Long Thanh or Tan Son Nhat Airport: Build New or Expand?

Abstract

Vietnam is planning to start building a new 5000-hectare airport in Long Thanh, Dong Nai to replace the international operations of Tan Son Nhat (TSN) airport in HCMC. The existing airport would continue to take domestic flights after the new airport begins to operate in 2015. Long Thanh airport, 50 km northeast of downtown HCMC, would be able to handle 25 million international passengers a year and cost $3-4 billion in its first phase. When completed, the new airport would serve 80-100 million passengers a year and cost $8 billion. This case responds to a request from the government to review the advisability of the current timetable and plan.