A rendering of the proposed Long Thành International Airport in the southern province of Đồng Nai. — Photo courtesy of Airports Corporation of Việt Nam

HCM CITY — The southern province of Đồng Nai has asked the central Government to allocate more than VNĐ400 billion (US$17.23 million) to build two roads that would connect the province's National Road No. 51 up to Long Thành International Airport, which is expected to start construction next year.

Speaking at a meeting held on Tuesday (April 23) with the National Assembly’s Economics Committee, Trần Văn Vĩnh, vice chairman of Đồng Nai Province People’s Committee, said it was urgent to build the roads to provide access to the airport.

Bomb and mine clearance, which will cost VNĐ165 billion, also needs to be completed on land that will be handed over to investors in the airport project, he said. 

More than 20 households will have to live in temporary quarters and then relocate to a resettlement area. 

Đồng Nai is accelerating construction progress of two resettlement areas, Lộc An-Bình Sơn (nearly 300ha) and Bình Sơn III (81ha), which are expected to begin construction in September. 

The province has approved a project of more than VNĐ300 billion for vocational training, job creation and resettlement for affected households in the province.

Deputy Minister of Transport Lê Đình Thọ said Đồng Nai Province had conducted the ground clearance work in a transparent manner. The construction of the connecting roads to the airport should be done first, he said.  

In May, the Ministry of Transport will issue the final feasibility report for Long Thành airport, which will include information about traffic systems around the airport, according to Thọ. 

The Long Thành airport will have a transport system linking to HCM City and other regions. 

Vũ Hồng Thanh, chairman of the National Assembly’s Economics Committee, said that Đồng Nai Province should pay attention to the employment, housing and education needs of workers. 

As Long Thành airport has great significance to the country’s development, the province should work closely with the central agencies to accelerate progress, he added. 

The NA’s Economics Committee also asked the province to look for other capital resources to avoid relying solely on the State budget.   

According to the provincial People’s Committee, Đồng Nai collected nearly VNĐ12 trillion worth of revenue in the first quarter of the year, up 16 per cent year-on-year. The province attracted foreign direct investment worth $500 million, up nearly 27 per cent compared to the same period last year.  

Once fully operational, the Long Thành airport will reduce the load on neighbouring Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in HCM City. 

It will be able to handle 100 million passengers and five million tonnes of freight each year. 

Covering a total area of more than 5,580 hectares, the airport will be located in six communes in Long Thành District in Đồng Nai Province. The airport’s total investment is VNĐ336.63 trillion, with construction divided into three phases. — VNS