Thiếu 6.000 lao động, liệu siêu dự án sân bay Long Thành có cán đích trước 31/12/2026?

Long Thanh is not just a new airport but a symbolic infrastructure project. is expected to reshape the aviation map of Vietnam, unleash new momentum for the development of the entire southern economic region and elevate the nation's status for decades to come. But just as the moment of arrival was drawing near, Behind the grand image of a vast construction site, The hidden flaws, quietly emerging from within the construction site all the way to the management machinery, are gradually being revealed. If the project continues to miss deadlines, the cost to be paid may be more than just time. but also enormous costs, pressure on existing infrastructure, and erosion of trust into the capability of implementing major national projects. So, what is actually happening in Long Thành? Will this century's project reach its target on time as expected? Right after this, we will explore together. Dear guests, Vietnam is currently constructing an infrastructure project. can be considered the largest in the history of the nation's aviation industry. It is Long Thanh International Airport. When fully completed, the airport will have four runways and four passenger terminals. Capacity reaching up to 100 million passengers annually and 5 million tons of cargo annually. If you look at the map of the region, this is no longer an ordinary airport. It is expected to become Vietnam's new international trade gateway. Share the burden with the most junior level, at the same time driving the development of the entire Southern Key Economic Region. Yet, at the end of April 2026, The biggest question is no longer how grand Long Thanh will be. What people are more concerned about is whether phase one of the project can be brought into operation on schedule. by December 31, 2026, or not? This is a highly debatable issue, because from a distance, the Long Thanh construction site still appears extremely bustling. Machinery operated continuously, the station gradually took shape, and the runway became clearly visible. But if we look deeper into the latest reports, We will see behind that barrier a continuous water flow generating pressure. First, it is essential to clarify why the year-end milestone of 2026 is so important. Long Thanh was initially expected to be completed by 2025. However, after many fluctuations such as the slow release of the ice surface, Due to bidding disputes, technical changes, and various other issues, the schedule had to be adjusted. Finally, the National Assembly set the new deadline as December 31, 2026. This can be simply understood as the final deadline having been extended. If we continue to delay, the story will no longer be about slow construction. It will become a major issue concerning management, investment efficiency, and operational credibility. So where is Long Thanh at this point? According to the latest reports, Component 3 of the project, which is the most important part comprising the passenger station, The runway, taxiways, and technical infrastructure have reached approximately 74% of the contract value. Hearing this figure, many people would think that more than 25% still leaves enough time, so it should definitely be feasible in another eight months. But in reality, it is not that simple. In large projects, the final stage is usually the most difficult. The initial phase may involve site leveling, concrete pouring, and erecting steel frames. but the final phase involves installing the air conditioning electrical system, baggage conveyor belts, and escalators. safety inspection, fire prevention and firefighting, technical trial operation, safety inspection, staff training Then apply for an operating permit. Just one missing link in the chain could delay the entire schedule. In other words, completing 74% of the construction volume does not mean that Has traveled 74% of the way to the commercial launch date. According to the investor's report, the Long Thanh construction site currently requires approximately 14,000 workers to ensure progress is maintained. but in reality, by mid-April, only about 8,400 people had been mobilized, This means there is a shortage of nearly 6,000 people, a figure that is highly concerning. As for the passenger terminal construction package, the area considered the heart of the airport, With a requirement of approximately 6,000 people, there are currently only about 3,400 people available, meaning nearly half are missing. With a project entering its final sprint phase, such a shortage of manpower represents extreme pressure. Why are there not enough people? There are three main reasons. First is labor competition; currently, the southern region has too many large-scale projects being implemented simultaneously. as the Biên Hòa–Vũng Tàu expressway extends the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thành expressway, Vành Đai 3 Road, along with a series of industrial zones and new urban areas. Skilled workers and excellent engineers become scarce resources, The second is the extremely harsh working conditions. The Long Thành construction site has a very large area, stretching over thousands of hectares. Therefore, moving between the different categories has taken up a lot of time and energy. In addition, the weather in the Southeast region is experiencing intense, scorching days. For many days, the outdoor temperature was high, combined with dust, soil, and noise from heavy machinery. The workload lasts from early morning until late evening. Many positions must continuously increase to keep up with the schedule. Under such conditions, not every worker possesses the physical and mental resilience to endure over the long term. Tuesday is the pressing