Long Thanh Airport 2026: What It Means for East HCMC Real Estate?

As Long Thanh International Airport enters its final construction phase, the East HCMC real estate corridor is undergoing a fundamental shift. This article examines why the airport’s imminent launch is redefining property values and what investors need to know right now.

Long Thanh Airport Progress Update: On Track for 2026 Launch

Long Thanh International Airport is the largest aviation infrastructure project in Vietnam to date, with a total Phase 1 investment of approximately 4.6 billion USD and a total area of about 5,000 hectares.

Progress as of May 2026:

• As of May 2026, total construction output has reached 76%
• Many critical items are complete and ready for operation: Runway No. 1, aircraft apron, air traffic control tower, and fuel supply system.
• As stated by Prime Minister Le Minh Hung during a meeting on the morning of May 4, 2026, starting commercial operations in 2026 is a “mandatory task that must be implemented.”

HCMC to Long Thanh: Faster, Smoother, and Better via Ring Road 3

• Ring Road 3: Opened to traffic in December 2025, directly connecting the eastern area of HCMC with Long Thanh.
• The interchange between Ring Road 3 and the HCMC – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway has been operational since August 2025.

Roadmap for transferring international flights from Tan Son Nhat:

Long Thanh Airport drives the movement of experts

Long Thanh Airport is not just an infrastructure project, it is repositioning HCMC’s role in the global supply chain and driving a new wave of international experts to the Eastern area. According to experts, HCMC is on track to become an Asian logistics hub:

• Mr. Tony Anh, General Director of ITL Aviation Logistics: Long Thanh Phase 1 has a capacity of 1. 20 million tons of cargo per year, which can reach 5 million tons upon completion equivalent to Hong Kong airport. “This is an important stepping stone for Vietnam to gradually become a regional aviation transshipment hub.”
• Mr. Michael Wilton, General Director of MMI Asia: “Vietnam is not only emerging as a logistics hub but is also becoming a strategic node for the future of Southeast Asian supply chains.”

What does this mean for the Eastern area and the housing market?

The wave of international logistics and aviation means thousands of foreign experts from supply chain managers to operations directors will need high-quality accommodation. The Thao Dien and Thu Thiem areas, located midway between Long Thanh Airport and the District 1 center. They are becoming the natural choice for this expat community.

The airport increased real estate value in the Eastern area

Prof. Max Hirsh from Hong Kong University, an expert in airport real estate development, says the strongest price increases occur within the first 10 years after an airport begins operations.

As stated by Dr. Nguyen Tri Hieu, Director of the Financial Market Research and Development Institute: “All transportation axes including ring roads, metro lines, and expressways connecting the center and Long Thanh Airport, will converge for many large-scale projects.” This drives both population flow and capital flow toward the Eastern area.

With a Phase 1 capacity of up to 25 million passengers per year, Long Thanh is opening a price increase cycle that Asian markets have already proven and HCMC’s Eastern area is at the starting point of that cycle.

What opportunities exist for investors right now?

Before the airport officially begins operations, real estate prices along the connecting corridor often do not fully reflect their potential. This represents a window of opportunity that Asian markets have already proven.

The ideal midpoint on the Long Thanh corridor:

One area that exemplifies this opportunity is Thao Dien long established as East HCMC’s premier expat enclave, and now increasingly well-connected to the Long Thanh corridor

For international experts relocating to HCMC, Thao Dien offers a rare combination: proximity to the airport, access to the city’s financial core, and an established community of like-minded professionals.

Long Thanh Airport is no longer a future plan, it is an imminent reality. For investors, the window to enter before prices fully reflect this transformation is narrowing. Projects with transparent legal status, prime locations along the corridor, and strong expat rental demand represent the clearest opportunity in East HCMC today.

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