Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked relevant stakeholders to speed up the construction of Terminal 3 of Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City to put it into operation in April next year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Reunification [April 30, 1975-2025]. 

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh works with constructors at Terminal 3, Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City on February 12. Photos: Nhat Bac/VGP

Chinh made the request when visiting the construction site today [February 12] or the 3rd day of the first Lunar month, one of the main days of the Tet holiday (the Lunar New Year).

Reports by the Ministry of Transport, the project’s investor, show that site clearance for the project (16 ha) has been completed after six months of being kicked off.

The prime minister asked the Ministry of Transport, the Committee for Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC), the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), and constructors to mobilize manpower and apply advanced technologies to ensure the construction quality and process to ensure that the project would come operational on April 30, 2025.

He stressed the importance of the project to the disbursement of public investment and the socio-economic development of Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam in general. To make progress, he highlighted the political determination that only focuses on looking forward and overcoming challenges to make the set goals possible.

He also asked relevant agencies to seek connections between Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Long Thanh International Airport and the quick installation of electronic toll collection (ETC) at Tan Son Nhat Airport, Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, and other airports nationwide.

At the working visit, ACV’s General Director Vu The Phiet pledged to complete the project as requested.

Terminal 3 of Tan Son Nhat International Airport costs an estimated investment of VND11 trillion ($450 million) to boost capacity for the country’s biggest airport (1,500 ha). 

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh works with experts at the Nhon – Hanoi Railway Station on February 12.

On the same day, the prime minister visited some other key projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City like the Nhon – Hanoi Railway Station (Line 3 of Hanoi Metro) project, Urban Environment Company (URENCO), and Yen Phu Water Plant.

He encouraged workers in the construction sites and offered them some Tet gifts. During the visits, he asked the investors and constructors of the projects to focus on construction quality with the application of advanced technologies to make sure that they would meet the deadlines.    

Meanwhile, the Nhon – Hanoi Railway Station is one of the key infrastructure projects in Vietnam. It costs a total investment of VND34.8 trillion (US$1.43 billion) and mainly funded through official development assistance (ODA) by the Government of France. Kicked off in 2009, the project is expected to be completed by 2027. At present, about 40 foreign experts, 100 construction supervisors, and 800 workers are working at the construction sites.

Workers at URENCO work around the clock to maintain environmental hygiene and urban attractiveness.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh offers lucky money to workers at the Nhon – Hanoi Railway Station.

The prime minister offers Tet gifts to URENCO's workers.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at Yen Phu Water Plant.