issue concerning payments and cash flow. Some contractors have reported slow disbursement or prolonged payment procedures. putting the business in a passive position even though daily expenses for materials, fuel, machinery rental, and labor wages must still be continuously paid. When cash flow becomes strained, contractors are forced to cut costs. Delayed or late salary payments often cause emotional instability among workers. Against the backdrop of a dynamically shifting construction market in Southern Vietnam, Many workers are willing to leave the Long Thành construction site to move elsewhere for more stable income. The shortage of nearly 6,000 workers is not just a number on a report. Behind it lies the story of survival and challenging working conditions. When the payment flow slows down, the necessity for workers to make alternative choices in order to secure their family's livelihood This is a practical reality that managers need to recognize and address with thorough solutions. Strong pressure from material prices Another key factor currently weighing heavily on the Long Thanh Airport project's progress, However, less attention is paid to the issue of labor shortages, which is exerting strong pressure on rising input costs. With a mega-project involving dozens of contractors simultaneously constructing, such as Long Thanh, this poses an extremely high risk. According to reports from the temple investors and contractors, The price of asphalt concrete has increased by approximately 40% to 50% compared to before. The demand for materials used in dump trucks, excavators, cranes, mobile vehicles, and generators has also increased significantly. In addition, there are steel prices, stone prices, construction additive materials, transportation costs, and equipment rental fees. All of this adds up to an enormous financial pressure. Meanwhile, many construction contracts were signed earlier with the previous unit prices. It means that the enterprise undertakes the contract at the price level during the period when the market is more stable. When new prices rise sharply but contracts have not yet been adjusted accordingly, the contractor's profits erode very quickly. There are cases where continuing to work results in greater losses, yet one must still proceed to maintain progress and reputation. What is noteworthy is that this price increase is not solely due to domestic factors. and also bear the impact of shifting geopolitical dynamics worldwide. Military conflicts among the United States, Israel, and Iran have continuously shaken global energy markets. As long as the Middle East remains unstable, oil prices could surge immediately. Because this is the place that supplies vital energy to the world. When oil prices rise, a wide range of other costs also increase accordingly. maritime transport, land transport, freight rates, industrial chemicals, electric power, and logistics. With a construction site consuming vast amounts of fuel and materials like Long Thành, the impact is very noticeable. It's not just Vietnam; many other countries are also facing the same challenge. In recent years, following the global inflationary period, construction costs for infrastructure have risen sharply in many places. Civil aviation projects, railway lines, highways in Europe, the United States, or Asia They all must adjust capital or extend the construction period. Long Thanh's predicament is not outside the general trend of the world. In Vietnam alone, the economy is simultaneously advancing numerous large-scale projects such as ring roads, expressway, highway sign, industrial zone. This has increased the demand for materials, pushing domestic price levels up by another level. In other words, Long Thanh is not only under pressure from the international market and must also face competition for resources even within the country. When a construction company is financially pressured, the consequence is very likely to be a slowdown in implementation. Delay the material procurement schedule, request a price re-evaluation or temporarily halt construction to resolve the issue. This is precisely what any mega-project seeks to avoid. Because if just one link in the chain slows down, the entire following section of the transmission will be affected. Sai Phạm Từ Một Số Quan Chức Irregularities committed by some officials and leaders related to the Long Thành project It is also a factor that can significantly affect the overall reliability. With a multi-billion-dollar super project, when legal upheaval emerges at the leadership level, The entire optical system below is also affected by the transmission limit. From the very stage of land acquisition, the project has been involved in incidents related to local leaders. In 2023, the Investigative Police Agency of Dong Nai Provincial Public Security Department initiated the arrest and detention of the Chairman of the People's Committee of Long Thanh District. together with some officials involved in the misconduct during the compensation and assistance process, Revised loan agreement for the Long Thanh Airport project. This is a particularly critical phase, as preparing a clean site and not opening the road will affect the entire subsequent construction schedule. When the local responsible official is dealt with, the process of reviewing documents, verifying the origin of the land, The payment of compensation and the completion of the resettlement process are both at risk of being delayed. By early March 2026, another shocking legal update emerged. Vietnam Airport Corporation, ACV, continues to announce that it has received a notice from the Investigative Police Agency under the Ministry of Public Security. Regarding the arrest and detention of Mr. Vu The