In the middle of the vast construction site at midnight, thousands of engineers and workers are still pushing through overtime on every project component to urgently complete the entire project in time for the December 19, 2025 deadline.
As night falls over Long Thanh (Dong Nai), we follow Route 769, passing through the underpass of the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway, heading straight to Gate No. 2 of the Long Thanh Airport mega construction site. From afar, amid the quiet surroundings, a bright streak of light pierces the darkness like a “city that never sleeps,” bustling with activity.
The light from dozens of high-pressure lamps casts a golden hue over the vast land. From Gate No. 2, the sounds of rollers, concrete spreaders, and walkie-talkies blend into the hurried rhythm of construction. Dump trucks carrying materials pass by in convoys, leaving behind glistening muddy tracks under the lights.
Entering the core area of the airport construction site, the smell of freshly mixed concrete mingles with the heat from machinery engines. Across all construction fronts, workers in reflective vests and hard hats focus intently on every movement of the spreaders and compactors. Sweat rolls down their cheeks, but no one stops—the pace is relentless, racing against time to ensure this national-scale project is completed by December 19, 2025, as directed by the Prime Minister.
At Runway No. 2, one of the most critical components of this phase, the contractor consortium ACC – Truong Son – Vinaconex – Vinadic – ACJC647 – Khanh Thien – VTG is working at full capacity. High-powered concrete spreaders operate non-stop, with each layer of material being leveled, compacted, and pressed to the millimeter according to technical standards.
Engineer Nguyen Bao Minh, standing beside a spreader and monitoring the control screen, shared: “Out here in the vast construction site, it’s scorching hot during the day and slightly chilly at night. Both machinery and people must maintain a continuous work rhythm. We rotate shifts, but during peak times, we work straight through, grabbing quick naps in the camp. Time is more precious than gold now—it’s urgent.”
This component began construction on May 30 and is expected to be completed on schedule to synchronize with the terminal. Currently, multiple fronts are being deployed simultaneously, including foundation, drainage systems, and cement concrete—all aiming to meet the deadline without delay.
Not far from the runway, the passenger terminal area (Package 5.10)—considered the “heart” of the entire project—is also brightly lit in the late night.
More than 4,700 personnel and 1,000 pieces of equipment are working tirelessly day and night to complete the components. Structural work is about 80% complete, while finishing tasks such as painting, ceiling installation, and aluminum-framed glass walls in the central zone and two wings of the terminal are being carried out in parallel.
Many engineers shared that they are working overtime continuously, entering the site at dawn and leaving late at night. At this stage, the most critical tasks include waterproofing, roofing, and facade installation, along with the baggage handling system (BHS). Additionally, mechanical-electrical-plumbing (MEP) work must be accelerated to close the ceilings.
“Long Thanh Airport is a uniquely large-scale project with many complex modern systems requiring strict procedures. Some technical components, like wiring or road paving, cannot be shortened—everything must be absolutely precise,” one engineer shared. Many young workers also expressed excitement about participating in such a major project for the first time. “Some days we work nonstop, but we push through because this is a chance to contribute to a historic project,” one enthusiastic worker said.
Mr. Vu The Phiet, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), stated: “We are working in the spirit of the Prime Minister’s directive: ‘run while organizing.’ Equipment is installed and technology transferred immediately upon arrival—no delays allowed.” According to the plan, equipment for the terminal will begin arriving in December 2025. ACV is also urgently recruiting and assigning key technical personnel to be ready for operations as soon as the project is completed.
Not only the runway and terminal, but many other packages are also accelerating:
Package 4.6 (runway, taxiway, aircraft apron): basic runway completed, signal light system successfully tested on April 26, 2025, 3 months ahead of schedule.
Package 4.7 (terminal apron): ground structure completed, currently pouring cement concrete.
Package 4.8 (internal airport traffic and technical infrastructure): previously delayed by 35% due to rain, now reduced to just 4.6%, aiming for completion before December 19, 2025.
Package 6.12 (connecting traffic): Route 1 technically opened; Route 2 expected to be completed before September 2, 2025.
Near midnight, construction zones remain lively and bustling, painting a vivid picture of nighttime construction. At the material staging area, rows of trucks line up, delivering stone, sand, and cement to various work fronts.
In another corner, a group of workers weld steel frames, sparks flying brightly in the night. Sweat beads on their foreheads despite the cool breeze. One worker smiled and said: “Finish early, rest early; finish late, rest late. We just keep rolling from one task to the next to meet the deadline. Everyone’s giving it their all—just finishing on time is enough to make us happy.”
Long Thanh International Airport is being built on a 5,000-hectare site in Long Thanh Commune, Dong Nai Province, and is expected to become Vietnam’s largest airport, with a design capacity of 100 million passengers per year. According to the plan, the project will be substantially completed and meet the standards for official inauguration on December 19, with the first technical flight scheduled for that day, aiming for commercial operations in the first half of 2026.
Source: Construction News
