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With four months left until its scheduled technical operation phase, Vietnam’s large-scale airport project in southern Dong Nai City has finished approximately 76% of the overall work.

Nevertheless, this advancement occurs while the project faces substantial workforce shortages and increasing material expenses.

As the last days of May approached, equipment remained in use throughout the area covering almost 5,000 hectares. However, the environment felt significantly less active compared to the end of 2025.

The passenger terminal at Long Thanh airport in Dong Nai City is nearing completion, May 2026. VnExpress/Phuoc Tuan

Construction is ongoing at the passenger terminal, the most essential part of the whole project.

While teams concentrate their current efforts on finishing the roof, a significant portion of the imported machinery remains covered, waiting to be installed.

Meanwhile, fundamental infrastructure is progressing. Both the elevators and the baggage conveyance systems have finished their preliminary testing phases.

As stated by the state-owned Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the project’s financier, the total value of work completed has amounted to VND65.6 trillion (US$2.5 billion), accounting for almost 76% of the contract value.

Development is moving forward consistently in multiple separate areas. By June, the passenger terminal project has completed approximately 63% of the work outlined in the contract.

Within the passenger terminal of Long Thanh Airport in May 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Thai Hai

At the same time, two major projects focusing on internal transportation and technical infrastructure are half-complete and expected to be finished by September.

Infrastructure for government regulatory bodies is mostly complete. Workers are now linking these structures to power, water, and fire safety systems in preparation for the transfer process.

Air traffic control facilities have also been finalized and are waiting for underground infrastructure connection by ACV.

The workforce deficit

ACV stated that there are currently 6,562 employees working at the location, despite the fact that almost 9,000 are needed to keep the schedule on track.

This results in a shortage of approximately 2,500 workers, or 27%, mainly located in the terminal building, supporting structures, and surrounding zones.

Insufficient staffing is affecting the project’s overall speed, limiting the contractors’ capacity to operate on several construction sites at once.

As per ACV, the concurrent execution of large-scale infrastructure initiatives in Dong Nai and other regions has greatly boosted the need for construction workers.

Additionally, the absence of design consultants and overseeing staff in some packages has delayed inspection, approval, and payment processes.

Escalating costs

Increasing material expenses have placed additional strain on construction companies. The site utilizes approximately 2,500 fuel-driven machines and vehicles, such as excavators, compactors, and power generators.

Materials that require energy, like asphalt, cement, and steel, have also seen significant price surges. Some contractors mentioned that rising fuel costs have directly impacted their fixed-price agreements.

If there is no system in place to handle changes in expenses, businesses have indicated they could experience significant financial pressure.

ACV mentioned that certain vendors have started to reduce their pace of work, awaiting more consistent supply levels or changes in pricing policies.

Although there are these difficulties, the project owner believes that starting technical operations in September and initiating commercial activities by the end of 2026 is still possible. This schedule depends largely on existing issues being addressed quickly.

A bird’s-eye view of Long Thanh Airport in May 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Phuoc Tuan

To ensure the project remains on schedule, ACV has requested the Ministry of Construction to offer direction on processes for adjusting contract prices and to explain the legal foundation for addressing changes in fuel costs.

The company has also requested the Dong Nai authorities to revise and release construction material prices according to current market situations. Furthermore, ACV asked the Prime Minister to direct the Ministry of Finance to offer guidance on exchange-rate systems for disputed extra works involving foreign contractors.

While conducting a site visit, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc directed the project’s management and related departments to work together to address these challenges.

He urged officials to resolve problems related to payments for contractors and highlighted the importance of ensuring that contractors secure adequate resources to prepare for the 2026 launch.