Vietnam tourism might have just shot itself in the foot again. The country is finally expecting 22 million visitors this year, and that’s fantastic news. But just as things start looking up, here comes another “brilliant” idea: move all international flights from Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport to a brand-new one called Long Thanh International Airport, still under construction and sitting a good two hours away from downtown.

So, remember the name Long Thanh airport, because your journey to Vietnam is about to become one long trip.

If you’ve ever flown to Vietnam, especially into Ho Chi Minh City, you know Tan Son Nhat might be crowded, but it’s right in the city, 15 to 20 minutes from your hotel, tops. Now imagine landing miles away, facing half-built roads, limited transport, and unpredictable traffic just to reach your destination. Genius idea or chaos for both travelers and Vietnam’s economy?

Today we’re exposing how this so-called upgrade could turn Vietnam’s main gateway into a logistical nightmare. It’s a beautiful mega airport on paper, sleek, modern, ambitious, but the infrastructure around it is far from ready. And if you thought Tan Son Nhat’s congestion was bad, wait until you see how Long Thanh’s distance and poor access could make things worse.

By the end, you’ll understand exactly why Vietnam’s tourism dropout rate, a shocking 95%, isn’t going anywhere unless something changes fast.

So let’s dive in and see where it all started.