Long Thanh International Airport – Vietnam’s New Icon in the Global Sky
Long Thanh International Airport (LTA) is not just a key transportation project but also a symbol of Vietnam’s ambition to reach the international stage. Located strategically in Dong Nai province, only 40 km from Ho Chi Minh City, Long Thanh will become Southeast Asia’s largest air transit hub, connecting Vietnam to the world. The project covers 5,000 hectares with a total capacity of 100 million passengers per year and 5 million tons of cargo per year. Phase 1 includes 2 runways and a terminal of approximately 376,000 m², capable of handling 25 million passengers and over 1 million tons of cargo annually.
Once operational, Long Thanh will be the largest airport in Vietnam and is expected to become a new growth center driving socio-economic development in the southern region.
Long Thanh International Airport is designed to address the severe overcapacity at Tan Son Nhat Airport, which has exceeded its design limits for years and has no room for expansion due to its location in a densely populated urban area. Long Thanh will take over the international transit role from Tan Son Nhat, attract international airlines, and play a strategic role in Southeast Asia’s aviation network.
In terms of infrastructure connectivity, the airport is planned in coordination with major transport axes such as the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway, Bien Hoa – Vung Tau, Ring Road 3, Ring Road 4, and provincial routes like DT.770B and DT.769. Additionally, the airport is integrated with rail networks including the Thu Thiem – Long Thanh metro and the North–South high-speed railway, ensuring strong interregional connectivity.
With its scale and strategic orientation, Long Thanh International Airport is not only a transportation hub but also a symbol of a new-generation airport – smart, modern, and environmentally friendly. Below are five highlights that clearly reflect the project’s “green” orientation:
1. Green Airport
Long Thanh is being developed as a "green airport", aiming to reduce carbon emissions, save energy, and implement environmentally friendly technologies. This is an essential trend in modern aviation infrastructure, helping the airport adapt to climate change and meet sustainable development requirements.
The Long Thanh terminal features a unique architectural highlight: an atrium with an artificial waterfall and indoor gardens. This design provides a natural experience within a modern transit space, contributing to air conditioning and easing passenger fatigue while waiting.
2. Green Spaces Inside the Terminal
The terminal design prioritizes open spaces, maximizes natural light, and integrates greenery harmoniously with the interior. The arrival hall is designed as a green – clean – friendly space, creating a relaxing atmosphere for passengers.
Greenery is placed throughout functional areas of the terminal such as waiting lounges, service counters, and dining areas, helping to create a friendly environment, improve air quality, and enhance the passenger experience. Plants not only serve an aesthetic purpose but also contribute to the micro-ecosystem within the building.
3. Green and Sustainable Infrastructure
Long Thanh Airport is planned and built according to green building standards, covering lighting, ventilation, water management, and alternative energy solutions such as solar energy utilization. All efforts aim to create an energy-efficient airport with low emissions and a long service life.
Modern lighting standards – reduced energy consumption
- The runway and apron lighting system at Long Thanh uses 100% high-tech LED lights imported from Europe, meeting international aviation standards. This significantly reduces electricity consumption compared to traditional systems.
- Choosing LED lights also extends equipment lifespan, lowers maintenance requirements, and helps reduce carbon emissions during operation.
Energy-efficient air conditioning & ventilation
- The Long Thanh terminal incorporates smart design with a large skylight covering approximately 11,000 m², maximizing natural light, reducing daytime lighting needs, and easing the load on the air conditioning system.
- The energy-saving commitment is reflected through large, ventilated windows combined with effective insulation materials and natural ventilation, lowering interior temperatures and reducing pressure on the HVAC system.
Water management and rainwater treatment – ecosystem sustainability
- Within the overall "Green Aerotropolis" plan, Long Thanh has designed a green infrastructure network—including sedimentation systems, rainwater storage, ecological buffer zones (wetlands), and natural drainage channels.
- This design not only mitigates flood risks but also helps maintain biodiversity (by integrating water features and greenery), creating an airport ecosystem harmonized with the local environment.
4. Environmentally Friendly Materials
The entire terminal uses environmentally friendly construction materials, including insulated glass, recyclable materials, and heat-reducing surfaces. Elements such as color, texture, and material are carefully selected to reduce energy consumption and enhance the sustainability of the facility.
