Short answer: No, Long Thanh International Airport is not open yet. Construction was about 74 percent complete by late March 2026, and commercial flights are targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. For almost every trip to Ho Chi Minh City during 2026, you will still fly into Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN). Check the airport code on your ticket, and watch for the transition to begin around late 2026 into 2027.
Is Long Thanh open yet?
Not for regular passengers. As of 2026, Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province is still under construction. Completed work reached about 74 percent of the contract value by late March 2026, and a successful test flight took place in September 2025. A test flight is a construction milestone, not the start of scheduled service, so you cannot book a commercial flight there yet.
The stated goal is to begin commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2026. Large airport projects often shift their timelines, so treat that as a target rather than a fixed date. If you are traveling in 2026, plan as if Long Thanh is not yet available to you.
Where it is and how far from the city
Long Thanh sits in Dong Nai Province, about 40 kilometers east of central Ho Chi Minh City. That is farther out than Tan Son Nhat, which is inside the city itself. Once the airport opens, ground transfer time will depend on traffic and on which road connections are finished, so exact travel times are not yet something you can rely on. When you eventually have a ticket that uses Long Thanh, budget extra time to and from the city and confirm your transport options closer to the date.
What it is planned to change
Long Thanh is being built in phases. The first phase is designed to handle roughly 25 million passengers per year, and the full three-phase design aims for an ultimate capacity of 100 million passengers per year. That makes it much larger than Tan Son Nhat, which has been operating well beyond comfortable capacity for years.
The plan is for Long Thanh to gradually take over a large share of the international long-haul flights that Tan Son Nhat handles today. This is an expectation, not a finished fact. How quickly airlines move specific routes, and which flights move first, will be decided over time. Until your airline tells you otherwise, do not assume any particular flight has moved.
Which airport will you use in 2026?
For the great majority of trips in 2026, the answer is Tan Son Nhat (SGN). It remains the working international and domestic gateway for Ho Chi Minh City. Even after Long Thanh opens for commercial service, the shift of flights is expected to happen gradually rather than all at once.
The reliable way to know which airport you are using is simple: read your own ticket.
- Look at the arrival and departure airport codes on your booking confirmation and boarding pass.
- SGN is Tan Son Nhat. If your ticket shows SGN, that is where you land or depart.
- If you ever see a different code for Ho Chi Minh City on a future booking, confirm it directly with your airline before you travel.
- When schedules are in transition, the airline and your ticket are the authority, not general news reports.
Short timeline
| When | Milestone |
|---|---|
| September 2025 | Successful test flight conducted |
| Late March 2026 | About 74 percent of contract value completed |
| Fourth quarter 2026 | Target for start of commercial operation |
| Later phases | Further construction toward the full 100 million passenger design capacity |
What to watch before you book
- The airport code on your ticket. This is the single most important detail. It tells you exactly where you fly in and out.
- Airline notices. If a route moves to Long Thanh, your airline will inform you. Read schedule-change emails carefully.
- Your transfer plan. A city-center hotel is close to Tan Son Nhat but farther from Long Thanh. If a future trip uses Long Thanh, plan more transfer time.
- Timeline updates. Opening dates for major airports can move. Do not assume a firm date until service is actually running and bookable.
For now, the calm summary is this: keep planning around Tan Son Nhat for 2026, keep an eye on the transition expected around late 2026 into 2027, and let your ticket be the final word on which airport you use.
FAQ: Long Thanh International Airport in 2026
Can I fly into Long Thanh right now?
No. It is still under construction as of 2026, with commercial operation targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. You cannot book a scheduled flight there yet.
Which airport will my Ho Chi Minh City flight use in 2026?
For almost all trips in 2026, you will use Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN). Check the airport code on your ticket to be sure.
How far is Long Thanh from Ho Chi Minh City?
It is in Dong Nai Province, about 40 kilometers east of central Ho Chi Minh City. That is farther from the city than Tan Son Nhat, which sits inside the city.
Will Long Thanh replace Tan Son Nhat?
Not entirely, and not immediately. The plan is for Long Thanh to gradually take over a large share of international long-haul flights. This is an expectation, and the shift is expected to happen over time.
What does the September 2025 test flight mean?
It was a construction and readiness milestone, not the start of passenger service. A successful test flight does not mean you can book a commercial flight.
How big will Long Thanh be?
It is built in three phases. The first phase is designed for roughly 25 million passengers per year, and the full design capacity is 100 million passengers per year.
How do I know for certain which airport I am using?
Read the airport codes on your booking and boarding pass. SGN is Tan Son Nhat. If a future ticket shows a different code, confirm it with your airline before traveling.
Should I wait for Long Thanh to open before planning my trip?
No. For 2026 travel, plan around Tan Son Nhat as usual. Opening dates for large airports can shift, so do not build your plans around a date that is not yet confirmed and bookable.
