**A Strategic Opening in Phases** The new Long Thanh International Airport near Ho Chi Minh City is scheduled to begin commercial operations on December 1, 2026, with a phased approach designed to gradually shift much of the international traffic from the current Tan Son Nhat airport. The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) has outlined a three-phase roadmap to ensure a seamless transition without disrupting airline operations or passenger connections. In its first phase, Long Thanh will handle 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo annually, eventually scaling up to 100 million passengers and 5 million tonnes of cargo after all phases are complete. **Phase One: December 2026 to March 2027** During the initial phase, airlines will be encouraged to launch international flights, including cargo operations, from Long Thanh. Tan Son Nhat will continue its existing international routes, except those transferred to the new airport, and no new international authorizations will be granted to Tan Son Nhat during this period. Vietnam Airlines has already registered four international destinations from Long Thanh—Beijing, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Manila—plus a domestic link to Hanoi. VietJet plans to serve three domestic destinations: Haiphong, Vinh, and Thanh Hoa. **Phase Two and Beyond: Shifting Long-Haul Traffic** The second phase, starting with the summer 2027 program (March 27 to October 30), will transfer all long-haul international flights, including cargo, to Long Thanh. This includes routes to Europe, the Americas, Oceania, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Central Asia. Tan Son Nhat will retain international flights to Northeast and Southeast Asia. By the winter 2027-2028 season, Long Thanh will host nearly all international flights, with Tan Son Nhat keeping only short-haul international routes under 1,000 kilometers operated by Vietnamese carriers, plus its domestic role. **Market Context and Growth** This development comes as Vietnam became the second-largest aviation market in Southeast Asia in July 2026, surpassing Thailand. According to OAG data, Vietnam offered 7.4 million seats that month, a 5.6% year-on-year increase, trailing only Indonesia's 10.9 million seats. Thailand fell to third with 6.9 million seats and a 3% annual decline. Vietnam Airlines also became the region's top carrier by seats, with 2.81 million in July. Long Thanh is crucial for sustaining this growth, easing congestion at Tan Son Nhat, and improving connectivity for Vietnamese airlines. **Construction and Incentives** However, the December 2026 opening depends on completing infrastructure. ACV has urged contractors to finish works and equipment installation by September 2026. As of late July, the first runway, taxiways, and aprons were nearly 91% complete, and the passenger terminal exceeded 67% progress. To attract airlines, ACV plans a "Take off at Long Thanh" incentive program offering 20% to 50% discounts on certain aeronautical services during 2026-2027. ACV is also pushing for faster ground access projects, including highway extensions and new bridges. Long Thanh is set to become the major international gateway for southern Vietnam, absorbing traffic growth and relieving capacity-constrained Tan Son Nhat.