Phiet, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ACV. Also arrested was Mr. Nguyen Tien Viet, a member of the board of directors and deputy general director of ACV. while concurrently serving as the director of the Long Thanh Civil Aviation Project Management Board. Both individuals are under investigation for violations of bidding regulations, resulting in particularly serious consequences. and receive money to facilitate the contractor's winning the bid. This is a highly noteworthy development, as ACV is the developer of Component Project 3. The most critical components of Long Thanh include the passenger terminal, runways, taxiways, and many other core facilities. When senior positions are simultaneously affected, the enterprise is forced to make urgent personnel changes. Arrange substitute personnel to maintain operations. The greatest impact of such incidents usually lies not in media perception but in managerial psychology. When the competent authorities get involved, many management officials tend to become overly cautious. As a result, the payment procedures for the contractor approved the technical adjustments, Procurement of materials or handling emergency situations may take longer than usual. With a project racing against time on a weekly basis like Long Thanh, even a slight delay in administrative procedures could make a significant difference. It may also lead to construction accuracy below being affected. The misconduct of these individuals is a regrettable matter, but it must nevertheless be mentioned. Human beings are always the center of every system. When those entrusted with responsibility lack professional standards and ethical conduct, The pyramid scheme left behind not just an individual legal story, but a void in trust. leading to personnel disruptions and a cautious, hesitant, and delayed approach in approval processes. This is a costly lesson about accountability and transparency in national projects. In summary, the costly lesson about mega-project management lies in the fact that The larger the scale, the more the complexity increases exponentially. A multibillion-dollar project is not just a story of construction, but also a complex puzzle of capital coordination. Human resources, materials, legal aspects, schedule, and dozens of units involved. Just a single tight chain link is enough for the entire rear machine ring to slow down according to the transmission limit. Therefore, management capability is sometimes no less important than investment capital. However, saying that does not mean Long Thanh is completely stuck. On the contrary, the project still has many very clear advantages. First, this is a national key project, closely monitored by the government and the National Assembly. The Prime Minister repeatedly personally inspected the construction site, demanding that each joint be properly addressed. When a project is given the highest priority, the ability to mobilize various departments to participate is very high. Second, the project has already completed the most difficult components, including the foundation, major structures, and the first runway. Many connecting transportation routes have been basically completed. This means Long Thanh is no longer in the difficult initial phase, but has entered the stage of refinement and completion. Tuesday, the actual pressure from the new airport is extremely high. The southern air system is in need of additional capacity. Therefore, the need to put Long Thanh into operation is real, not merely a goal on paper. Thus, finally, let us return to the issue raised at the beginning of the program. Let's examine each scenario to determine whether Long Thanh will be on schedule before December 31, 2026. The first, most positive scenario, a strong acceleration of the project from now until the fourth quarter, Supplement sufficient manpower, resolve payment and material supply issues, and conduct a trial run of the spring vehicle. At that time, Long Thanh may commence operations by the end of the year. The second scenario, and possibly the most likely one, The airport will partially open by the end of 2026. It means there was likely the first commercial flight inaugurated, partially international, from the newest airport to another. but it will not be operational at full scale until early or mid-2027. The third scenario is perhaps the one that nobody wishes for. The project may be postponed all the way to 2027, and the reason is clear to everyone—prolonged shortage of manpower. technical items generating errors or operational procedures experiencing delays Added to the unpredictable weather patterns of the rainy season in the south, which usually begins in May. And no matter what scenario occurs with this super project, one thing is very important for an international airport, Delaying by a few months isn't necessarily a failure, but opening too early before being ready poses a major risk. Passengers would suffer the most if exploitation occurred before the system was fully operational. They may face baggage congestion, chaotic connecting transportation. even aviation safety issues. Esteemed guests, every delay has its reason. whether Long Thanh is completed and operational by the end of 2026 or delayed by one step to finish later, the ultimate goal must still be a high-quality project, Safety and truly delivering sustainable value to society. It's better to open an airport a few months late after thorough preparation than to rush recklessly for short-term gains. Ultimately, the success or failure of a project lies in the integrity and vision of the person carrying it out. What are your thoughts on this challenge? Please share your heartfelt thoughts and opinions in the comment section! Now, greetings and see you again!