It is being built as an alternative to the existing airport, in order to relieve its increasing traffic, demand and congestion, as it could not be further expanded due to urban growth around it.

[1] The project is being developed in four phases, of which the first phase at a cost of about US$ 4.6 billion, with an area of around 5,580 ha (13,800 acres), a capacity of 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo per year, one terminal and one 4,000 m (13,000 ft)-long and 60 m (200 ft)-wide runway, was officially approved by the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, on 11 November 2020, with completion planned in 2025, which will now be completed in the first half of 2026.

[8][2] It is slated to be fully completed with the remaining three phases at a cost of US$ 18.7 billion, consisting of another three terminals and runways covering an area of more than 10,000 ha (25,000 acres), by 2035.

[3][9] The existing Tan Son Nhat International Airport is the only international airport in the Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area, covering an area of 30,404 square kilometres (11,739 sq mi), that serves an estimated population of around 25 million inhabitants, of which 18-19 million are urban inhabitants, accounting for about 80% of total population.

[3] The master plan for Long Thanh International Airport was approved by the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Phan Văn Khải, in 2006, and several adjustments have been made over time.

The project faced mixed public reaction for its expensive cost and far distance from the center of Ho Chi Minh City.

By investing an estimated US$7 billion, the fourth terminal and the fourth runway will be constructed between 2030 and 2035, and will be operational after the third phase, making it the largest and busiest airport in Vietnam, Southeast Asia and among the largest in the world, with an area of more than 10,000 ha (25,000 acres), four terminals and runways.

[26][27] A light rail line connecting the airport to Thu Thiem, just east of Ho Chi Minh City is proposed.

The airport planners have suggested to build the high-speed railway line by keeping a station at the airport, as it will give passengers a more direct and efficient transit option to Ho Chi Minh City than by road, which is already congested closer to the city centre.

Therefore, the ACV has pledged to ensure adequate greenery in the airport premises to compensate for the lost green cover during construction.

[32] During construction, the ACV has been criticised by farmers and residents living in the Dong Nai Province, where the airport is situated in Long Thanh District, due to inadequate measures to protect the environment and impact on agriculture and settlements from pollution.

The construction has been generating red dust, which causes significant disease in cereal crops, like on wheat, barley and species of trees like Rambutan, Durian, Mangosteen, Lychee and others like and jackfruit and banana cultivated and grown in the province.

This has led to a dramatic decline in the production of many crops and produces, especially wheat, which has provoked opposition from farmers and agriculturists against the project.

The inspection found that the process of constructing the airport caused red dust to spread far and wide, affecting many communes and towns in Long Thanh District and Dong Nai Province.

The dust was due to the ACV's failure to adequately water certain locations, as specified in the approved environmental impact assessment report.

They must also tightly pack the filled areas and surplus excavation landfills to reduce the red dust caused by winds.