) through 2030, the remaining international flights will continue to be transferred, with the exception of short-haul routes (under 1,000 km) operated by Vietnamese airlines. The goal is for Long Thanh to handle over 90% of the region's international passenger volume as early as 2027.

Post-2030, all scheduled international flights to and from Tan Son Nhat International Airport are expected to operate exclusively out of Long Thanh International Airport. This move is designed to establish the foundation for the HCMC regional air transit hub, in accordance with the Prime Minister's Decision No. 648/QD-TTg.

During this period, Tan Son Nhat International Airport will primarily serve domestic flights, alongside non-scheduled international flights and charter services.