On 9 April, a EuroCham delegation led by Vice Chair Jean-Jacques Bouflet visited the Long Thanh International Airport (LTIA) project site for a working meeting with the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV). The delegation included EuroCham Board Members Tri Mai Hoang and Simonetta Di Domenico, representatives and member companies of the Transportation & Logistics Sector Committee (TLSC) and Culture, Sport & Tourism Sector Committee (CST), alongside representatives from affiliated chambers NordCham, SCCV, ICham, GBA, CEEC, DBAV. This diverse participation reflects the strong interest of the European business community in the development of Long Thanh International Airport and its future role in strengthening Vietnam’s aviation, logistics, and tourism ecosystem.
Representing ACV, Deputy General Director Nguyen Cao Cuong provided an overview of the airport’s master plan and the progress made in accelerating Phase 1 of the project. The EuroCham delegation also toured the construction site, guided by Mr. Vu Pham Nguyen An, Director of the LTIA Project Management Unit, who highlighted the scale and ambition of the airport currently taking shape. Once fully completed, Long Thanh International Airport is expected to reach a capacity of 100 million passengers per year, positioning it among the largest aviation hubs in Southeast Asia. In parallel, Mr. Nguyen Anh Dung, Director of the Long Thanh Air Cargo Branch, shared insights into the development of the airport’s cargo hub, which is projected to handle up to 5 million tonnes of cargo annually, strengthening Vietnam’s position as a regional logistics gateway.
Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Jean-Jacques Bouflet emphasised that modern, efficient, and well-connected airport infrastructure is critical to attracting high-quality investment, facilitating trade, and enhancing Vietnam’s global competitiveness. He noted that EuroCham’s network brings international expertise across sectors including aviation, logistics, tourism, infrastructure, immigration, and sustainability, which could contribute valuable perspectives as the project continues to evolve.
From an industry perspective, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hang, Vice Chair of EuroCham’s Transportation & Logistics Sector Committee, highlighted the strategic potential of Long Thanh International Airport to reshape Vietnam’s logistics ecosystem. By enabling greater cargo capacity, expanding direct international connectivity, and developing purpose-built cargo facilities, LTIA could significantly improve supply chain reliability and global market access for manufacturers, exporters, and logistics service providers operating in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Mr. Timen Swijtink, Co-Chair of the Culture, Sport & Tourism Sector Committee, stressed the importance of the passenger journey in shaping international visitors’ perceptions of Vietnam. He noted that immigration procedures and airport services represent the first and last touchpoints for travellers, and optimising these experiences will play a key role in enhancing tourism satisfaction and encouraging repeat visits.
The ACV team also shared updates on the airport’s adoption of advanced technologies in its construction and operational planning. Long Thanh International Airport is expected to implement a centralised Airport Management System (AMS) integrating big data and artificial intelligence to optimise airport operations. The project will also feature automated passenger technologies such as self-check-in kiosks, self-baggage drop, automated gate access control, immigration systems, and baggage reconciliation technologies, aligning the airport with international best practices.
Although the airport itself will not be located within the planned Free Trade Zone (FTZ), its future operations are expected to strengthen global supply chain connectivity for southern Vietnam, supporting trade flows between regional industrial hubs and international markets.
The visit concluded with both sides reaffirming their shared commitment to continued dialogue and cooperation. EuroCham, together with our Transportation & Logistics Sector Committee and Culture, Sport & Tourism Sector Committee, expressed readiness to share international operational insights and best practices to support the long-term development of Vietnam’s aviation, logistics, and tourism ecosystem.