Material selection based on green and sustainable criteria
- The exterior and interior design of Long Thanh passenger terminal is guided by a clear strategy: using eco-friendly materials to help reduce greenhouse effects and ensure long-term sustainability.
- Consultants have reported choosing neutral color palettes such as gray and white combined with wooden accents to create a welcoming, calm, and passenger-friendly interior. These colors also support reduced energy consumption and long-term maintenance ease.
Refined interior design with high functional efficiency
- All materials inside the terminal—such as partitions, floors, service counters, and furniture—are selected according to functional suitability, ease of maintenance, and operational efficiency.
- Materials are required to meet international technical standards, comparable to major airports like Istanbul, Incheon T2, Changi T4, ensuring durability, aesthetics, and long-term operational efficiency.
Heat reduction and energy efficiency
- Façade glass and terminal cladding materials are chosen to minimize heat absorption into the building, thereby reducing the load on cooling systems and saving energy.
- Light, neutral colors not only create a pleasant visual effect but also reflect solar radiation, helping lower surface temperatures and extend the lifespan of interior equipment.
Harmonization with indoor and outdoor green landscapes
- Material design is carefully integrated with green spaces, waterfalls, gardens, and natural light to provide passengers with a nature-friendly experience.
- Interior materials such as veneer wood, natural tiles, and reflective paints help seamlessly connect functional spaces with green landscapes while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
5. Green Duty-Free Commercial Area
The master plan of the project includes a duty-free commercial area developed as an eco-urban model. This area will integrate shopping centers, logistics warehouses, and service zones within a green-covered space featuring trees, water features, and ecological walkways.
Green duty-free area – a new model aligned with sustainable development
- The duty-free commercial area at Long Thanh International Airport is planned as a key part of the airport development strategy, linking aviation economy with the Airport City model, where the “green” factor is a foundational element from the design stage.
- The architectural space in this commercial zone is optimized with open-air solutions, semi-outdoor layouts combined with greenery, skylights, large glass walls, and natural ventilation systems, reducing reliance on air conditioning and artificial lighting.
- All materials used in the commercial area are recommended to meet eco-friendly standards, such as VOC-free paint, recycled materials, and high-reflectivity tiles to save cooling energy.
- Green roofs, rooftop gardens, and water feature areas are integrated to beautify the space while supporting microclimate regulation, noise reduction, and natural rainwater absorption.
Creating an attractive green destination for international passengers
- The commercial area is not just a shopping destination but also an experiential zone featuring cultural and ecological elements, including stalls with local architectural styles, Vietnamese-themed miniatures, and resting areas immersed in nature.
- Natural light is maximized through high ceilings and large glass surfaces, providing a spacious and airy feeling for passengers visiting the commercial area.
- This commercial zone also serves as a testing ground for various green business models such as zero-waste stores, sales using recycled packaging, and displays of eco-friendly products, promoting a sustainable consumer experience.
Linking economic development with environmental responsibility
Project Introduction Video
Flying Far with the Nation
Long Thanh International Airport is not just an infrastructure project – it is a symbol of a growing national aspiration. In every inch of excavated land, in every concrete block poured, lies the trust, intelligence, and determination of countless generations of Vietnamese people.
This is not just a place where airplanes take off – it is where Vietnam's dreams soar high. A "golden gateway" bringing us closer to the world, while welcoming the world closer to the S-shaped country.
Long Thanh not only connects destinations but also links past – present – future; it not only carries passengers across oceans but also propels Vietnam’s economy, culture, and technology onto the global stage.
"We are not just building an airport – we are creating a foundation for the future, a symbol of the Vietnamese people’s will to rise above."
One day soon, when the first flights take off from Long Thanh, it will not only be the sound of engines – it will be the echo of pride. A declaration to friends across continents that: Vietnam is ready – not just to integrate, but to lead.
And when future generations step into the terminal and look up at the lotus-shaped dome – they will understand that this is not just a building, but Vietnam’s dream etched into the sky.
Long Thanh International Airport – from the motherland to the wide sky.
