December 2026. That’s when Vietnam opens a mega-airport that’s going to change everything about traveling to Ho Tram — and hardly anyone outside the country knows about it.
Long Thanh International Airport, a $16 billion project 40km east of Ho Chi Minh City, opens Phase 1 at the end of this year. 25 million passengers a year to start — eventually 100 million. But here’s what actually matters if you’re reading this from a booking page: once Long Thanh is fully operational, all international flights to Ho Chi Minh City will relocate there from Tan Son Nhat.
And Ho Tram? It happens to be the closest beach destination to this new airport. This isn’t luck — it’s why the government just broke ground on a dedicated highway connecting the two. If you’ve been following our Ho Tram coverage (how to get there now, which resort to book, best for families), this is the infrastructure piece that ties it all together.
Long Thanh Airport — The Basics
Long Thanh is Vietnam’s biggest infrastructure project. When fully complete in the 2030s, it’ll have four runways, four terminals, and capacity for 100 million passengers a year. For comparison, Tan Son Nhat — the current HCMC airport — handles about 40 million and has been over capacity for a decade.
Phase 1 (December 2026): one runway, one terminal, 25 million passengers. Phase 2 (late 2020s): second runway, expands to 50 million. Phase 3 (2030s): full build-out.
The key detail: all long-haul international flights — from Australia, Europe, Korea, Japan, the US — will move to Long Thanh. Tan Son Nhat stays open for domestic and some regional flights. But if you’re flying internationally into southern Vietnam from late 2027 onward, you’re probably landing at Long Thanh, not SGN.
Why Ho Tram Wins
Let’s do the math:
- Tan Son Nhat → Ho Tram: 2 to 2.5 hours. You have to cross HCMC’s eastern suburbs just to reach the expressway.
- Long Thanh Airport → Ho Tram (current roads): About 1.5 hours. You skip the entire urban slog.
- Long Thanh Airport → Ho Tram (with new expressway, est. 2029): 45 to 60 minutes. Highway all the way.
That third bullet is the game-changer. Ho Tram goes from ‘nice beach, bit of a drive’ to ‘the closest luxury resort corridor to Vietnam’s main international gateway.’ Not marketing — just geography, once the planes land somewhere else.
Vung Tau is similarly close but has a different vibe (more local, less luxury). Mui Ne is still 3+ hours. Nha Trang and Phu Quoc require domestic connecting flights. Ho Tram is the only premium beach you can reach by car in under an hour from the country’s primary airport.
What Happens to Your Trip?
If you’re traveling in 2026 or early 2027, nothing changes — you’re landing at Tan Son Nhat and the current route works fine. Private car is still your best option.
If you’re traveling late 2027 or 2028, check your arrival airport on your booking. Airlines will shift gradually as Long Thanh ramps up. If you land at Long Thanh instead of SGN, your transfer is already shorter.
If you’re traveling 2029 onward, the expressway should be done. You’ll land at Long Thanh, hop on the highway, and be at your resort in about 45 minutes. At that point, Ho Tram will be more accessible from the airport than most Thai beach resorts.
The Short Version
New airport opens December 2026. International flights move there. Ho Tram is the closest beach. Expressway seals the deal by 2029. The window to visit before it gets discovered is closing.
Need a transfer? We handle both airports — contact us or WhatsApp +84 70 6666 520. More Ho Tram reads: resort comparison | family resorts | new expressway.
